An American Journey is a captivating tale of America and Americans.
In the summer of 1962 James Shaw strapped an army surplus sleeping bag on his 3-speed Raleigh bike and set off from his small-town Nebraska home for the Rocky Mountains. He was fifteen years old and had just read John Steinbeck's " Travels with Charley. " Just like Steinbeck, James learned that America is filled with good-hearted characters, like the tobacco-chewing, foul-mouthed pool shark who, upon learning that James was looking for a place to camp, directed the wandering wayfarer to a pastor who let him sleep on his porch.
Too old at sixty-five?
Fifty years later, James had a few questions: How much has America changed since the days of John F. Kennedy? Are Americans still kind to strangers? And could he, at age sixty-five, bike the thousand-plus miles that lie between Wisconsin and Colorado? On this journey James took along a companion-a weird-looking, small-wheeled bike named Friday. By piquing the curiosity of everyone who saw it, that strange little blue bike introduced James to a fascinating cross section of Americans. From these people James discovered what has changed about America and the many things that are still essentially the same in this great and still wide-open country.
An unforgettable cast of characters.
You'll meet the people James met-memorable one-of-a-kind, salt-of-the-earth folks. Some days he met so many intriguing people that he rode only a couple of dozen miles. Their stories will inspire you. They will also serve as warnings that this great experiment that is known as America must be safeguarded. Steinbeck warned us-and so do the fascinating people you will meet in " An American Journey." Their stories will remind you of all that is good about America-and just how much we stand to lose if we are not vigilant in protecting our freedoms.
Travels with Friday will warm your heart with appreciation for the unique spirit of the American people.