Full Tilt

The author describes her 3000-mile ride on her trusty bicycle, Rozinante. She travelled across Europe, through Persia and Afghanistan, over the Himalayas to Pakistan, and on into India. The six-month journey began during the worst winter in living memory (1962/63) and, even when the weather improved, there were enough difficulties and dangers to test the endurance of even the most intrepid traveller. Although Murphy was grateful for the revolver packed in her saddle-bag, she found that, in spite of vanishing tracks and political chaos, her journey was to be marked by unexpected kindnesses. Dervla Murphy's other travel books include "Muddling Through In Madagascar" and "Cameroon With Egbert".