Introduction
Chris didn’t look like an Aboriginal adolescent as he set off from Belfast on his café racing Moto Guzzi. But it was the same motivation that drove him to set off on a journey of self-discovery. But when the Iranian revolution stopped the planned 10,000-mile motorcycle road trip to Australia, he ends high in the Andes, 50-odd thousand miles later, before returning to Belfast. Going the Wrong Way. A ‘coming of age’ road trip like no other. Chris is now riding to Australia, on the same Moto Guzzi Le Mans, 42 years after his first attempt. Book reviews Chris leaves the Belfast Troubles behind and creates his own trouble. It’s a wild ride but Chris tells a cracking yarn that will keep you going to the bitter-sweet end. Ted Simon, Author, Jupiter’s Travels What a gem of a book. The journey Chris described was vivid, raw, and humorous. It takes the reader back to more innocent times, before technology shrank the world, and motorcycling adventures became stage managed. A truly awesome read – an engaging, raw, honest and absolutely enthralling adventure! As an adolescent troubled by the Belfast (IRA) “Troubles” of the 70’s, Chris strikes out on a worldwide voyage of self-discovery and brings the reader with him to share the experiences. Since the Stone Age, the Walkabout has been an Aboriginal rite of passage. When adolescent boys wander aimlessly through the bush on a journey with no particular destination, to make the spiritual transition from boy to man. It’s a time for self-assessment and deep thought, to learn about himself without the influence of his elders, friends, or family. It’s a physical and psychological journey.
About Chris Donaldson
My self published book, Going the Wrong Way, has been for sale through Amazon and has over 1200, five star reviews. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Going-Wrong-Way-Australia-possibly/dp/1838012761/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VVPID442Y2GJ&dchild=1&keywords=going+the+wrong+way+chris+donaldson&qid=1620123731&sprefix=going+the+wrong%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-1 When I left Belfast in 1979 my original plan was to ride to Australia, but I never made it, ending up in Argentina nearly 2 years later. I rode across the Sahara desert, travelled through Africa to Cape Town, where I hitched a ride on a yacht race back to Europe. I then went to the USA and rode from Canada south through Central America and South America to Buenos Aires. I have recently published my book ‘Going the Wrong Way,’ which is an Amazon best-seller. You can find details on my website, www.chrisdonaldson.world I have decided to finally complete the journey this year, 42 years after my return from South America and take the same Moto Guzzi to Australia. I will be traveling with an old friend Liam Lavery and will make the journey in stages, as we both have wives, children and jobs. If all goes well, we will continue to America and complete the round the world journey. Liam will be riding a new Moto Guzzi V85, and it will be interesting to see how the new bike compares with my 1977 Moto Guzzi Le Mans. Otherwise we will be totally unsupported in our journey across the world. We will travel down Europe to the Middle East, before heading East to Dubai. From there we will cross Iran, Pakistan and India, before making our way to the Far East and Australia. Along with the usual political and geographical challenges, we will have Covid 19 against us. We will as before, decide on our final route on the way.