Spirit Traffic

A Mother's Journey of Self-Discovery and Letting Go

By: C. Jane Taylor

Narrated by: C. Jane Taylor

Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Spirit Traffic recounts how, at the age of 50, the author learned to ride a motorcycle, overcame the terror of navigating her steep dirt driveway in Vermont, and, three days after her son’s college graduation, set off with him and her yoga-teacher husband (his stepdad) on a 10,000-mile two-wheel adventure that took them all into uncharted territory - both as novice riders, and as a family.

As if in the saddle of her dual-sport BMW, the listener will experience the good, the bad, and the heartbreak of her journey as a soon-to-be-empty-nester grappling with impermanence, sexuality, hot flashes, high winds, and tailgating tour buses. Spirit Traffic is at once a colorful travelogue of a bucket-list bikers’ route across America and an unflinching memoir of a middle-aged mom conquering her fears (on and off the bike), unpacking a complicated childhood with an addict father and stoic mother, and ultimately, learning to let go of her only child. (Think Blue Highways meets Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance meets Operating Instructions meets Wild.)

With its first-person accounts of legendary rides such as the Burr Trail, Hell’s Backbone Road, and the Pacific Coast Highway, Spirit Traffic will find a ready audience among bikers. But as a midlife memoir, Spirit Traffic will also resonate for anyone who is navigating the departure of a child, negotiating the dynamic tensions of family, or simply yearning for life’s next adventure.

©2022 C. Jane Taylor (P)2022 C. Jane Taylor

A must listen!

Listening to Jane read her inspiring and exciting book is half of the rich experience. I didn’t want it to end. I learned so much about the experience of learning to ride a motorcycle but I especially loved all the reflections about life in general and how we all have obstacles that we can overcome if we just listen to and believe in ourselves. This is a must listen or read (or both!) for anyone wanting to hear some encouragement to live their best life and “go for it”.

I couldn’t stop listening.

A captivating emotional rollercoaster. So wonderful to hear it through the voice of the author.

Motorcycles are the backdrop, but the family is the story..

I listen to a lot of audio books, and this one did exactly what the best of the best do. It made me tear up at the end…A little tear for how it sums up at the end, a little tear for the sharing of the journey, a little tear for the happiness, and insight it brought, and a little tear of sadness that it has ended.
Like, dislike, indifferent about motorcycles? It matters not. The motorcycle is simply the vehicle. The story is of a family unit traveling 10k miles together to some well known locations, and many not well known. This story is during a life transition for them all. The author has something for every reader to ponder. She is someone you would probably like to know. C. Jane Taylor reads her own book, and you do get to know her. Well worth it in my opinion.

Captivating

I’ve known Jane for several years through the local yoga community. Though I was hesitant at first not being a motorcycle fan at all, I now have more appreciation of the sport. I only wish there was a map to follow along for Audible. I stopped many times to look up locations. Jane is a gifted writer, squeamish bits and all.

A modern day road story beckons adventurers

I really enjoyed this audiobook and getting to know the author/reader, her family and this country better through their epic BMW motorcycle journey made under the auspices of celebrating a college graduation. As the storyteller and narrator, the author’s lively voice, inflection, cadence and tone are spot on! Her cultured, at times gritty, often funny, bittersweet and spare-no-details writing style are conversational and easy-to-digest. The author’s personal reflections on her life combined with cultural and literary references deliver an unexpected adventure story of the road from a woman, mom and adventure seeker. With Jane’s delightful descriptions of pretty places and intriguing individuals (2 & 4-legged), I was transported cross country from the safety of my living room without physically having to endure any of the actual hardships that such a trip entails including unpredictable weather, misread family dynamics or water quality issues in Las Vegas pools. The author shares a lot more than just a journey across the country by touching on topics that human beings face when confronting fear, the unknown and lots of unexpected challenges. It’s an enjoyable listen and I recommend it to adventurers both real and of the armchair variety.