Free Ride - by Noraly Schoenmaker (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Creator of the hit YouTube channel Itchy Boots"--Cover.

Book Synopsis

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

By the YouTube sensation with nearly three million followers, the inspiring account of a young woman who, in a moment of personal crisis, embarked on an epic, transcontinental motorcycle ride--and along the way found a new sense of purpose.

Noraly Schoenmaker was a thirtysomething geologist living in the Netherlands when she learned that her live-in partner had been having a long-term affair. In desperate need of a new beginning, she decided to quit her job and jet off to India. But her plans were dashed when she fell quickly and helplessly in love: with a motorcycle. Behind the handlebars, she felt alive and free--nimble enough to trace the narrowest paths, powerful enough to travel the longest of roads.

First, she set off toward the Pacific, through the jungles of Myanmar and Thailand, then into Malaysia. Rather than satisfy her appetite for the open road, this ride only piqued it. She shipped her bike to Oman, at the base of the Arabian Peninsula, and embarked on a journey through Iran, across Tajikistan along its border with Afghanistan, over the snowy peaks of Central Asia, and into Europe, all the way back home to the Netherlands. She covered remote and utterly unfamiliar territory, broke down on impossibly steep mountains, and pushed too many miles along empty roads, farther and farther from civilization. But through her travels, she discovered the true beauty of the world, the kindness of its people, the simplicity of its open spaces, and a new and unshakable belief in her capabilities.

Free Ride is an inspiring story of self-discovery and renewal. Filled with unforgettable figures, hilarious disasters, and powerful human connections, it shows you what happens when you open your heart and let the world in.

Review Quotes

"In no-frills, from-the-heart prose, Schoenmaker crafts exhilarating evocations of rarely visited landscapes and unforgettable portraits of remote villagers and their far-off-the-beaten-path homes. . . what ultimately shines throughout this moving and inspiring account are the attributes that enable her to persevere: her optimism and openness, her determination and resilience, her ability to engage strangers and at the same time to be comfortable with herself. The truth at the heart of this pilgrimage carries a soul-widening lesson for us all: because Schoenmaker brings a warm, wonder-filled embrace to the world, the world embraces her just as fervently and fully in return." --BBC

"A love letter to finding yourself through travel, to healing previously broken parts of yourself by getting out of your comfort zone, trying new things, and meeting new--and mostly incredibly kind--people" --RideApart

"Free Ride is told with unflinching honesty, emotion, and humor. The vivid detail takes you along through the spectacular, seldom-seen parts of the world Schoenmaker traveled and puts you in her place as she encounters each challenge. You'll ask yourself, 'How would I handle this situation?'" --Ultimate Motorcyling

"Free Ride isn't a rehash of the video series. It's much more than that. . . . The writing is clean and lucid, mercifully free of travel-writing cliches ('stunning vistas' and 'breathtaking scenery') and full of insights about life on the road." --Revzilla

"[A] vivid chronicle of her global adventures and a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of life on the road." --ADV Pulse

"Schoenmaker's grounded optimism adds poignancy to her sometimes-fraught experiences--including being catcalled in Iran--and her conversational prose mimics the feeling of receiving regular travel updates from a close friend. It adds up to an inspiring and often-thrilling ode to healing on one's own terms." --Publishers Weekly

"[A] glimpse into the generous nature of strangers who came to [Schoenmaker's] assistance throughout her travels, particularly in those regions that many consider unsafe. . . . Heartwarming inspiration for readers seeking adventure." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Noraly Schoenmaker is the creator of Itchy Boots, a YouTube channel with more than two million loyal subscribers. A motorcycling obsessive, her journeys have taken her the length of the American continent, from Argentina to Alaska; from the northernmost point of Europe to the southernmost point of Africa; and to some of the least traveled regions of the globe. Trained as a biologist and geologist, she is based in the Netherlands.