Page 30 - RidingOn156 SPRING 2022

Free Back Issues! 27 Years

On The Road: Book review

Free Back Issues written by Mike Ferris is not the book it initially had them hiding for days while the sound of shooting could
appears. In fact, it left me with a bit of a love/hate relationship be heard nearby. He also mentions a time when he and a few
about it. Hate is probably a harsh term to use but one chapter of his tour commandeered an embassy car after an embassy
did leave me feeling disappointed if not a little angry with a dinner, only to sheepishly return it the following morning.
small but significant content, to the point where I put the book
down for a week. However, it’s only one chapter of 55. The The book describes the variety of clients of his tour company,
remaining 54 chapters form the love part that left me wanting including those who irritated him and those who he found to be
to find the time to sit and get back into reading more. There is inspirational, entertaining and quite a few to become lifelong
much stirring of the adventuring spirit, some shock and gasp- friends. This includes many entries of his “repeat offenders”,
inducing stories, talks of inspirational people that he’s met on clients who continued to return multiple times. He has watched
his tours, and the catalyst of quite a few giggles. some develop from rookie to very competent riders. He has
shared in their successes and their pain during some of life’s
A little background on the author. Mike Ferris is the owner- tragedies. He dedicates a chapter discussing the simple but
operator of a professional international motorcycle touring important skills required to successfully ride in less-than-ideal
company. He started as a rookie motorcyclist with little conditions.
experience but over 27 years he has taken his business
originally called Ferris Wheels to the now known and very aptly In summary, the book is more than a travel book. It is a
named World On Wheels. He has built both a professional fascinating and inspirational account of the people who have
global network and along the way a plethora of friends plus the shared the experiences of Mike Ferris’s journey through life,
respect of many within the motorcycling world. particularly since the birth of his touring career. For me the
book rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars, it had me wanting to read more.
Initially, I thought it would be solely about Mike and his
adventures, but it is a whole lot more. The content is as much Holly Field #54062
about the people he has met, experiences including the good,
bad and ugly, along with the challenges of running a business You can order the book via payment gateways such as PayPal
amongst the ever-increasing amount of competition. and Stripe, from the webpage www.WorldOnWheels.tours
The book is an honest and open warts and all account. Some of
which is not for everyone, especially if the reader is expecting a
rose-coloured story about travel or are sensitive to the following
topics. The topics include escaping civil unrest, drug and alcohol
abuse, suicide, child abduction, and paedophilia. Only one
section I found myself disappointed with due to the inclusion of
potentially identifying details of a child that he suspected may
have experienced abuse. It can be argued that the inclusion
was not necessary as the point about another individual was
already made. The book itself does not clarify if permission was
granted for that detail to be used. There’s no warning, and for
those who may be affected by paedophilia, even though briefly
discussed, they could still find the topic emotionally provoking,
just be aware it’s in chapter 23.
The style and manner Mike has written this book are much
like having an in-person chat. It is not in chronological order.
Each chapter refers to different times in random order except
for the beginning in which he explains the first 12 months of
conception and birth of Ferris Wheels. It follows the decision to
leave a successful career whilst making the statement “perhaps
I might go and climb Mt Everest” to the final chapter describing
an overview of the significant life events he has personally
experienced from a child to now.
Mike describes his initiation into riding by throwing himself
in the deep end, buying a motorbike in Kathmandu, having
a quick lesson on how to ride before heading off to explore
the country. In doing so he realised the potential of setting
up a guided motorcycling company in India. This influenced
a chain of events through research, networking, and building
lifelong friendships in which he describes the many memorable
moments. Before Covid, his tours had built up to include many
continents around the world.

Mike narrates his experiences negotiating border crossings and
international bureaucracy at times with the assistance or lack of
assistance of the various Australian Embassies. Mike has relied
on his ingenuity to get a tour group out of a civil conflict that

RIDING ON 30