Africa wanderlust: romance vs. reality

Rosalind Redshaw's A Long Way From Sunday is a close-to-the-bone tale of wanderlust in Africa.

What's initially striking about the book is that the events occurred in 1994, with Redshaw taking some 28 years to get it on paper. She must have kept detailed records because her descriptions and remembrances are fresh and vivid.

She explains the why behind the journey:

"So that one day I can look back and think I did alright, squeezed some big things into my little life. I will remember all the amazing experiences and I will be okay with being old and decrepit. This is more than a desire or wish, it is a need."

Redshaw and her partner, Gordon, have a simple plan: backpack north to south down Africa's east coast to "see what happens." Quite a lot, as it turns out. Encounters with gorillas, elephants, thieves, scammers, disease, heartbreak, beautiful vistas, and other kindred spirits. There are also plentiful descriptions of bone-shaking, dusty roadways, funky lodgings, sketchy food, and unreliable lorries and buses.

After arriving in Kenya, Redshaw and Gordon talk themselves into bicycling from Nairobi to Cape Town, their final stop. It's an iffy decision, considering Redshaw has only ridden a bike a few times in her life. Still, the idea kicks the journey up a notch, bringing new rewards and challenges.

The journey takes a toll on the couple’s relationship. Their frailties are on full display, sometimes too much. You want to remind them of the gutsy things they’re accomplishing together.

Redshaw's account is unvarnished. Her emotions and descriptions are honest, and the good and bad stand side by side. God bless adventurers like Redshaw who push the limits. It makes for a great travelogue, and it's a book you're sorry to see end.

Finally, I wonder how the book might have looked if she had written it in 1994, compared to this 28-year-later version. Somehow, I think the seasoning of all those years helped make the tale richer and more full-bodied.

I received an advance reading copy from NetGalley.com.