South Away

October 7, 2019

Hackinen, a writer who has recently experienced success as an ultraendurance cycling record holder, pens an account of her bike journey adventures along the Pacific Coast of North America that originate in British Columbia and terminate in the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. The author is joined early on by her sister and together they pedal their way south through multitudes of flat tires, a wide range of topographic challenges, ever-changing weather conditions, and sometimes less-than-desirable camping experiences. Over the thousands of miles, the two sisters forge a strong familial bond that had been missing throughout most of their childhood. Near the close of the book, the two siblings realize their goal of riding to the beaches of Cabo will result in disappointment. Instead, they decide to stop and take advantage of less tourist-filled areas of Baja California Sur. Pictures help transport readers into the various stages of their expedition.

VERDICT Biking and adventure travel enthusiasts will revel in the author's descriptions and ability to endure such an arduous trip, and find this account restores one's faith in human goodness.--John N. Jax, Univ. of Wisconsin Lib., La Crosse

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2019
In this empowering memoir, Hackinen, an avid cyclist, recounts her first touring-bike journey: a colossal adventure starting from her home in British Columbia and ending in Cabo San Lucas, at the southern tip of Baja, California. The trip took place a decade ago, when Hackinen was a recent university grad seeking escape from her cookie-cutter suburban upbringing. Without fancy cycle gear or a cushy budget, she would conquer this trek with common sense and the easy company of her sister, Alisha. The pair face criticism from strangers and loved ones alike; no one could understand why they would risk the dangers inherent in endless kilometers of lonely highway. The sisters do face their share of challenges: steep cliffs beside narrow shoulders, complex bicycle-maintenance issues, and more than one creep with a wayward eye or grabby hand. But the endless hours of repetitive motion prove therapeutic and invigorating, forever altering how Hackinen understands monotony. This would be great paired with Eleanor Davis' graphic memoir, You & a Bike & a Road (2016).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)