Around the World on a Bicycle, Vol. 2

Thomas Stevens' Around the World on a Bicycle, Vol. 2 continues the extraordinary true account of the first person to circle the globe entirely by bicycle. Pedaling a large-wheeled Ordinary across continents, Stevens takes listeners from Tehran across the exotic and treacherous landscapes of Persia, Afghanistan, and beyond toward his final destination in Yokohama. This gripping adventure and travel memoir chronicles the second half of Stevens' audacious 13,500-mile journey, which began in San Francisco in 1884. Navigating the Meshed Pilgrim Road through unbeaten tracks of Khorassan, braving the infamous "Desert of Despair," and facing arrest at the Afghan frontier, Stevens captures the raw reality of 19th-century overland travel with vivid detail and unflinching honesty. His encounters with local cultures, dangerous terrain, and unexpected obstacles reveal both the romance and hardship of bicycle exploration during an era before modern transportation. Stevens' precise observations and compelling storytelling transport readers to a world fundamentally changed by his pioneering expedition. This second volume is essential for adventure enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone fascinated by early travel narratives and Victorian-era exploration. Whether you're drawn to biographical journeys, historical memoirs, or tales of human perseverance against impossible odds, Stevens' legendary cycling adventure offers inspiration and entertainment that transcends the centuries.