ExNotes Book Review: Going the Wrong Way

By Joe Berk

I thought I’d read everything that had ever been published about traveling the world on a motorcycle.  I’ve written about it on ExNotes, describing my favorites among all the books on this topic.

Notice that I’m writing in the past tense, and the reason for that is I most recently learned about another motorcycle saga that belongs on my best-in-class list: Going the Wrong Way, by Chris Donaldson.

My newfound discovery came about almost by accident a few days ago when I visited with Moto Guzzi Classics, an independent Guzzi revival and maintenance facility in Signal Hill, California for a potential story I’m doing for the ExNotes blog and maybe one of the motorcycle magazines.  The guys who run Moto Guzzi Classics are, in as few words as possible, both a bit eccentric and absolute subject matter experts.  One of them, my new good buddy Wyatt, showed a few of the bikes in their shop to me, and one of those motorcycles belongs to Chris Donaldson.  Chris is a Belfast boy (as in Belfast, Ireland) who is going around the around on a Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans.

Man, there’s a lot to unpack in that last sentence.  Belfast.  Coming of age during The Troubles.  Getting out of Ireland as a young man.  Moto Guzzi, which has to be one of the coolest motorcycles on the planet (they’re like Harleys, but for people who like motorcycles).  The Le Mans 850, which has to be one of the worst motorcycles in the world for world travel.  Traveling the world (as in present tense).    That’s right, the journey is not over, even though Mr. Donaldson started it many decades ago.  Donaldson plans to continue his global conquest on the same motorcycle, which is one of the reasons why the bike you see here is currently in the queue at Moto Guzzi Classics in Signal Hill.

I’ve had a hard time putting the Going the Wrong Way down on my nightstand each night for the last several nights.  I’d read until I couldn’t stay awake, and fall asleep reading it.  Don’t get me wrong; the book is anything but boring.  Just the opposite is true.  It’s fabulous, and even though I couldn’t keep my eyes open because I was reading into the wee hours, I couldn’t stop reading.   Going the Wrong Way has all the bike reliability stuff to keep an engineer interested, all the philosophical stuff to keep a philosopher awake, all the people stuff to keep a people person awake, all the border crossing drama stuff to keep a world traveler tuned in, and, well, I could go on, but I don’t want to spoil it for you.  The writing is almost poetic.  It’s that good.

Folks, Going the Wrong Way is a great read.  Don’t just take my word for it; there are something like 1,394 Amazon reviews posted on this book (soon to be 1,395, when I write mine), which is really kind of stunning for a motorcycle travel book written by a rider with no sponsors.  Trust me on this: Get yourself a copy of Going the Wrong Way.  You can thank me later.

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15 thoughts on “ExNotes Book Review: Going the Wrong Way”

  1. I like you have tried to read all the good motorcycle travels books, I found this book a year or so ago and like you read it quick as it was that good. This was a great read for all the trials and tribulations of Chris and his MG…. he did a lot for sure. If you get a chance, there is a great book called “One man Caravan” by Robert Fulton. It’s a great read of the middle east touring back in the late 30’s… Interesting for sure.

    1. Jim, I read One Man Caravan a few years ago. It’s notable for being one of (if not the) first such journey. Fulton, the guy who wrote it, is either the son or grandson of the guy who invented the steam engine.

      Thanks for your comments.

    1. You will enjoy it, Mike. Grand adventuring. Overcoming adversity. Good writing. It’s got it all.

      Thanks for commenting.

  3. I personally don’t find reading other people’s journeys very interesting .
    Especially on motorcycles. To me it’s like watching a relatives super 8 1960’s “ what I did on my summer vacation” . Which explains it all. It’s not
    “My” vacation.
    I barely get thru Huber on this platform. (Actually I like the guy so I read him )
    lol. Fortunately the statute of limitations has run out on much of my life’s journeys, but if I wrote on it , it would not be believed. And even if exhaust nuts believed it , you wouldn’t publish it despite the “over 18” quantification now in effect.

    I learned long ago there really is no Zen in replacing a fouled cb350 spark plug.

    1. Good inputs, Hack. I guess everyone is different. I still enjoy reading a good moto journey. The ones in this blog are my favorite. I’ve met Dave Barr, Lois Pryce, Carla King, Simon Gandolfi, and a few others; looking forward to meeting Chris Donaldson.

      Thanks for commenting.

      1. I met Handle Bar a couple of times.
        Fortunately no permanent damage there. Nothing to really write home about.

  4. Like Hack,

    I’m pretty much not interested in other people’s motorcycle travel books.

    There are just so many of them. Hell, I don’t even like reading my own travel stories.

    I started One Man Caravan a few years ago. One day I’ll finish it.

        2. lol. When books are written by people one knows , they are a little more interesting since the reader has a bit of insight into context.

          That’s Berks Law . Or should be.

          1. Gresh was on a lot of the rides in my books, so he has even more insight. For most of it, he is sworn to secrecy.

            Berk’s Law. That would be a good title for a movie. Or maybe a TV show.

  5. As to books here. Cup of joes
    Is Jack Lewis the guy whom wrote the Duck Tapes years back in Cycle ?
    I guess I could look it up. But it’s more fun to ask.

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