Raven's Roads
Living an interesting life: the travels and musings
of motorcycling author Linda R. Moore

25 November 2007

This book brought back memories of when I was the passenger on hubby’s bike. He didn’t have a car at the time and to save money, we rode EVERYWHERE, in every kind of weather. I remember the ride from California’s Central Valley to San Fran. We left the house in tank top and shorts; it was 105 degrees. Battle the crosswinds along I-580; stopped at the top of the Altamont Pass; donned sweatpants, sweatshirts and jackets from the saddlebags; crossed the Bay Bridge and it was 55 degrees!!! (more…)

“Just wanted to let you know that Merrilou and I really enjoyed your story. We sat down on the couch each evening and read a chapter to each other. It was great fun to follow along on your journey of enlightenment. The parts where you described your self-discovery moments were especially meaningful as I have also had such moments when riding and I could fully relate to your experiences. Take care and thanks for allowing us to share your trip.”

This was a review of A Little Twist of Texas by Linda Raven Moore.

Okay, I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical. I’ve done a fair bit of long distance driving, and you see lots of motorcycles out on the road, so my thought was “what’s the big deal?” Now I understand. Riding a motorcycle sounds far more challenging than driving a car on the same patch of highway. I never considered the impact that the wind and road surfaces would have on a vehicle that requires the operator to maintain its balance. I now have a new respect for the skill and endurance of those long distance riders I see on the road.

In addition to the insights into what its like to ride a motorcycle on America’s highways, this book provides some very nice glimpses into the quiet places in the American Southwest. I visited some of the same places with my family as a teenager, which is clearly the wrong age to do so, as I failed to fully appreciate the power of these places. Here we get an intimate glimpse of how the power of this landscape helped change the author as she adventured through the desert on her own. This is both a physical journey through the Southwest, and a personal spiritual journey of discovery, and its fun to be invited along for the ride.

I have so enjoyed this book. What an adventurous and yet introspective person Linda is and her ability to describe in such detail the countryside and the towns through which she passes enhances the book to great effect.

All the time I was reading I mourned the absence of my wonderful detailed book of maps of the USA that I use to place me alongside stories I read from that huge wonderful diverse country. That book is packed already and it wasn’t until I read the last page that I found the map at the back which does at least give some idea of the extent of the trip.

Before I post it off to the next reader I just want to refresh myself with some of the incidents and reread some books. I almost never do that so this book has obviously spoken to me with some meaning.

Thanks for writing this book in the way you have Linda - I’ve had a lot of thought provoking moments herein.

This was a great travel diary to read. I actually even dreamt it was me doing that huge ride…and I woke up with a numb bum lol. Linda you have done a terrific job with this book and I hope you are very proud of it. Very much an inspiration. Thank you.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! While the tidbits about BookCrossing undoubtedly amused me more than they would someone who’d never heard of the site, most of the story focused on aspects of life that anyone could appreciate: the mingled fear and exhilaration of trying new things, seeing new places, and pushing yourself farther than you thought you could go; the humbling - and often humorous, if only in retrospect! - events that can interfere with the best-laid plans; friends, old and new; and the not-inconsiderable joys of getting back home again…

I think my favorite anecdote was the one about the keychain, but it was all entertaining; I really felt as though I got to go along on the trip. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences!

I’m planning to give this book to some friends who ride Harley-Davidsons and have done some long-distance trips themselves.

A very enjoyable book! You have a great writing style, and I loved reading about your journey, both physical and spiritual, and the warts and all story. It was quite inspiring!

What a great trip — the description is done so well I can picture it. The Grand Canyon has always sounded tempting but, Linda’s chapter on visiting the Zuni nation pueblos caught my imagination. I’d love to see it for real.

I admire the gumption to go out and live that many BCer’s seem to possess.

You made me feel I was right there with you, with all your fears and joys and discoveries. Almost made me envious.

Delightful! Insightful! This was waiting for me when I got to San Antonio last Wednesday, and it was marvelous to be reading it while I was on a trip myself.

One of the things I liked about Raven’s Roads is that I’ve never been to any of the places Raven described, so all the landscapes were new and fascinating to me.

Here’s a line that’s oh-so-true: (from page 116) “Even if nothing else good happened on this trip, this would always be a memory I could treasure.” She wrote it about riding a horse, and on my trip, it was the clouds of brown butterflies so thick they hid the shrubs they surrounded.

The idea about Popes and kings having little to do with individuals at the kiva and mission (on page 114) was well-expressed (as were all the ideas in the entire book — that travel trailer pod must have a magical effect on writing talent!).

I, also, like to find special stones and return them to the earth at what feels like the right time. It’s about the only “New Age” thing I do anymore, and so it was affirming to read about Linda’s and Alan’s rock experiences.