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Thunder & Sunshine (2008)

by Alastair Humphreys(Favorite Author)

4.44 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1903070546 (ISBN13: 9781903070543)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Eye Books

review 1: I have read Lilwal's book and "Moods of Joy", which is a first part of Humpreys saga. I must admit that Thunder and Sunshine is better in all counts, it contains more pages, some maps, language is more developed and read more pleasant.Humpreys saga is not only really travel around the world but as well or perhaps most, great trip inside himself. He is not most beautiful character in the world, but he is trying to be honest. He is selfish, stubborn, egocentric, spoiled English boy. But he doesn't know them things until he spends a lot time with himself. He provokes split with Rob Lilwal whom he invited for the adventure. He sometimes refuses contact with locals, even their intentions are good, but he is upset when they give him wrong directions or wish not to help. He makes... more extra effort to watch English sport events rather than enjoy the country and people around. He suffers homesick. He idolizes Britain. Somehow I have a feeling, that he is kid of imperialism and colonialism. But he makes effort to discover this within himself and this is a big thing.Alastair's writing is pretty cold (if you compare to Robert Lilwal's for instance, where problems of the soul are a lot more important than life trivia), but this is something I actually like, perhaps because in this aspect my views are similar. I liked the fact, that he gave detailed description of nearly every country he has been, although China took a most of it. "Thunder and Sunshine" is excellent book which helped me to understand mechanism of bicycle trip, the struggles and consequences. It is fantastic read, I did not rest until finished sentence, paragraph, chapter, whole thing. My eyes were closing after 12 hours shift in the factory but I kept going until my views became surrealistic, letter began to melt and double. I really enjoy getting to know mister Humpreys. Maybe he is not the nicest bloke in the earth, but he is brave enough to face his weaknesses and stubborn enough to finish what he has started despite lack of enthusiasm.The book is written systematically, in chronological order, which makes it easy and pleasant read (it is a lot more difficult with flying in time and space Tom Allen and his "Janapar", which is my next one on the list to do). I recommend it everybody - dreamers, commuters, people who actually think about traveling on bicycle and the ones, who wish to make a trip inside their souls. Overall - 5 stars.
review 2: Book two of Humphreys' journey picks up directly where one left off. It describes the joys of a trans-Atlantic yacht journey. He arrives in Rio and takes a bus to Tierra del Fuego, so that he can cycle the entire length of south America, heading up the west coast and the Andes. This is a different Al Humphreys. His first year on the road has made him grow. He is more confident as a writer and as a lone traveller. There is much less crying – although still a little – and his cultural references are less high-culture: now, he quotes noughties pop bands' lyrics, films and so on rather than Latin poets. Also, in Latin America, he speaks some Spanish and seems to rapidly improve, unlike in much of Africa where he was linguistically isolated until South Africa, where he had once worked.Book two is much fatter and spans four continents. He travels the length of South America, bypasses the Darien Gap and all of Central America on another yacht – justifying this to himself in that he's cycled it before – and largely skips the USA. He rides it, but barely mentions it. Canada gets more mention, where he, now a confident adventurer, and an old friend kayak the Yukon. In forest-fire season. Then it's across Alaska to Siberia, which they cross in midwinter. (Yes, he is quite, quite mad.) Then down the length of Japan, across to China, along the Silk Road, and the last leg across the 'Stans of Central Asia, followed by Turkey and eastern Europe. His journey is amazing, improvised and funded on a shoestring. It's a truly inspirational trip, although few would willingly take on the privations Humphreys seems barely to notice. It's more Dervla Murphy than Anne Mustoe: he travels in poverty, putting him close to the people he meets, unlike Mustoe who was the ultimate tourist and tour guide, eating and drinking well and learnedly discussing the history of her many destinations.These are wholly remarkable books, about a remarkable trip, by a remarkable man who is also a remarkable writer. They may yet comprise a Liff (q.v.). I've read many books by ultra-long-distance cyclists now. Despite many seemingly-falsely-humble apologies for unfitness, they tend to impress by the travellers' depth of preparation and endurance, their linguistic skills, adaptability, determination and much more. Not so Humphreys. He shares his terror, loneliness, apprehension, indecisiveness and much more. Yes, he's fit – he'd completed many long-distance rides before. He's young and strong. He's worked abroad and speaks several languages.But still. This is the first time I've read someone bare their soul about their self-doubts, concern and trepidation at such a mighty undertaking, and that is inspirational. Get it, read it, and do it. less

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