Through Sand & Snow: A Man, a Bicycle, and a 43,000-Mile Journey to Adulthood via the Ends of the Earth

It's not uncommon for these types of travel books to be rough, clichéd, memoirs of little interest to readers beyond the writers' circle of friends. This however is one of those that is penned well. He tells his story with detail, using interesting language that keeps pulling you along with him as he peddles the world.I'm off to get the sequel and follow further.

He's a good writer, blend of history,geography and politics all rolled into one. He's up there with Alistair Humphreys and Rob Like all. Always like the emotionall element factored in as well

Good read. Well written. Read like a real adventure rather than a miserable plod.Book title is slightly misleading - need to buy the 2nd book to get to 43,000miles!

So good that I bought and read Charlie's second book immediately after.

Having traveled widely across SE Asia, I could relate to a lot of stories and accounts in this brilliant travel memoir. I also visited Tuol Sleng in Phnom Penh and experienced similar feelings but I didn't have the stomach for the killing fields.Really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read the sequel. The descriptive qualities and real, honest and heart-felt summaries made it a joy to read. I recently published a memoir so I know the effort that's required to put it all together.Highly recommended. Well done, Charlie.

Charlie Walker is a fantastic storyteller and this tale of his journey by bike from the UK to China is incredible. His descriptions are so vivid you feel like you could be pedalling along next to him (from the comfort of the sofa, without any of the unpleasantness of saddle-sores, etc!). He shares the raw truth of what a long human-powered journey is like and how that impacted his physical, mental and emotional states. It feels like a deeply personal book too in places, which makes the reader connect to the author and the story more. The second part of his journey is also detailed in 'On Roads That Echo' - another fantastic read. Definitely worth your money to buy and time to read, excellent book.

Easily the best read of my life. I felt I was on the journey with Charlie. Great imagery and detail. What an experience it must have been!

The book is easy to read and combines interesting descriptions of the many countries he passed through and the people he met on the way. It is an adventure story of huge endeavour, many pleasures and a great deal of extreme discomfort. Anyone who likes tales of traveling on foot or by bicycle and alone through many countries will like this book.It would have been more interesting to me if the author had included details of his bicycle, the practicalities of riding it, maintaining it and of his clothes, cooking and camping equipment.

Charlie is a fantastic writer and has the ability to relay in words what most travelers only feel, but will never be able to communicate. I can’t express how much I enjoyed this first book, which had me itching to get away and lose myself in the road

I burned through this book. It is well written and very easy to read. His journey is a spectacular physical feat filled with personal challenges and hardships. The author is shamelessly honest in his experiences and often quite funny. I will definitely be reading On Roads That Echo.

I loved following Charlie on this journey, reading of the places he discovers and the characters he meets. Lose yourself in this book. You’ll be glad you did.

This is one of my favorite books that reminds me of why I travel.Well written, enjoyable, heartfelt tale of an extraordinary adventure to be coveted by the most seasoned travelers.

Highly recommended. The author went to interesting places and conveys a real sense of the people he encountered. Try it!