Free Ride, Noraly Schoenmaker
Free Ride, Noraly Schoenmaker
6 Rating(s)
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Free Ride
Heartbreak, Courage, and The 20,000-Mile Motorcycle Journey That Changed My Life

Bestseller

Author: Noraly Schoenmaker

Narrator: Imani Jade Powers

Unabridged: 8 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/03/2025


Synopsis

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

By the YouTube sensation with three million followers, the inspiring account of a young woman who, in a moment of personal crisis, embarked on an epic, transcontinental motorcycle ride—and along the way found a new sense of purpose.

Noraly Schoenmaker was a thirtysomething geologist living in the Netherlands when she learned that her live-in partner had been having an affair. In desperate need of a new beginning, she decided to quit her job and jet off to India. But her plans were dashed when she fell quickly and helplessly in love: with a motorcycle. Behind the handlebars of a Royal Enfield, a short tour of the Himalayas quickly morphed into an epic 20,000-mile journey. She would cover remote and utterly unfamiliar territory, break down on impossibly steep mountains, and push too many miles down empty roads. But through her travels, she discovered the true beauty and simplicity of the world’s open spaces, the kindness of its people, and a newfound, unshakable belief in her capabilities.

Free Ride is a “no-frill, from-the-heart” (BBC) story of self-discovery and renewal that is filled with unforgettable figures and hilarious disasters, showing what happens when you open your heart and let the world in.

About Noraly Schoenmaker

Noraly Schoenmaker is the creator of Itchy Boots, a YouTube channel with three million loyal subscribers. A motorcycling obsessive, her journeys have taken her the length of the American continent, from Argentina to Alaska; from the northernmost point of Europe to the southernmost point of Africa; and to some of the least traveled regions of the globe. Trained as a biologist and geologist, she is based in the Netherlands.


Reviews

Goodreads review by AJ on April 20, 2025

I truly believe that until you have traveled alone you don’t fully know yourself or how much you can handle. Getting yourself in and out of trouble, relying on your intuition, and being your own company, are so vital in understanding your place in the world. Reading “Free Ride” by Noraly Schoenmaker......more

Goodreads review by Michelle on May 30, 2025

This was a great memoir. It showed grit and honesty. The author did not shy away from the hard parts. I enjoyed the journey.......more

Goodreads review by Allyson on May 25, 2025

What an inspiring book! I’ve never read a book like this before and I will be recommending this to my loved ones.......more

Goodreads review by Alison on May 11, 2025

I have really been looking forward to this book, as I have been following Noraly (aka) Itchy Boots since she made her trip from Patagonia to Alaska. I have loved all of her adventures so far, but I was always curious as to what made her start her motorcycle travels on YouTube. This book gives you a......more

Goodreads review by Hailey on May 07, 2025

this book was so captivating. I loved riding alongside Noraly on this amazing adventure, and I loved that I got to learn so much about countries I had never thought to look into before. I definitely think that it changed my perspective on a lot of different places in central Asia and I really enjoye......more