14 Questions
What was the author's occupation before joining Al in Siberia?
Geography teacher
What was Al's goal after completing the bike ride through Pakistan?
To cycle around the world
Why did the author envy Al?
Because Al was having an extraordinary adventure
What was the first ride that the author and Al took together?
A bike ride through Pakistan
How did the author and Al communicate in the row in front of the author?
Through a written note
What did Al prove wrong by taking the round-the-world by-bike trip?
That he could not do the trip
What was the author's initial mode of transportation to Magadan?
Flying
What did the author see out of the plane window?
A landscape with no sign of human life
Why did Sergei, the author's Russian neighbor, doubt the author's plan?
Because there was no road from Magadan
What was the author's response to Sergei's concern about the cold?
He showed him his warm clothes and equipment
What was the author's inspiration for traveling?
A lecture hall in Scotland
What was the author's initial travel plan?
Cycling across the Karakorum Highway
What did the author think about the quality of his warm clothes and equipment?
He was unsure if they would be sufficient for the cold weather
What was the author's friend's name?
Al
Study Notes
The Journey Begins
- The narrator, Robert Lilwall, is flying to Magadan, a far-eastern Siberian city, with a one-way ticket, planning to return home to England by bicycle.
- He has a Russian neighbor, Sergei, on the plane who expresses doubts about the feasibility of cycling from Magadan due to the lack of roads.
Preparation and Planning
- Robert explains to Sergei that he will be riding with his friend Al, and that he has reason to believe there is a road, although not many people use it these days.
- Robert tries to reassure Sergei that he has warm clothes, but omits the fact that he is on a tight budget and most of his gear was bought at discounted prices.
Background and Motivation
- Robert's life of travel began in a lecture hall in Scotland, where he had an idea to cycle across the Karakorum Highway between Pakistan and China with his friend Al.
- The idea was sparked after passing a note to Al during a lecture, which Al agreed to, and six years later, Robert is joining Al in Siberia for part of his round-the-world cycling trip.
Al's Adventure
- Al had been inspired to cycle around the world after their first bike ride through Pakistan, and has been setting himself greater and greater challenges since then.
- Robert envies Al's extraordinary adventure, which involves facing new challenges every day and proving skeptics wrong, making him feel alive.
Recall the vivid descriptions of Siberia's landscape from Robert Lilwall's memoir, Cycling Home from Siberia. Test your knowledge of the author's journey and experiences.
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