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It's not every day that a fellow decides to pack in a good job, pack up his saddlebags, and set off by bicycle to make a circumferential journey around Australia. In 1996, that's just what American-born Time magazine correspondent Roff Martin Smith did, though; as he explains, he'd been living in Australia for 14 years but didn't really know the country, and he "felt no emotional bond to it." About to turn 38, a few pounds over his ideal weight, and untested as a distance bicyclist, Smith faced up to considerable odds, but he survived to tell the tale.
And a rollicking tale it is, as Smith meets with an odd assortment of humans and critters along his sometimes torturous path. (One all-too-long stretch of road, for instance, he calls "the most dangerous and frightening I've ever had the misfortune to ride: a suicide run of hammering trucks, heavy construction, muddy detours, and lane closures.") Smith logs time in crocodile country, too, in the far northern Australian rainforest, where he counts the awful moments until antediluvian doom strikes. It never does, and in any event the crocs are nothing compared to the errant sheep, emus, kangaroos, and death adders he encounters, to say nothing of the 108-degree gusts euphemistically referred to by local weathercasters as "sea breezes"--none of which poses quite the dangers that his fellow humans offer out on the beery highways of Oz. Difficult though the journey is, Smith keeps up his good cheer throughout these lively pages, and, if he's not quite unflappable, he's certainly a sympathetic narrator.
Expanded from his popular three-part series in National Geographic magazine, Smith's pedal-powered epic is an instructive manual for anyone contemplating a life-changing journey--and, for the rest of us, a highly enjoyable, altogether unexpected tour of the outback. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
The born wayfarer takes his time, stays close to the land, and lives by its rhythms, always ready when a friendly nod turns into a dinner invitation but just as happy to camp alone under the Southern Cross. He's a free spirit, following the road map of his own adventurous imagination. When he happens to be a keen observer and a vivid writer as well, the result is a classic travel book.
American Roff Smith had been living in Australia for 15 years when he quit his job, pared his life to what could be carried in the panniers of his bicycle, and pedaled off on a 10,000-mile circuit of the continent. By the time he coasted back into Sydney nine months later, he had discovered an Australia that eludes the casual traveler; Cold Beer and Crocodiles is his evocative, eventful report from the highways and byways of Oz, an affectionate portrait of his adopted country and its colorful people.
It's a tale worthy of the bold explorers who lived -- and sometimes died -- to open up this vast, isolated, beautiful world, from chilly Tasmania to the arid, blistering outback, where temperatures soar to 140 degrees in the midday sun. On a good day, 100 miles or more might unreel smoothly beneath Smith's tires; on a bad day, he often staggered into a desert roadhouse, exhausted, out of water, and all but dead. There are narrow escapes, wild tropical storms, a grisly crash, and a wonderful variety of unexpected scenes that capture the many faces of Australia and the men and women who call it home.
We meet rancher Rob Macintosh and his family, who offer Smith a warm welcome and a job on a working sheep station, and a quartet of matey diggers who whisk him off to a lush canyon oasis hidden between the folds of an apocalyptic landscape. We meet soft-spoken Aborigines of unfailing courtesy and generosity, as well as drifters and tourists, craftsmen and farmers, roadhouse keepers and their trademark customers -- the fabled long-distance drivers who barrel across the empty sands in the cab of a road train as long as a football field. Though there's a wealth of good company here, this is a book that savors solitude, too, the quietly stunning moments that reward the self-sufficient traveler -- a black-velvet sky studded with stars, the green flash at the instant of sunset in the old pearling port of Broome, restless swells that sweep in from the South Pole to crash against breathtaking cliffs at the desolate edge of the world.
With a sure sense of place and an engaging, entertaining, and above all honest voice, Roff Smith interweaves the history and lore of Australia with his own hard-won journey of discovery -- the kind of revelation that rewards those who travel not through a country but into it.
Customer Reviews:
Now I want to ride around Australia..........2007-04-06
I loved this book. I like reading adventure travel books, but this one really caught my imagination. Roff Smith is a humorous writer with a knack for capturing the nuances of speech and behavior that make Aussies Aussies. Unlike many travel writers, Smith is neither condescending to his subject nor is he blind to the faults of the subject matter. Instead, he discusses the Australian psyche from the viewpoint of an adopted son, pointing out both the foibles of the Aussies as well as the things that make them a great country.
HIGHLY recommended for anyone with an interest in our antipodean neighbor or in bicycling!
Cold Beer and Crocodiles : A Bicycle Journey into Australia.......2006-06-29
Having travelled through Australia a number of times by airplane, car, and train, I found the perpspective of a bicylist to be enlightening, funny, and exasperating. While I never intend to pedal around Oz, I think Smith captured the spirit of the country. It was a good read. I would recommend the book but not the means of transport....
True to the cycle touring experience.......2004-12-21
Having finished only half the book, I'm amazed at the experiences he has. I'm at a loss to understand just how he went about getting into the situations he did. And yet, being a cycle-tourist myself, I can understand.
Let me explain a bit. While Smith was riding inland, in central Queensland, he decided he wanted to visit a sheep station (ranch) and see how it operated. Somehow he got in contact with the MacIntoshes of Fairfield Station. He stayed for days, helping out on the ranch.
Later, while pedaling through hot plains of Northern Queensland in the dry season, a couple of guys pulled up behind him in a Land Rover and offered him a beer. They got to talking, and again Smith spent days with newfound friends in the outback. They camped, fished, and in the end Smith was invited to a wedding.
And time after time, the author was invited to stay over for dinner or to sleep in the spare bedroom at various homes along the way.
During my everyday comings and goings, it's hard to imagine that one could so easily make new friends and have such adventures. People are not so trusting, so willing to share their lives. I thought to myself, this isn't the way things work. And then I remembered what it was like to pedal from Phoenix, Arizona to El Paso, Texas. And then Smith's adventure seemed plausible - even made sense.
While on a bike ride through the Southwestern US, a friend and I experienced quite a few gestures of goodwill. A woman drove twenty miles to offer us a ride when several spokes snapped. A man opened his home to me and offered up his computer, refrigerator, and even his shower. Three families on holiday in the mountains shared their meal with us and were more than willing to give us a ride down the mountain to a New Year's party the community was putting on at the community center.
When I think back, people are anxious to share and offer a helping hand, sometimes. But why isn't every day life like this?
Perhaps it's something to do with being a cyclist on the road. Maybe it's because being a cyclist in the middle of a desert is a good icebreaker. Or perhaps people feel inclined to help someone so vulnerable to the elements. Or maybe they're just curious.
Whatever the case, I both identify with Smith's experiences and am baffled by them. It's a book I can hardly put down.
A Great Journey.......2004-08-24
Roff Smith hit a crossroads one day and didn't know whether he should stay in Australia or move back to the US. Since he hadn't really seen or experienced Australia like he felt he should have, how could he be expected to make a decision as to whether he should stay? The only solution, of course, was to hop on his bicycle and pedal 10,000 miles around the entire island.
Along the way he meets up with the requisite cast of weird characters, tries as much Australian outback life as he can handle, and just plain experiences Australia. He writes about his struggles, emotional and physical, to actually complete the trip. But whether it's bad luck, hurt legs, a chance encounter with a tcomplete jerk, all his setbacks are rendered unimportant when he gets a chance to see the things that make Australia what it is. It's a great book.
The only valid complaint I can voice has already been said by most of the other reviewers: the book is too short. The author spends the first half of the book going about one-third of his trip. The last half of his trip occupies barely the last quarter of the book. The addition of another 100 pages wouldn't make this book too long or unreadable; it would only serve to fully flesh it out.
Perhaps one other disadvantage is that the book may inspire you to want to take a bicycle journey of your own! Hmmm, I know that Australia's been done ... has anyone pedalled all around New Zealand?
Duel in the Sun........2003-06-05
Cold Beer and Crocodiles (crocodiles barely feature at all!) is an excellent travel adventure which will appeal to anyone who cosily enjoys the vicarious experience of someone else battling to survive in an extreme landscape : in this case, the Australian Outback. Having lived in Australia for 15 years without developing any emotional attachment to the country, Roff Smith quit his job at Time magazine to undertake a mammoth 10,000 mile round trip of Australia, his rationale being a desire to try to engage emotionally "with the country I'd lived in as a stranger all these years". His chosen mode of transport, a 21 speed touring bicycle would let him get close to the land, experience Australia, its sights, sounds and smells.
In the early stages, Smith expends much pedal power shaking off the Sydney suburbs and running the gauntlet of heavy, aggressive traffic. City and suburbs sloughed off, six months of gruelling Outback travel follow : its when he hits the furnace of the Outback that the words blaze off the page as he is plagued for months on end by flies, thirst, dust, scorching heat and feelings of loneliness ; is overtaken by huge triple roadtrains barrelling down desert highways ; witnesses spectacular thunder and lightning desert storms ; bivouacs in scrub under night skies "full of stars as sharp as needles"; works in sheep and cattle stations; picks melons ; visits an Aboriginal Community; duels for weeks on end with the vast, hostile expanses of empty reddish plains baking under the blistering sun - "so much nothing out there...just miles and miles of nothing" .Surviving to the next roadhouse is the order of each day! On his travels, Smith encounters a mixed bag of people ( a few dodgy, most helpful) often in remote roadhouses, isolated settlements or outstations hundreds of miles of sand, scrub and spinifex away from the nearest town.
If the thought of living on the edge appeals to you, read this book. Now try "One For The Road" by Tony Horwitz, another equally good travel venture into the Australian Outback but this time from the very different perspective of a hitch-hiker. Both books strongly recommended!
Book Description
Now fans can read about the life and passion of the world's most famous naturalist, Steve Irwin, as he and his wife Terri delve into the croc hunter's most famous-and dangerous-adventures. In addition to reading about their encounters with everything from hissing snakes to charging rhinos, readers can enjoy dozens of full-color photos, facts about nature and the environment, and intimate glimpses into Steve and Terri's life away from the cameras.
Customer Reviews:
A book of a true scientist and his family saving animals........2007-02-15
This book reveils the true story of how a man and his family are saving Australian animals. You will read about the true love of a person who entertained and educated the world. Any one who heard Steve torments or harms animals to do a show will read the truth. He will say why he captures an animal and what he learns from the animal and what happens after he releases the animal or takes it to his zoo..The book is told by Steve and Terry Irwin. It includeds stories from his mom and dad and Wes, the zoo director. It reveals Steve Irwins real story, from a child through the birth of his daughter and more.. Junior High school kids and older will love the story and the photos are amazing.. You should read this book.. Then visit his web site.
The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve and Terri Irwin.......2007-02-09
Great book for a great man.
Wonderful book, wonderful life.......2007-01-09
This book is a treasure, for those who loved Steve and Terri Irwin. It is filled with wonderful photos of their lives together, and written in an easy to read style. I love having it on my coffee table as a reference book, and it helps to keep Steve's memory alive.
The Crocodile Hunter.......2006-12-18
"Hold onto their heads while I get their jaws apart." Steve Irwin grew up with his parents and sisters in Australia. His parents started the Beerwah Reptile Park, which later grew into Australia Zoo. Ever since he was a young boy, Steve has helped his dad capture and relocate crocodiles. In September of 1991, Terri and a friend went to Australia for vacation. Terri was introduced to Steve and four months later they were engaged. Immediately after their wedding in June in Terri's hometown in Oregon, they went back to Australia to begin filming the hit TV series "The Crocodile Hunter." They had many adventures all over the world and were running the zoo. On July 24, 1998 their daughter Bindi Sue Irwin was born. They continue to help injured and orphaned animals and teach people to conserve wild life. I really enjoyed reading this book.
I liked that the book told of some of their adventures. One of the trips they went on was to drive along the longest manmade structure, Australia's Dingo Fence. Another was when they had to free climb to a lower edge of a cliff and Terri nearly fell. One of their adventures with a crocodile was when they were trying to move Charlie from a cement enclosure to the zoo.
I also liked that they put animal facts and survival tips in the book without being a distraction. They said that the perentie was the largest lizard in Australia. They also said that ninety percent of fatal snake bites in Australia happen when a person is trying to kill or catch the snake. They said you shouldn't cut, lick, or wash a snake bite so that a doctor can swab the bite to find out if the serpent is venomous and what species it is.
I liked that they gave several descriptive facts about Steve's parents. Steve's dad, Bob, and his mom, Lyn, were both great naturalists and herpetologists. Bob was raised in the state of Victoria by his mom and grandmother during the depression. His father and grandfather both died while fighting the Japanese in the specific. Lyn worked very hard to learn better techniques for rehabilitating marsupials. Lyn and Bob knew each other since they were kids.
Another thing I compliment the book on was that it told of times when they made mistakes or felt embarrassed. When Steve was very young his dad had to push him out of the way because he was stepping on brown snake, one of the most venomous snakes in the world. Another time, Steve caught several red-bellied black snakes and brought them on the bus. His dad was furious and yelled at him right in front of his friends. When Steve and Terri were out catching crocs Terri couldn't keep the spotlight still, resulting in Steve missing the little crocodiles. The lives of Steve and Terri Irwin are never dull and are full of adventure. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in adventure and wildlife.
By K. Lissner
The Crocodile Hunter.......2006-12-18
"Hold onto their heads while I get their jaws apart." Steve Irwin grew up with his parents and sisters in Australia. His parents started the Beerwah Reptile Park, which later grew into Australia Zoo. Ever since he was a young boy, Steve has helped his dad capture and relocate crocodiles. In September of 1991, Terri and a friend went to Australia for vacation. Terri was introduced to Steve and four months later they were engaged. Immediately after their wedding in June in Terri's hometown in Oregon, they went back to Australia to begin filming the hit TV series "The Crocodile Hunter." They had many adventures all over the world and were running the zoo. On July 24, 1998 their daughter Bindi Sue Irwin was born. They continue to help injured and orphaned animals and teach people to conserve wild life. I really enjoyed reading this book.
I liked that the book told of some of their adventures. One of the trips they went on was to drive along the longest manmade structure, Australia's Dingo Fence. Another was when they had to free climb to a lower edge of a cliff and Terri nearly fell. One of their adventures with a crocodile was when they were trying to move Charlie from a cement enclosure to the zoo.
I also liked that they put animal facts and survival tips in the book without being a distraction. They said that the perentie was the largest lizard in Australia. They also said that ninety percent of fatal snake bites in Australia happen when a person is trying to kill or catch the snake. They said you shouldn't cut, lick, or wash a snake bite so that a doctor can swab the bite to find out if the serpent is venomous and what species it is.
I liked that they gave several descriptive facts about Steve's parents. Steve's dad, Bob, and his mom, Lyn, were both great naturalists and herpetologists. Bob was raised in the state of Victoria by his mom and grand mother during the depression. His father and grandfather both died while fighting the Japanese in the specific. Lyn worked very hard to learn better techniques for rehabilitating marsupials. Lyn and Bob knew each other since they were kids.
Another thing I compliment the book on was that it told of times when they made mistakes or felt embarrassed. When Steve was very young his dad had to push him out of the way because he was stepping on brown snake, one of the most venomous snakes in the world. Another time, Steve caught several red-bellied black snakes and brought them on the bus. His dad was furious and yelled at him right in front of his friends. When Steve and Terri were out catching crocs Terri couldn't keep the spotlight still, resulting in Steve missing the little crocodiles. The lives of Steve and Terri Irwin are never dull and are full of adventure. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in adventure and wildlife.
Product Description
Few celebrities touched the world as Steve Irwin did. Beloved by people from all walks of life, his vast efforts at conservation continue to make a difference all over the globe. His wife Terri's commitment to carrying on his legacy is not only admirable, but inspirational to so many others who can benefit from her strength and conviction.
Their story is not just one of taking a noble cause to new heights of success and recognition, it is also a fairytale love affair. When Terri, and American tourist in Australia, first laid eyes on Steve, she saw a real-life action hero. When she tried to get a date, she was disappointed to learn that his heart already belonged to another. Steve offered to introduce her to his girlfriend, whistled, and presented his best gal: a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Sui.
Later, he took Terri on the kind of date every girl dreams of--a canoe ride through the swamp at night. Terri describes the luminescent eyes of the crocodiles flashing in the beam of her flashlight in the otherwise total darkness. When Steve then confidently climbed out of the boat and into the water, she knew she would never feel unsafe again. The two married in June 1992, in Eugene, Oregon. The footage of their crocodile-trapping honeymoon became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter.
The two of them went on to change the world. Their hit show was broadcast in over 137 countries, reaching 500 million people, and they founded the Australia Zoo in 1992, as well as the conservation foundation Wildlife Warriors Worldwide Ltd. in 2002. On September 4, 2006, Steve Irwin was fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray spine while snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, at Batt Reef, which is located off the coast of Port Douglas in Queensland. Irwin was at the time filming his own documentary, Ocean's Deadliest.
Average customer rating:
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The Cockney and the Crocodile (Ulverscroft Large Print Series)
Caroline Gye
Manufacturer: Ulverscroft Large Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0708926401 |
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Crocodile Attack (Extreme Adverntures)
Justin D'Ath
Manufacturer: Penguin Global
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 014330223X |
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Crocodile Hunter
Steve Irwin
Manufacturer: Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media
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Binding: Turtleback
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ASIN: 0606260161 |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book about redfish.......2007-05-31
I bought this book for my husband because redfish is one of his favorite fish to catch...but he had only been moderately successful. He said this book was wonderful and very informative...the best he's read on this subject. I should add that after he read it he went out and immediately caught two redfish; because I bought the book for him I think the credit should go to the book.
Redfish primer.......2006-03-11
I have never caught a redfish. I am going on a fishing trip soon and I am positive that this book will enable me to catch my first redfish.
Product Description
Old Reddy Drum, a wise and powerful fish, gives life-saving advice to a young Peter Puppy Drum.
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Kokanee: The Redfish and the Kootenay Bioregion (Transmontanus, 9)
Don Gayton
Manufacturer: New Star Books
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 092158685X |
Book Description
The Kootenays — a region of rivers, lakes and mountains in southeastern British Columbia — is home to the kokanee. This landlocked sibling of the sockeye salmon is an extravagant gift from the Pacific Ocean, an elusive flash of molten silver, a lustful reproductive torrent of fire-engine red, a marvel of interior adaptation, an icon of regional culture, and a pawn of industry.
In Kokanee: The Redfish and the Kootenay Bioregion, writer and ecologist Don Gayton tells the kokanee's story, from the cataclysmic Ice Age events that gave birth to the species through its heyday as a sporting fish, to current threats to its existence. The story of the kokanee is the story of the delicate balance between land and water, and between people and nature.
Kokanee: The Redfish and the Kootenay Bioregion is Number 9 in the Transmontanus series of books, edited by Terry Glavin.
Books:
- Community and Population Health with PowerWeb: Health and Human Performance
- Conundrum: The Evolution of Homosexuality
- Cow Parade San Antonio: Celebrating the Art and Culture of the Alamo City
- Darwin on Man: A Psychological Study of Scientific Creativity
- Data For Biochemical Research (DATA FOR BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH)
- Deer (The Wildlife Series, Book 3)
- Deerproofing Your Yard & Garden
- Dna Microarrays: A Practical Approach (Practical Approach Series (Cloth))
- Doubly Labelled Water - Theory and Practice
- Eating Apes (California Studies in Food and Culture, 6)
Books Index
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Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before
