Ewan McGregor's TV series "Long Way Round," in which the actor travels around the world with his friend Charley Boorman was inspired by Ted Simon's book, "Jupiter's Travels." His writings have inspired a number of other adventurers to put wheel to pavement in their own adventures on motorbikes. Many travelers would be hard pressed to accomplish the same feat, however. Ted Simon spent four years traveling through over 45 countries on his Triumph Motorbike. Running into countless different cultures, situations and people throughout his journey, he wrote it all down for readers to enjoy. The book is a testament to the spirit of adventure as well as what is possible in life.
Jupiter's Travels, published by Hamish Hamilton, 1976. ISBN: 0-9654785-2-1
The Jupiter's Travels Route
Ted Simon announced his departure in the Sunday Times on the 7th October 1973. This, of course, means that he set out from England. This is exactly where the book begins and the first part of it covers his journey through Europe.
- Simon travelled across the Channel, through France and then into Italy.
- Then his route took him from Tunisia, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, through Libya and into Egypt.
- From Egypt his travels took him South, through Sudan, Ethiopia and into Kenya. After which he continued South toward South Africa, then taking a ship to Brazil.
- In South America, Ted Simon travelled through Brazil toward Argentina, then North to Bolivia and Peru.
- Eventually, he makes it through Ecuador and Columbia, before flying to Panama and then driving up through Mexico to the United States.
- Simon spent some time in Australia and Malaysia and then took a boat almost directly to India. After touring large amounts of India, Tibet and China, Simon finally began his journey home.
- The final countries on his tour were Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and then France.
Ted Simon's Writing Style
Simon's writing is so correct and easy to understand, that one almost hears his strong English accent while reading. Each event on his trip is given almost the same treatment; a candid look at what is going on from the mind of someone who is always watching and judging, but never allows himself to be caught within the magic of his own adventure.
- This frankness allows the reader to make up their own mind about what they are seeing.
- Ted Simon's Jupiter's Travels is full of detail, bringing each location to life and filling the reader's mind with images and ideas.
- The author also has a humanistic side, ensuring that the reader is constantly reminded of the fragility of our lives, and eventually, that we should cherish every moment we have.
Planning a Jupiter's Travels Trip
Although the book says nothing about the way to go about planning a journey of this magnitude, beyond a small description of the gear that Ted Simon took along with him, one could be forgiven for thinking this is a how-to book. The reason for that is quite simple; for when reading this book, there is an immediate desire to accomplish the same feat, to see the same things and have one's own adventure by travelling around the world.
In short, this is a book that any travel fan should be an owner of. A marvellous read, even without dreams of traveling around the world.
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