Free Ride: One Woman’s Solo Ride Across the Silk Road by Noraly Schoenmaker

As a motorcyclist, I’ve followed Noraly, better known as @ItchyBoots, for a while now. Having read her book and revisited the photos on her Instagram, the full picture of her journey finally comes together. The puzzle feels complete.

I’ve always admired off-road riders, especially those who take on entire continents solo. When that rider is a woman, pushing through unfamiliar terrain, uncertain safety, and cultural barriers, my respect only deepens. Noraly is one of those rare adventure motorcyclists I’ve kept a close eye on, right alongside Kinga Tanajewska (@onherbike) and Alicia Mariah Elfving (@motolady).

They say the road is the best kind of therapy, and this book proves that true. Through Noraly’s words, we come to understand why she set off on this nine-month journey and how it transformed her. We follow her not just across the Silk Road, but through moments of solitude, fear, connection, and self-discovery.

Traveling alone challenges you in a way few things can, it strips away comfort and forces you to confront yourself. Noraly embraced that challenge fully. Her writing is honest and grounded, full of detail not only about the roads and countries she passed through, but also the internal shifts that occurred along the way.

After picking up the book, I began following her YouTube channel, where short clips (most under 10 minutes) give life and color to the stories on the page. They’re the perfect companion to her writing, bringing you even closer to the journey.

Reading Free Ride felt like riding alongside Noraly through the Silk Road and beyond. I kept researching the places she’s visited and the cultures she’s encountered. Maybe one day I’ll find the courage to trace parts of her route myself. Until then, I’ll keep riding, dreaming and drawing inspiration from women like her.

Thank you to Simon Schuster Canada and NetGalley for a copy of the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really like reading travel memoirs, and this one about a woman’s solo motorcycle journey seemed like a perfect book to pack to read on my trip.

Noraly Schoenmaker is a vlogger with a popular YouTube channel documenting her travels across the world. While I was fretting over my luggage being delayed, she had many hair raising tales about motorcycle break downs in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan (it seemed to happen in every ‘Stan’, and harrowing rides in challenging conditions (pot holes, weather, intimidating border crossings). It quickly put things in perspective! But while it was an interesting read, I have a few hot takes 😬:

- I recognize this is an arc copy, but a map would have been helpful for an idea of the geography and route she took.
- Often memoirs have a photo section in the middle, and I hope the finished copy comes with some snapshots, because again I was left wanting. I wanted to see some of these beautiful valleys and vistas!
- Maybe this isn’t fair because it’s non fiction, but there was no real clear arc of how this was a “motorcycle journey that changed my life.” It just felt more like a collection of stories from the trip, with some flashbacks sprinkled throughout.
- My interest in the author was definitely piqued, so I looked up her YouTube and would love to watch more videos. She seems like a dynamic person, and goodness that does not translate to this underwhelming cover that barely shows her, or a particularly inspiring scene considering the breathtaking wonders she describes.

So, my honest take is that this was a bit of a slog, but I’d love to watch her YouTube videos. Thank you @simonschusterca for my copy. This publishes June 3.

Curiosity had me choosing this transcontinental bike ride story. I'd never heard of her nor her YouTube fame but I needed to know what would drive someone to do this. I was pleasantly surprised; Noraly’s was a journey of self-discovery and redefining her purpose. We may never experience the stories she shares, but her encouragement, determination, and survival skills are something we could all do with developing. I was tantalized by the descriptive food and was in awe of Noraly’s fearlessness. The most memorable part for me would be the happiness and sigh that I experienced reading about her meeting the old couple after her bike broke down. It doesn’t matter where in the world we go ~ there are always good people willing to help a stranded soul.

My interest was piqued enough to investigate Noraly’s previous story!

I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.