It Was a Good Plan!

Loved this book so much I really wanted to go out, buy a motorbike and travel the world. It was heartwarming, humorous and their adventures were sometimes scary. Loved reading about the people they met and the places they visited.
Received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#ItWasaGoodPlan #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book for my review.
This is a travel log of Mark the author, and Shelly who travel the PAH (pan American hywy) on a motorcycle. It provides and interesting and fun read. The trip takes them to remote areas but the adventure is the experience you have during the trip that you don’t forget. I enjoyed the constant description of weather and road conditions which continue to vary some good and some bad. In addition to the scenery which seemed amazing to view.

The trip was during the 2020 Covid lockdown. They made the best of it by staying in a volcanic paradise in Nicaragua. The people they meet are fun to read about.

I have traveled myself with friends by hitch hiking thru Europe for 5 summers in a row. I have to agree with Mike that you can make the best of plans but the slightest thing can change them. Yet the road may lead to a fantastic discovery. You meet people who invite you to their homes and you make new friends.

I was sorry to read the hassle involved in returning to England and shipping the bike back. Not to mention Mocha which I loved!

I enjoyed the book and it brought back a lot of memories. Luckily I too keep a blog or diary because one day you won’t be able to do it but you read all about it.

If you like travel written by the person who went give this book a read.

When have the best laid plans ever gone right? Mark Stevens shares with us how gloriously bad even the most thought out bucket list trip can go, yet still accidentally turn into an irreplaceable adventure.

We join Mark and his partner Selly as they begin their adventure of a lifetime – riding a motorcycle up the Pan-American Highway (PAH). After years of dreaming, planning, saving, practicing, re-saving, and re-planning, they’re finally off: in November 2019. If you happen to remember the beginning months of 2020, you may be able to guess their massive plot twist. Some of us may be trying to block 2020 from our memories, but thankfully, Mark and Selly chose to share theirs with us.

We all have unique experiences and memories from 2020. I quite enjoyed reading about the lively survivor squad hanging out in the volcanic paradise tucked away in Nicaragua, especially since it has a happy ending for a pup. I’m ready for my own BBQ complete with coke, rum, and a bit of paddle boarding! Book my stay at Paradiso!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading of the beautiful countries, wildlife, and people they encountered prior to the worldwide lockdown. It painted vivid illustrations of the very real-world context to go with famous photos we’ve all seen of Easter Island, Machu Picchu, and Argentinian steaks.

Mark’s first-person style writing connects us with the individual life stories while gently reminding us of our humanitarian responsibilities for lives off the tourist trails. It’s an important call to action so we can meet the needs of those around us. Sometimes we merely need to ponder the possibilities and utilize our current resources. It can make a life-changing difference for another. Amidst the chaos of the headlines, there is still kindness in the world.

One particular quote resonated with me. It’s a reflection of my personal traveling motto, passed on through my family: “There just isn’t a perfect time for lengthier adventures. You can try to pick a window, plan and re-plan, but you never know what’s around the corner. Reasons pop up why ‘this isn’t the best year’, but they’ll pop up every year and ultimately you just have to go as soon as you can make it happen. If you dilly-dally over it for too long, it really will become that long-lost dream.”

It Was A Good Plan had me giggling, pondering, and googling potential itineraries, just not with a bike. It’s an entertaining read for any young adult and older who shares the travel bug, epic motorcycle rides, or interest in other cultures. I put the book down feeling like I had just had a beer with good friends. Cheers to the memories!

https://www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/2022/05/28/the-mockingowl-roost-it-was-a-good-plan-and-then-the-world-spun-upside-down/

This was a great book, full of entertaining bits and pieces. It certainly threw a new light in a pandemic we know so well by now.

I really enjoyed the travel journal, the things they saw, the friends they made, and even the way they rode out the worst of the pandemic. It was interesting to see it from a perspective of a different continent than mine.

And obviously Mocha was a blast. I just wanted to know more how it all ended, if they ever got the bike back, if they have plans to finish what they started.

Review was also be published on my personal blog, link below.

They turning adversity into positives. A wonderful story of adventure and the love for travelling. The book had a lot of heart, and humour and reminded me of what I love about travelling. You always go with a plan, but the greatest parts can never be planned, they just happen. Looking forward to the next part of the adventure.

Received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#ItWasaGoodPlan #NetGalley