Fred A. Birchmore

Around the World on a Bicycle by Fred A. Birchmore

Timeless tale of an intrepid traveler – a treat for me to read in more ways than one. At 68 I have ridden a bike for miles but not as many miles as Fred did. I have been to some of the countries he visited though almost four decades later. I have been in countries on the brink of war and also during war. I have also grown in my world outlook – just as Fred did. As I read, I was taken away from thoughts of covid-19, the small village I live in here in Lebanon and found myself back in time both in the era of Fred but also in the time of my own life when I encountered similar experiences mentioned in the story. As a good tale should, this book swept me in, made me feel part of the story – as if I was there with Fred, and made me eager to keep reading to find out what would happen next.

What I liked:
* Fred – indomitable and yet at times young and naïve but always willing to try and to keep going
* The writing of what happened…as I said above…having experienced similar situations, countries and people I could definitely relate
* The believability of the tale since I had similar experiences myself
* Seeing the countries through Fred’s eyes
* Learning new things that I had not known before. What you ask? I had no idea camels had patterns shaved into their fur or that the carved-out cave-like dwellings for religious people and others existed in so many countries. I have seen them in Lebanon and Jordan but didn’t know they were elsewhere.
* Hearing about Vesuvius and the Matterhorn and Greece and more
* Knowing that good people existed then as they do now
* Hearing about food he ate in the terms he used. I am guessing the “pancakes” eh was talking about are local Arab breads: khubz and markouk
* Being reminded of being so young and naïve and how I felt when I first moved to Lebanon in 1978.
* Realizing how much I have grown as a person through my travel – just as Fred did in his
* Wondering if the years of writing in diaries and letters that I have done will one day be of as much interest to others as Fred’s story was to me.

What I didn’t like:
* Being reminded that bigotry has always existed
* Being reminded of the destitute and homeless poor that have been and no doubt always will be with us.
* Remembering the fear that goes hand in hand with war and the rumors of it

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I recommend it to others? Definitely – already have!

Thank you to NetGalley and University of Georgia Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars… (altro)