Cold Beer and Crocodiles: A Bicycle Journey into Australia (Adventure Press)

I loved this book. I like reading adventure travel books, but this one really caught my imagination. Roff Smith is a humorous writer with a knack for capturing the nuances of speech and behavior that make Aussies Aussies. Unlike many travel writers, Smith is neither condescending to his subject nor is he blind to the faults of the subject matter. Instead, he discusses the Australian psyche from the viewpoint of an adopted... Read Full Review

...but I wouldn't have wanted to have been there with him. The author does an exceptional job writing up the landscapes, his experiences and thoughts. I was captive. I didn't want this book to end.As other reviewers have stated, the only flaw is that we would have wanted more detail, more information. If ever there is a second edition, I will be among the first to buy the book. I would love to take the trip again, looking... Read Full Review

The force of my desire to hear more from an adventurer like Roff Smith is the litmus test of how much I enjoyed this summertime page-turner. Although I longed for greater detail at every leg of his journey, I sensed Smith's efficient writing style pulling me forward to the next landscape and the next experience. Smith's adventures complete the Australian experience started by Eric Stiller's "Keep Australia on Your Left: A... Read Full Review

When I was 26, about 8 years before the author made his journey, I almost undertook exactly the same adventure (even following the same roads - I had the whole thing planned out, with significantly more detail and prep than the author made), so when I heard about this book, I had to read it. I was not disappointed. His effusive story telling style was a pleasant surprise to me, and read it cover-to-cover. I think his National... Read Full Review