Free Ride

Heartbreak, Courage, and the 20,000-Mile Motorcycle Journey That Changed My Life

De: Noraly Schoenmaker

Narrado por: Imani Jade Powers

By the YouTube sensation with two and a half million followers, the inspiring account of a young woman who, in a moment of personal crisis, embarked on an epic, transcontinental motorcycle ride—and along the way found a new sense of purpose.

Noraly Schoenmaker was a thirtysomething geologist living in the Netherlands when she learned that her live-in partner had been having a long-term affair. In desperate need of a new beginning, she decided to quit her job and jet off to India. But her plans were dashed when she fell quickly and helplessly in love: with a motorcycle. Behind the handlebars, she felt alive and free—nimble enough to trace the narrowest paths, powerful enough to travel the longest of roads.

First, she set off toward the Pacific, through the jungles of Myanmar and Thailand, then into Malaysia. Rather than satisfy her appetite for the open road, this ride only piqued it. She shipped her bike to Oman, at the base of the Arabian Peninsula, and embarked on a journey through Iran, across Tajikistan along its border with Afghanistan, over the snowy peaks of Central Asia, and into Europe, all the way back home to the Netherlands. She covered remote and utterly unfamiliar territory, broke down on impossibly steep mountains, and pushed too many miles along empty roads, farther and farther from civilization. But through her travels, she discovered the true beauty of the world, the kindness of its people, the simplicity of its open spaces, and a new and unshakable belief in her capabilities.

Free Ride is an inspiring story of self-discovery and renewal. Filled with unforgettable figures, hilarious disasters, and powerful human connections, it shows you what happens when you open your heart and let the world in.

©2025 Noraly Schoenmaker (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Raw Emotion Behind the Scenes

The book was a lot like watching a season, but with a lot more detail. It was fascinating to hear about each leg of the journey and the raw emotion behind each of those adventures. The writing is fantastic and the narrator is very talented. I hope you will write another book.

This felt like a shared journey.

I just loved this book. The writing is completely personal, giving us a sense of place and circumstance and emotional landscape. Noraly shares her grief and hardships as well as her wonder, delight and gratitude. I will be looking for the next book. Imani lends a wonderful voice, the narration is exactly right. Well done.

What guts!

I love all of “Itchy Boots” adventures. But this book gave me the back story of its beginnings. Beautifully written ….. can’t wait for book #2!

Truly Inspirational

Noraly is truly inspirational! Finding her way in this world while showing us all everything and everyone wonderful it has to offer. Such a beautiful soul.💛

It was just like watching Noraly’s videos, but better!

It was just like watching Noraly’s videos, but better! I loved getting a peak into the mind of noraly while on the road, sharing some of her insecurities and her imposter syndrome are very relatable. My only
Problem now is waiting for her next book!