Bicycling America

A Senior’s Solo Bicycle Ride Across America for His Grandson

By: Bill W. Fowler

Narrated by: Bill W. Fowler

A bicycling and travel audiobook like no other. It offers an entertaining and inspirational listen for all audiences. It tells the story of a 66-year-old grandfather who has never ridden a bicycle for more than a few miles at a time and sets out to ride a bicycle from one coast of the United States to the other. He does this ride by himself with no one along for company and no one following along when things go wrong. It recounts the dangers, trials, tribulations, fatigue, and despondency he endures. It also sings with the joy and exuberance only an exciting adventure can bring forth.

While the audiobook is a travel log of captivating sites and wonderful people from the Pacific to the Atlantic, it is so much more. It touches on stories of many women and men (both African, Native and European American) and the challenges they faced which helped shape the country he crosses. As such, it is a bit of a story about America. It also includes a few of the author’s own life challenges which help in understanding what got him into and through this ride.

©2021 Bill Fowler (P)2022 Bill Fowler

It was a good story, but......

Let me get this out of the way first.

Wonderful story, wonderful adventure, inspirational I suppose, informational as well. Tragic that your grandson must deal with the disease and I do wish all affected good tidings and a swift recovery. Children shouldn't suffer.

Mr. Fowler's descriptive story of his bike ride across America indeed inspires one to do the same if for no other reason that to do it. I have always wanted to do something similar and at 66, I better get my butt moving. His admirable reason for doing the ride is described a few times in the book, perhaps a few more times than necessary. Mention it in the beginning of the book and move on with the story.

I have listened to hundreds of audiobooks and for the most part, the one's that are narrated by the author are the best ones as you get the words out of the horses mouth, so to speak. Then there are those authors who felt it necessary to hire someone else to narrate their book for one reason or another and it was a wise choice on their behalf. Finally, there are the authors who have elected to narrate the book themselves when they shouldn't have. I'm sorry to report Mr. Fowler, you should not have narrated your own book.

I know you wanted it to sound like you were reading the book to your grandson and I appreciate that. The downside is for the rest of us, it felt like you were reading a bedtime story to us. The tone in your voice most times was a grandparents tone when it needed to be an authors tone. There were the errant pauses and stammers from time to time and a few mispronunciations (didn't anyone review the recordings before it got pushed to ACX?).

But again, the story itself, was wonderful and you should be proud of yourself for the accomplishment. Sorry if I seemed too harsh, but really I am just offering some constructive critizism.