From the bestselling author ofSand Dance. Stuck in an engineer’s cubicle, dutifully beginning the responsible adult life he was raised to undertake, Kirkby is tormented by doubts and boredom. In a fit of rebellion, he quits his job to bicycle the Karakoram Highway in northern Pakistan. He is twenty-two and absolutely clueless. Miraculously, hilariously, he survives — and discovers his life’s passion. Over the next fifteen years, Kirkby navigates an evermore uncertain and uncommon path, honing his skills on some of the most challenging expeditions the world has to offer. Whether it’s gun fights and crocodile attacks while running Africa’s Blue Nile Gorge, the rescue of a fallen sherpa on Mount Everest, evading capture in Myanmar’s forbidden tropical paradise, or learning to embrace the wilderness on the Tatshenshini River of Canada’s Arctic, Kirkby shares with the reader the excitement, doubts, insights, and even the uncomfortable self-knowledge that a life lived on the edge brings.
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For me, this is one of those rare books that I don't really want to finish. This took me a long time to read (comparatively), because I consciously read it slowly, actively putting to down after a short time, in order to savour it.I knew after the first chapter that, unless it took a very unexpected turn, I was going to enjoy it. By the time I had read around a quarter it was five stars, and, again, barring a significant divergence it would stay five stars. And it held it together to the end too.This book was a fringe purchase - I saw it online, and thought “hmm, maybe, but the name, the cover... maybe not”, but I ended up with it. At first perusal I actually thought it was short stories from the authors life of travels (looking at the many, varied destinations in the chapter headings), but no, it is a fully formed linear narrative.Bruce Kirkby is a recent graduate working as a software engineer working in a small cubicle in an office in Toronto. I am supposed to be creating a computer model to simulate a head on collision between a freight train with a container of spent nuclear fuel, but I am bored and distracted. Careful not to make a sound, I climb up onto my desk and peer over walls. An unending sea of cubicles that stretches into the distance. The tappity-tap of keyboards and the unremitting drone of fluorescent lights fills the air. Somewhere in each dim cave sits a listless worker. No one walks in the aisles. Everyone is quiet. (Page 8).And so, mind wandering, Kirkby starts kicking around ideas on where to go on a holiday - on a journey. Deciding that cycling the Karakorum Highway in Pakistan is a good entry-level excursion he finds a friend to accompany him, and sets about the planning, collecting of gear etc.All the time, Kirkby faced the paranoia and doubt - leaving his job, breaking career path - falling behind his peers, spending his meagre savings on a frivolous ‘holiday'. Think [b:Fight Club 5759 Fight Club Chuck Palahniuk https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1357128997l/5759.SX50.jpg 68729], or the monologue from [b:Trainspotting 527869 Trainspotting Irvine Welsh https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348251304l/527869.SY75.jpg 1087421]...The decision to quit was made for me by a senior manager who stopped outside my cubicle one morning. After staring for a moment (I suspect he found my long hair, sandals, and rope bracelets disconcerting), the stiff man abruptly barked, “Kirkby, don't you think it is time to get a haircut?”Without thinking I jumped to my feet and announced i would rather go to Pakistan. My bewildered boss looked like he had just coughed up a furball, simultaneously pleased to be rid of my subversive behaviour but concerned for my flagrant disregard for a career. Shortly after this, he travel companion withdraws from the journey, having fallen in love. Having committed, Kirkby moves on with his plan. Arriving in Pakistan, he does what every young person ever does on their first trip, hitting on all the classics from being massively overcharged by a taxi driver at the airport (tick); falling ill and hibernating in a hotel room for days (tick); toilet disaster story (tick); nightmare bus journey (tick); and other, generally expected issues. He does however, cycle his planned route, and meet interesting people.One of the great things about this book is Kirkby's honesty and willingness to share. The other is the clear pathway of his development. From this rookie in Pakistan to where he is at the end.He visits some fantastic places, and carries out some great journeys - all the while incorporating his skillset - rafting, mountaineering, sea-kayaking, hiking. In between his journeys, he works as a guide in the wilds of Canada, and the chapters which describe these times are no less interesting or action packed, despite competing with exotic destinations like Belize, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Nepal, Switzerland and Tibet. Some of these places I have been, but most I haven't. They all have the same connection of being able to get into the wilderness.The writing style is natural and easy to read. Kirkby is personable, knowledgeable and despite being close to the hippie greenie lifestyle, he isn't. There are no spiritual interludes, no preaching or moralising - just self realisation that there are unspoiled places, and they need to remain that way.So back to the title and the cover - there is relevance. The title is explained right near the the end, and the photo - while a strange choice - is from his Ethiopia travels. Personally I don't think they are the best choice, but then I am a big fan of excellent cover art/design, and I let them influence my purchasing more than I should.Kirkby has written another book - touched on in this book, about his crossing of the Empty Quarter (Oman & Saudi), which I will keep an eye out for, but this book is great, and almost inspiring with regard to avoiding the grind of work life, and enjoying real life. But then, we can't all be doing that, otherwise there would be no more wilderness - we would all be out, ruining it.5 stars.
