On October 6, 1973 Ted Simon knew there was no heading back. He packed up his 500cc Triumph Tiger in the rain and stated goodbye to London. Over four years he rode 64,000 miles round the world. Breakdowns, revolutions, war, a spell in jail and a Californian commune had been all a part of his knowledge, which was shaded variously by utter despair and unimaginable pleasure. He was treated like a spy, a god, a welcome stranger and a curiosity. The extraordinary trip became a journey into his own soul, and for most others – including the bikers Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor – it really is a pure motivation. Rupert Degas, ‘the most versatile of narrators’ (THE CHANGING TIMES), captures all the thrills and spills of Simon’s encounter and the timeless charm of his writing.