Published: Oct. 05, 2011
Words: 62,520 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9780620513845

Short description

This is the very funny story of six South Africans - mainly writers - who, on a whim, decide to explore "Darkest Europe and bring back to Africa stories about its strange natives". On hired bikes (none had cycled since childhood) they began with a 1 000 kilometre ride down the Danube. Over the years many other regions were explored. The story is told by their not terribly good leader.

Extended description

This true and very funny story involving six colleagues, some retired, proves the saying that we never really grow up - we just learn how to behave in public.

On a sudden whim six men, mostly writers, decided to embark on a 1 000 kilometre cycle ride down the River Danube believing it would be downhill all the way. This was the first of many assumptions that proved to be not terribly correct.None had cycled since childhood nor even owned a bike.

That first hilarious journey on hired bikes was so enjoyable it led to a series of annual rides in Europe involving ten countries including France, Austria, Italy, Ireland and England. The story - reminiscent in parts of Jerome K Jerome's Three Men in a Boat - is told by their often dysfunctional leader who, nevertheless, each time managed to return his companions to their loved ones more or less intact.

Four of the six were daily newspaper editors; the author is a syndicated humour columnist and the sixth man claims he follows them only .. (Read more) This true and very funny story involving six colleagues, some retired, proves the saying that we never really grow up - we just learn how to behave in public.

On a sudden whim six men, mostly writers, decided to embark on a 1 000 kilometre cycle ride down the River Danube believing it would be downhill all the way. This was the first of many assumptions that proved to be not terribly correct.None had cycled since childhood nor even owned a bike.

That first hilarious journey on hired bikes was so enjoyable it led to a series of annual rides in Europe involving ten countries including France, Austria, Italy, Ireland and England. The story - reminiscent in parts of Jerome K Jerome's Three Men in a Boat - is told by their often dysfunctional leader who, nevertheless, each time managed to return his companions to their loved ones more or less intact.

Four of the six were daily newspaper editors; the author is a syndicated humour columnist and the sixth man claims he follows them only out of curiosity.

All live in Africa and their stated mission is "to explore Darkest Europe and bring back to Africa stories about the strange natives there and their funny customs."
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Tags

travel, france, ireland, biography, humour, autobiography, italy, europe, britain, germany, sport, portugal, travelogue, cycling, united kingdom, travel writing, hungary, bicycling, health and wellbeing, south african writers, tour de farce, france cycling, italy cycling, britain cycling, uk cycling, united kingdom cycling, germany cycling, ireland cycling, europe cycling, retirement traveling, holiday humourous, funniest columnist, entertainment humour, social cycling, fun cycling

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Reviews

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Review by: Barry Grumbine on Aug. 28, 2012 :
This book is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It is funny, adventurous, enlightening and inspiring. Although its placement in the non-fiction section is questionable, I do concede that history is written by the victor.

Admiration: These guys just keep on plugging along come rain or fog, bloody knee or busted rib. I now long to be a retired old geezer and to invade another continent by bicycle.

I shall eagerly await both "Book II: Homecoming, A Victory Lap of Fairest Africa" and "Tour de Farce Researchers Present: A Supplement Guide to High Octane Cycling".
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

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