If you can see Mt. Baker, you are part of The Experience
It takes a rare combination of courage, perseverance and writing acumen to achieve what author Heather Lea did with “Riding Full Circle: What the World Taught Me About Motorcycles, Risk, and Someone I Barely Knew.”
This book, which is filled with adventure and self-reflection, serves as a loose guide to riding a motorcycle around the world. It takes the reader inside the journey — from the annoying paperwork to sketchy situations — in a way that makes it all page-turning. Whether you are a fellow adventurer or looking to live vicariously through someone else, “Riding Full Circle” has pieces in it that everyone can pull from.
While the book is filled with lines of inspiration like, “Incredible moments happen in the blink of an eye,” the quote that stood out most to me was, “She waves when the two drive off, leaving me to remember that no matter where I am in the world, or how depressed I am, there is always — always — the simple act of compassion from a stranger, the very humanity that has defined our trip from the start.”
Throughout Lea’s adventure, she faced many occasions when she could have, and maybe even should have, called it off and returned to the Pacific Northwest to her home on the outskirts of Bellingham. But she didn’t; she always found a reason to keep going.
While the motorcycle was her vehicle, what really took Lea and her boyfriend around the world were the people and places. Through necessity and then desire, Lea connected with the people of the world. Many were locals, allowing Lea to experience their culture firsthand; others were fellow travelers living life on the road, figuring out how to cobble together plans, parts and paperwork to get to the next location on time and in one piece.
While reading the book, you may be drawn to the idea of getting a motorcycle and going on an adventure, or you may think, “No chance am I getting on a bike,” but you will likely be pulled to explore the world a little bit more. The tales of big cities, little towns, high peaks and ocean views are the book’s settings, but it’s the interactions with people, animals and Mother Nature that bring the story to life.
Each page is a reminder of the world that is out there and how much there is to explore. It also shows that most people are good. It can be scary. Lea had her share of scares, but there was always a way forward, a next step, a helping hand to keep the adventure going. Lea writes, “The fear of what could happen keeps people from letting anything happen.” This lesson can be carried with you not just on your next adventure, but in every part of life.
The wisdom Lea shares within the pages is impactful because she is vulnerable throughout. She celebrates her achievements, but she doesn’t shy away from revealing her less glamorous moments. She shares the mistakes she made with candor, letting the reader witness her personal growth over the span of two years. The vulnerability, honesty and talented storytelling create a book that is hard to put down and even harder to forget.
“Riding Full Circle: What the World Taught Me About Motorcycles, Risk, and Someone I Barely Knew” is published by Sidekick Press, and available at most bookstores and online. X
