The sun was shining when I stopped my motorbike by an old tractor in rural Norway. 15 years earlier, I had worked on a machine just like it for my brother-in-law and I was looking forward to telling him about it at the kitchen table one evening in the future. At the same moment I remembered what I had seen and tried in Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France and England. My travelogue was getting too long for me to tell it over a single cup of tea. I was on my way to the northernmost tip of Norway, back south through Finland and to Ireland and it dawned on me that if I wanted to share this experience with others, I would have to write a book. 

Many things happened to me when I left my girlfriend, my family, my job, my life....and ventured out in pursuit of my dream. Beautiful vistas, a broken guitar, a Buddhist monastery, new buddies, motorcycles and a chance to hone my skill as an artist are all a part of this story that spans a year in my life and gave me a chance to see myself in a whole new way. 

So begins an incredible book about a man, his motorcycle, and a journey. Around and Back, a year and a day on the road, written by Icelander Thormodur Simonarson, is a fascinating read. It is a glimpse into a physical journey, but also a glimpse into a metaphysical journey. For when we travel, don't we seek to find ourselves? Indeed, that is the case (and some do it more thoroughly than others!).

 

 

If you've ever longed to hit the road and discover yourself, this is the book for you.

Thor is humble, interesting, thoughtful, and hard working. His writing reflects all those qualities and more - when reading, I often found myself lost in the beauty of his words, in the details of his journey, in the broader life implications of change, travel, and humanity. I loved reading of interesting people, of roads and beaches, of new places and new friends, of stress and heartbreak, of friends coming and going, of music and writing, of life. I think you will, too. Highly recommended.

 

Thor Simonarson at the Cliffs of Moher

 

We had a chance to catch up with Thor, and ask him about his book, inspiration, traveling by motorcycle, and more. Here's what he had to say...

 

Bridge northwest of Oslo

 

 

Please tell us about your book: Around and Back, a year and a day on the road...

It is a memoir and it covers a year (and a day) of my life when I was traveling in north-western Europe on a motorcycle with my guitar. It was a great time of personal development for me and it was a challenge to weave all that into one readable book.

It is about my pursuit of a life-long dream, the most difficult part for me to write was the bit when things didn't go as planned. As it turned out, writing the book - all of it - helped me immensely.

 

Stone carving, Emerson

 

The English Channel from the edge of Seven Sisters east of Brighton

 

What inspired you to write this book?

I began writing it while traveling, firstly to make sure I would not forget some of the brilliant truths I learned about myself. Many years ago while backpacking in a train-travel across Europe I walked by a new Porsche, parked in Vienna, to gaze at a 10 year old motorcycle. As I walked away again I concluded I didn't like cars nearly as much as bikes. One year later I was walking in a town back home in Iceland and saw a car that I really wanted. I remembered the moment in Vienna and became slightly sad about all the other personal lessons I had learned but had forgotten after returning home.

For this book, I wanted to record important memories and events as I went along so as not to forget meaningful experiences.

 

The snow in Jotunheim, Norway, on July 8, 2008

 

The half a bridge on the Atlantic Road

 

The road across the Arctic Circle is a mountain pass, as you might see by my frozen smile

 

Traveling by motorcycle is fascinating - what do you think is different about this type of travel?

To me, traveling on a motorbike is like all the best parts of traveling by car, only intensified. Once in the UK there was a farmer driving a few cows across the road so a couple in a car and I on my bike had to wait for half a minute. I got to smell the cows and greet the farmer. I also experienced many helpful people, maybe because I was traveling in such an exposed way, or rather so vulnerable. I feel much closer to nature traveling on a motorbike plus it doesn't sugarcoat traveling to make it appear safe - it is simply and very clearly dangerous.

 

My first overview of Geiranger fjord

 

The day before arriving to Nord Kapp, northern Norway just before Alta, Langfjordveien

 

Evening at Lofoten

 

What are the biggest things you learned in your time on the road?

And your next question is...  It might have been that I don't have as many answers as I thought I had. Learning about how much of my reality is solely my responsibility was a pretty big lesson for me.

 

The northernmost tip of Norway disappeared in an ocean of clouds

 

Finland

 

Heading into Finland

 

What challenges did you face that made you rethink your travels - and how did you work through it?

I've ridden motorbikes a lot in Iceland so I was fairly well prepared for this journey and the issues that arose. At one point my guitar snapped and that was quite a challenge and a shock to me. I had to make a big effort to remain calm and simply find a solution.

Regarding whether my view of travel was altered, I would say there were times that I was rethinking my way of traveling. For example, on the ferry to Dublin I was very glad to travel by riding and sailing and I saw flying as a kind of cheating, so I found that I prefer traveling on the surface of the earth.

In Emerson College I heard of a writer that used to go traveling after he had published each of his books, until he found out that he didn't have to travel physically. He just traveled in his mind or spirit and it did the same thing for him. I've sometimes thought of that and when I see some detail or feel an atmosphere that could be far away I imagine another place and have a 
''Day abroad'' or even just an hour.

 

The sun setting in Sweden, seen from Finland

 

Evening in the Aaland islands, a magical place

 

The village on Aran Island

 

Doolin, Ireland - and the ocean gave Ireland a French kiss

 

Unusual rock formations down by the sea in Doolin

 

 

What's up next for you?

I've written the first two pages of a book (about time travel) about me and my friend time traveling and I also have an illustrated children's book ready.

Apart from writing, I'll be planting trees around my home soon, as spring gets a firmer grip on nature here in Iceland.

 

Ireland - a quick stop on O'Connor's Pass where busses cannot go

 

Road signs in Ireland

 

The photogenic weather of Skye

 

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I am very grateful for the praise of my work and it is humbling to read the reviews and to hear how readers experience the book.

 

A village on the Isle of Skye

 

Scotland - Samye ling, a very peaceful place

 

Looking north on the A in the Netherlands

 

You can find the book on Amazon - in both print and ebook. There will be a countdown deal from April 30-May 5! Note: the print copy does not have photos, while the ebook does.

 

 

 

 

 

All photos courtesy and copyright Thormodur Simonarson