Across America by Bicycle

Alice and Bobbi's Summer on Wheels

By: Alice Honeywell, Bobbi Montgomery

Narrated by: Rosemary Benson

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

Biking from Oregon to Maine is no small feat, especially for two newly retired women who carry everything they need for three months, powered only by the strength of their legs and a desire for adventure. Alice Honeywell and Bobbi Montgomery invite listeners to follow their ride by bicycle across the United States, as they face scorching sun, driving rain, buffeting winds, equipment failures, killer hills, wild fires, and even a plague of grasshoppers.

As Alice and Bobbi pedal along their 3,600-mile journey, they test and deepen their friendship, defy their aches and pains, experience the vast and varied beauties of their country, and discover the challenges and satisfaction of a scaled-down lifestyle. And, they encounter unfailing generosity from people they meet - from the prayers of a North Dakota woman for their safekeeping, to the offer of a house in Michigan, to invitations for dinner and a place to sleep at stops all along the way. And there are incidents to laugh over, too, such as the bewildered woman who asked them, "Well, but where do you pack your dresses?"

Ride along with Alice and Bobbi as they embrace retirement with gusto and live their dream.

©2010 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System (P)2013 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"A heartfelt account of crossing America on two wheels from a pair of gutsy women. Alice and Bobbi prove it's never too late to put a dream into high gear, to let the road reveal a country and the true meaning of friendship." (Joe Kurmaskie, author of Metal Cowboy)

should have sampled the narrator before buying

Wasted a credit on this book. If I had sampled the narrator first, I would not have bought this book.

unfortunately bland

Sadly, the narration by Rosemary Benson makes this milquetoast tale of two mid-western retirees crossing America by bicycle almost unbearable. The writing is clear and capable, but rather bland. But the reader sounds as if she is talking to children who can't speak English. Just awful. I believe a print copy of the book would deliver much more satisfaction.

What an experience - inspirational!

Would you try another book from Alice Honeywell and Bobbi Montgomery and/or Rosemary Benson?

If Alice and Bobbi write the book for the proposed north south trip I would like to listen to it. Hopefully Rosemary will narrate this one too.

Which scene was your favorite?

Not just once scene. I enjoyed listening to their entire trip - especially their separate thoughts at the end.

Was Across America by Bicycle worth the listening time?

Yes. I finished it in two days. I see that another reviewer said the book was boring and that he/she kept waiting for something to happen. This was a book about a life experience, not CSI or Fifty Shades of Gray. This is a story about two wonderful women in their 50s who plan a trip for two years and then ride 3,600 miles across the U.S. in 90 days. Thank you Alice and Bobbi for sharing your story.

Any additional comments?

I really liked the narrator, Rosemary Benson. I plan to look for other books narrated by her.

Very inspiring book. Enjoyed this book so much

Would you consider the audio edition of Across America by Bicycle to be better than the print version?

This audio book was such a joy to listen to. I was so inspired to hear about the stories of their feelings and joys and sorrows during their trip. I hope to someday take a trip like this and enjoy it like they did

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the honest description of their journey

What does Rosemary Benson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I was listening to this book as I was running and it inspired me so much that I wanted to do this myself

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I like to savor my audio books and listen to them traveling and on my runs. It was hard to turn off though after getting to my destination

Any additional comments?

Anyone interested in bicycling should read or listen to this book

Does EVERYBODY have to write a book???

Did Rosemary Benson do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

She did a fine job of narrating.

Any additional comments?

Just because someone does something they are proud of or that others may wish they could do DOES NOT mean they should write a book about it! This book was SO BORING and literally there was not ONE MINUTE where I cared about what was happening. The book is split into sections describing each day and, as an example, by Day 5 (a full hour into the book) the only things that happened were 1) one of the ladies dropped her camera and they had to double back 5 miles and retrieve it and 2) the gear frame on one of the bikes came loose and made the ride a bit shaking for the rider until they made it into town and had it repaired. Unbelievably wasted time! The only reason I finished it was to see if ANYTHING happened to redeem the story...nothing did. I admire them for making the trip and achieving their goals but, again, a book was not required.

Lousy

Reader was so falsely animated that listening was unbearable. I was not able to listen to more than 3 chapters. Wanted to hear the story but could not stand the reading.

Long and drawn out.

We read it for book club. It was long and drawn out. The reader was good but boring and at times it felt very repetitive. It was cool to think 2 middle age women made it across the US. The areas in which I have traveled were the most interesting because i could elaborate in my mind what they were seeing. Other than that the book was kind of drab and uninteresting.

Painful, Provincial and Unintereating

This book is painful, provincial and un interesting. its the murder she wrote of travel stories.

Great possibility for a good story but...

This was an epic adventure with the material for a great story. Instead, it was written and read like a most boring history lecture.

The stories of meeting some really interesting people, of falling over on the bikes, of running into each other, of rain and mud and interesting characters offering then rides. Not to mention the conversations they must have had. Instead, it was, to the effect, ”we didn't argue, and became close”.

A ghost writer might have turned this into a best seller by putting a humorous slant to the tale, and giving the two women some depth or character, or personality. By the end of the story, I knew no more about the characters other than the both liked ice cream.

why is all I can ask

I had only made through 2 chapters before bailing on this adventure. The reader no more understands the subject than the two women who rode it. lazy and very in experienced. But they did do a lot of groups rides before. apparently leaning nothing about maintaining a Bicycle. Will no finish this tale, but hope they have learned more than this book delivers in adventure.