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Free Ride
By the YouTube sensation with more than two million followers, the inspiring account of a woman in her thirties 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 thirty-something geologist living in the Netherlands when she learned that her live-in partner had been having a long-term affair. Suddenly without a place to stay, she decided to quit her job and jet off to India in search of a new beginning. Her plans were dashed when she fell quickly and helplessly in with a motorcycle. Behind the handlebars, she felt alive and free—nimble enough to trace the narrowest paths, powerful enough to travel the longest of roads.
She first rode toward the Pacific, through the jungles of Myanmar and Thailand, then into Malaysia. Rather than satisfy her appetite for the open road, this ride only piqued it. She shipped her bike to Oman, at the base of the Arabian Peninsula, and embarked on a journey through Iran, across Turkmenistan along its border with Afghanistan, over the snowy peaks of Central Asia, and into Europe, all the way back home to the Netherlands. She covered remote and utterly unfamiliar territory; broke down on impossibly steep mountains; and pushed too many miles along empty roads, farther and farther from civilization. But through her travels, she discovered the true beauty of the world—the kindness of its people, the simplicity of its open spaces, as well as her own inner strength.
In spirit of The Motorcycle Diaries and Wild, this is an inspiring story of self-discovery and renewal. Filled with unforgettable figures, hilarious disasters, and powerful human connections, it shows you what happens when you open your heart and let the world in.
Noraly Schoenmaker was a thirty-something geologist living in the Netherlands when she learned that her live-in partner had been having a long-term affair. Suddenly without a place to stay, she decided to quit her job and jet off to India in search of a new beginning. Her plans were dashed when she fell quickly and helplessly in with a motorcycle. Behind the handlebars, she felt alive and free—nimble enough to trace the narrowest paths, powerful enough to travel the longest of roads.
She first rode toward the Pacific, through the jungles of Myanmar and Thailand, then into Malaysia. Rather than satisfy her appetite for the open road, this ride only piqued it. She shipped her bike to Oman, at the base of the Arabian Peninsula, and embarked on a journey through Iran, across Turkmenistan along its border with Afghanistan, over the snowy peaks of Central Asia, and into Europe, all the way back home to the Netherlands. She covered remote and utterly unfamiliar territory; broke down on impossibly steep mountains; and pushed too many miles along empty roads, farther and farther from civilization. But through her travels, she discovered the true beauty of the world—the kindness of its people, the simplicity of its open spaces, as well as her own inner strength.
In spirit of The Motorcycle Diaries and Wild, this is an inspiring story of self-discovery and renewal. Filled with unforgettable figures, hilarious disasters, and powerful human connections, it shows you what happens when you open your heart and let the world in.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 10, 2024
About the author
Noraly Schoenmaker
5 books96 followersNoraly Schoenmaker, known as Itchy Boots, is a Dutch adventurer and popular content creator on YouTube, renowned for her thrilling motorcycle journeys around the world. She initially worked as a geologist in gold exploration but later decided to leave her job to follow her passion for travel and adventure.
She launched her YouTube channel in 2018, documenting her adventures across various continents, including Asia, Africa, and South America, in a simple and engaging style. Noraly shares her daily experiences on the road, including the challenges she faces on rough terrains and in harsh weather conditions, making her content both realistic and inspiring.
Noraly has gained widespread fame for her courage and love of exploring the world, inspiring her followers to pursue their dreams and embrace new experiences. The Itchy Boots channel has become a favorite destination for adventure and travel enthusiasts, showcasing how passion can transform lives.
She launched her YouTube channel in 2018, documenting her adventures across various continents, including Asia, Africa, and South America, in a simple and engaging style. Noraly shares her daily experiences on the road, including the challenges she faces on rough terrains and in harsh weather conditions, making her content both realistic and inspiring.
Noraly has gained widespread fame for her courage and love of exploring the world, inspiring her followers to pursue their dreams and embrace new experiences. The Itchy Boots channel has become a favorite destination for adventure and travel enthusiasts, showcasing how passion can transform lives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
June 1, 2025
Curiosity had me choosing this transcontinental bike ride story. I needed to know what would drive someone to do this. I was pleasantly surprised; Noraly’s was a journey of self-discovery and of 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 and 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.
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.
July 21, 2025
5 Stars for Free Ride (audiobook) by Noraly Schoenmaker read by Imani Jade powers.
I’d wondered what inspired Itchy Boots to get on a motorcycle and start riding around the world and this book explains just that. I’ve enjoy her YouTube channel and this book gives a behind the scenes look at Noraly and how she started her channel and some of those difficult early miles and countries.
I’d wondered what inspired Itchy Boots to get on a motorcycle and start riding around the world and this book explains just that. I’ve enjoy her YouTube channel and this book gives a behind the scenes look at Noraly and how she started her channel and some of those difficult early miles and countries.
July 19, 2025
I was happy to read this book because I’ve followed Noraly on YouTube since season 2, and this book is all about where it all started, her first bike adventures, birth of her blog and her vlog: her Itchy Boots channel.
Apart from my interest in her first adventure, I don’t think this book is that exciting. Her writing is limited to describing what strangers are wearing, the conditions the road, and the daily logistics of travel. On one or two occasions I felt moved by her insights but I think overall she reveals much more of herself through her films than by words on a page.
Perhaps it is the translation that fails her. I consider her to be an incredible woman and her intrepid travels have shown me so much of the world that I will never, ever go to myself!
Mostly what I love about her films, and something she does sum up in the last few pages of her book (and I wish she had drawn out more throughout the whole story) is that most, or almost all, people are kind and trustworthy and the world is a safe place to be.
Apart from my interest in her first adventure, I don’t think this book is that exciting. Her writing is limited to describing what strangers are wearing, the conditions the road, and the daily logistics of travel. On one or two occasions I felt moved by her insights but I think overall she reveals much more of herself through her films than by words on a page.
Perhaps it is the translation that fails her. I consider her to be an incredible woman and her intrepid travels have shown me so much of the world that I will never, ever go to myself!
Mostly what I love about her films, and something she does sum up in the last few pages of her book (and I wish she had drawn out more throughout the whole story) is that most, or almost all, people are kind and trustworthy and the world is a safe place to be.
June 3, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir by Noraly Schoenmaker about her solo travels on a motorcycle across numerous countries in Asia and the Middle East. It was interesting, informative, and kept me engaged. I loved how she described the places she rode through, the people she met, and the mechanical challenges she overcame with her motorcycle. It’s amazing she was able to survive riding across many of the roads or ruts in inclement weather. I get the sense she may have sanitized some of her experiences or else she was very fortunate in meeting so many generous and helpful people - I’m glad that was the case. I also appreciated her candidness as she described her feelings, determination and what motivated her to set out on her original trip in the first place. She took us along with her on her personal growth journey and I was rooting for her as she undertook some of the most physically arduous parts of her ride. There was a nice balance in the description of the countries and areas she traveled to - a bit of history, environment, terrain, culture, food, language. I also liked that the writing was engaging and nicely paced with humor tossed in for good measure. Yes, and I did end up watching a few Itchy Boots episodes and thoroughly enjoyed them too. I’m looking forward to the author’s next book - when is the next one out, please? Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 13, 2024
In het dankwoord schrijft Noraly dat haar droom is uitgekomen en dat ze een schrijfster is geworden. Dat ben ik niet met haar eens. Ze heeft een boek geschreven maar een schrijfster kan je haar niet noemen.
Het boek heeft de diepgang van een Kirgizische pannenkoek. Het is een opsomming van steden die ze aandoet, routes die ze rijdt, maaltijden die ze nuttigt en onbenullige gesprekjes die ze voert.
Dit alles in een knullige stijl, zonder humor, zonder fraaie beschrijvingen of originele metaforen. Bv zinnen als: 'Het uitzicht was een meesterwerk en ik kon een glimlach niet onderdrukken' (p229). Ze is niet in staat een verhaal te vertellen of haar emoties pakkend te beschrijven. Ik denk dat veel werk nodig was van redacteuren om er een leesbaar boek van te maken.
Ze is een wereldreiziger van het onthechte soort dat, gedreven door een innerlijke onrust, steeds maar door moet, van de ene naar de andere stad, van het ene naar het andere land zonder ergens even (bij) stil te staan, zonder een echte connectie te kunnen maken met een plaats, land of personen, die nergens thuis of tevreden is en altijd weer ergens naar toe moet zonder te vinden wat ze zoekt.
Ze heeft (of toont) weinig emotionele diepgang en zelfreflectie. Ze kijkt niet naar haar eigen aandeel in haar relatiebreuk terwijl die voor de lezer wel duidelijk is.
Haar kracht is dat ze in staat is moeilijke projecten aan te gaan en af te ronden terwijl ze hiervoor de benodigde vaardigheden, ervaring en of kwalificaties niet heeft. Goud zoeken in Australië als bioloog; alleen en volkomen onervaren (alleen mooi weer ritjes op de fraaie Nederlandse wegen) en onvoorbereid (met zomerhandschoenen het hooggebergte in gaan) een motorreis door centraal Azië maken waar de meeste ervaren motorrijders voor terug zouden schrikken; een boek schrijven en uitgegeven krijgen zonder enig schrijftalent. Hiervoor verdient ze respect.
Het is overigens wel een leuk boekje voor motorrijders die willen dromen van reizen die ze nooit zullen maken, zoals ik. Ik heb het met plezier gelezen.
Het boek heeft de diepgang van een Kirgizische pannenkoek. Het is een opsomming van steden die ze aandoet, routes die ze rijdt, maaltijden die ze nuttigt en onbenullige gesprekjes die ze voert.
Dit alles in een knullige stijl, zonder humor, zonder fraaie beschrijvingen of originele metaforen. Bv zinnen als: 'Het uitzicht was een meesterwerk en ik kon een glimlach niet onderdrukken' (p229). Ze is niet in staat een verhaal te vertellen of haar emoties pakkend te beschrijven. Ik denk dat veel werk nodig was van redacteuren om er een leesbaar boek van te maken.
Ze is een wereldreiziger van het onthechte soort dat, gedreven door een innerlijke onrust, steeds maar door moet, van de ene naar de andere stad, van het ene naar het andere land zonder ergens even (bij) stil te staan, zonder een echte connectie te kunnen maken met een plaats, land of personen, die nergens thuis of tevreden is en altijd weer ergens naar toe moet zonder te vinden wat ze zoekt.
Ze heeft (of toont) weinig emotionele diepgang en zelfreflectie. Ze kijkt niet naar haar eigen aandeel in haar relatiebreuk terwijl die voor de lezer wel duidelijk is.
Haar kracht is dat ze in staat is moeilijke projecten aan te gaan en af te ronden terwijl ze hiervoor de benodigde vaardigheden, ervaring en of kwalificaties niet heeft. Goud zoeken in Australië als bioloog; alleen en volkomen onervaren (alleen mooi weer ritjes op de fraaie Nederlandse wegen) en onvoorbereid (met zomerhandschoenen het hooggebergte in gaan) een motorreis door centraal Azië maken waar de meeste ervaren motorrijders voor terug zouden schrikken; een boek schrijven en uitgegeven krijgen zonder enig schrijftalent. Hiervoor verdient ze respect.
Het is overigens wel een leuk boekje voor motorrijders die willen dromen van reizen die ze nooit zullen maken, zoals ik. Ik heb het met plezier gelezen.
May 26, 2025
First and foremost ~ Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Atria Books and Noraly Schoenmaker for the ARC copy of Free Ride.
I got all the feels when reading this inspiring, heart-wrenching, and humbling story. How can anyone read this and not relate to parts of her journey themselves? And I'm not even a motorcycle enthusiast, but I absolutely loved reading about her journey.
I got all the feels when reading this inspiring, heart-wrenching, and humbling story. How can anyone read this and not relate to parts of her journey themselves? And I'm not even a motorcycle enthusiast, but I absolutely loved reading about her journey.
July 25, 2025
Noraly Schoenmaker (b. 1987) is a Dutch motorcyclist and vlogger; her Youtube channel, Itchy Boots chronicles her travels with rather clickbaity titles (though I have not watched her videos). Her 2025 memoir, Free Ride, recounts how she began her solo traveling long distance motorcycle adventures with a 9-month trip in 2018-2019 from India to the Netherlands, focusing largely on her time in India, the Middle East and the Caucasus. The memoir is told in a chronologically confusing way (at least to me), frequently jumping back in forth between her prior life in the Netherlands, her childhood, her work as a geologist traveling the world, and various motorcycle adventures. The impetus for her nomadic lifestyle appears to have been a serious relationship breakup that made her housing situation unstable, though she only shares bits and pieces of this, and much of the motorcycle journey is told in an in-the-present, matter-of-fact way that doesn't leave much room for rumination. As of 2025, it appears Schoenmaker is still cycling around various continents, though this isn't really explored in the book either.
Further reading: grand adventures
On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer by Rick Steves
To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret by Jedidiah Jenkins
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Beyond the Trees: A Journey Alone Across Canada's Arctic by Adam Shoalts
North to the Night : A Spiritual Odyssey in the Arctic by Alvah Simon
Wavewalker: Breaking Free by Suzanne Heywood
My statistics:
Book 229 for 2025
Book 2155 cumulatively
Further reading: grand adventures
On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer by Rick Steves
To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret by Jedidiah Jenkins
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Beyond the Trees: A Journey Alone Across Canada's Arctic by Adam Shoalts
North to the Night : A Spiritual Odyssey in the Arctic by Alvah Simon
Wavewalker: Breaking Free by Suzanne Heywood
My statistics:
Book 229 for 2025
Book 2155 cumulatively
August 21, 2025
"Aut inveniam viam aut faciam.
I will find a way or make one myself."
Free Ride was a fairly middle-of-the-road book. It opens with the quote above. I was looking for a bit of a change from the titles I typically read, so I put this one on my list when I came across it. Although it covers an interesting, wide-ranging journey, I found the writing to be a bit lackluster.
Author Noraly Schoenmaker, known as Itchy Boots, is a Dutch adventurer and popular content creator on YouTube, renowned for her thrilling motorcycle journeys around the world. She initially worked as a geologist in gold exploration but later decided to leave her job to follow her passion for travel and adventure.
Noraly Schoenmaker :
The writing here covers an epic 20,000-mile motorcycle trip the author took around central and south Asia, after finding out that her partner had been having a long-term affair. She bought a motorcycle in India, which she named "Basanti."
The end of the book also featured many pics, which is a nice touch I wish more books would utilize. They really help bring context to the writing.
Quite a lot of the first part of the book was written in a non-chronological format. IMHO, she should have just told it chronologically. I found this threw off the continuity and flow. A minor gripe, to be sure.
As mentioned above, she decided to embark on this epic motorcycle journey after uncovering an affair that her partner had been having. She talks at length about it in the book.
She also shares with the reader some of the background of the trip, including some amusing anecdotes that could have easily ended in disaster. Firstly, she did the entire journey solo. This is arguably the most reckless of her decisions. Any number of horrible things could have happened to a solo female in these places. She also embarked on the journey without knowing how to ride a motorbike off-road. LOL She mentions that she didn't know what or where the air filter on her bike was/is. She also didn't know that bump starting a bike with a dead battery was a thing...
Fortunately (for her) and unfortunately (for the reader looking for a hilarious story), these vast oversights never really came back to bite her in the ass. Although I guess I'm glad nothing bad happened, I have to admit the guilty pleasure of reading tales of well-intentioned yet ill-equipped idiots completely out of their depths.
********************
Free Ride was a decent travel memoir, but the writing was a bit flat and dry at times for my tastes.
3 stars for this one.
I will find a way or make one myself."
Free Ride was a fairly middle-of-the-road book. It opens with the quote above. I was looking for a bit of a change from the titles I typically read, so I put this one on my list when I came across it. Although it covers an interesting, wide-ranging journey, I found the writing to be a bit lackluster.
Author Noraly Schoenmaker, known as Itchy Boots, is a Dutch adventurer and popular content creator on YouTube, renowned for her thrilling motorcycle journeys around the world. She initially worked as a geologist in gold exploration but later decided to leave her job to follow her passion for travel and adventure.
Noraly Schoenmaker :
The writing here covers an epic 20,000-mile motorcycle trip the author took around central and south Asia, after finding out that her partner had been having a long-term affair. She bought a motorcycle in India, which she named "Basanti."
The end of the book also featured many pics, which is a nice touch I wish more books would utilize. They really help bring context to the writing.
Quite a lot of the first part of the book was written in a non-chronological format. IMHO, she should have just told it chronologically. I found this threw off the continuity and flow. A minor gripe, to be sure.
As mentioned above, she decided to embark on this epic motorcycle journey after uncovering an affair that her partner had been having. She talks at length about it in the book.
She also shares with the reader some of the background of the trip, including some amusing anecdotes that could have easily ended in disaster. Firstly, she did the entire journey solo. This is arguably the most reckless of her decisions. Any number of horrible things could have happened to a solo female in these places. She also embarked on the journey without knowing how to ride a motorbike off-road. LOL She mentions that she didn't know what or where the air filter on her bike was/is. She also didn't know that bump starting a bike with a dead battery was a thing...
Fortunately (for her) and unfortunately (for the reader looking for a hilarious story), these vast oversights never really came back to bite her in the ass. Although I guess I'm glad nothing bad happened, I have to admit the guilty pleasure of reading tales of well-intentioned yet ill-equipped idiots completely out of their depths.
********************
Free Ride was a decent travel memoir, but the writing was a bit flat and dry at times for my tastes.
3 stars for this one.
September 13, 2025
Interesting and fast read. It’s a good story about doing something wild and unexpected, mostly on impulse. I enjoyed the adventure.
April 21, 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, the creator of YouTube channel “Itchy Boots”, reminded me of this and so much more.
Heartbroken and looking for connection to a better time in her life in India, Noraly and her motorcycle, Basanti, embark on a journey of 20,000 miles across Asia, Central Asia, Russia, and Eastern Europe. Facing language barriers, infrastructure hurdles, mechanical breakdowns, and the various faces of Mother Nature herself, Noraly describes her wonderful interactions with locals and the help, support, and kindness of strangers she encounters along the way.
As soon as I felt some of the frustrations I had with Noraly in her journey she brings them up as frustrations of her own. Thinking of her not being prepared with gear, not having the ability to be truly self sufficient through camping and supplies, and rushing through parts of the trip were great reflections for myself and allowed me to think deeply about my own experiences.
Too often in the modern world with ever present technology and instant social connections to billions of other humans, being alone and having to face your own internal life is a rare thing. Free Ride is a great reminder that taking these opportunities for solo contemplation, and embarking on epic journeys, allows us to expand our horizons, experience the best and worst of humanity, and begin to trust ourselves again.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to review this book
June 17, 2026
June 17, 2026 Review:
This was a fascinating travel memoir that details Noraly Schoenmaker's 9-month journey in 2019 of acquiring her first motorcycle (a Royal Enfield that she named 'Basanti') in India and travelling solo from India to Malaysia (South Asia to Southeast Asia), and then from Oman (Middle East/West Asia) to Central Asia, then back to Europe.
Noraly is a Dutch geologist-turned-travel Blogger and YouTuber (ItchyBoots) who is known for travelling solo around the world on her motorcycle. This book covers her first motorcycle travel adventure, which you can also find in her blog posts and YouTube Channel (Season 1). I've never heard of her or watched any of her YouTube videos prior to reading this book and found myself captivated by her adventure across Asian countries that I've never dreamed of visiting (and especially not as a solo traveler on a bike!)
I learned a lot about the different countries and cities she visited (I lost count after ~16 countries), the challenges she faced (mostly related to issues with her bike, the weather and terrain, and the logistics of bringing a foreign bike into certain countries), the friendly and curious people that she met, and what drove her to start her journey in the first place.
I would never embark on a journey like this one and reading this book solidified that stance for me. Nevertheless, this was a great adventure to read about.
I have the ARC copy of this book so I'm not sure if the final published copy has any pictures, but that would be nice to include (because I can't be bothered to check out her YouTube videos...)
*All quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy and may change prior to the release of the final copy.*
**I received a physical ARC from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
June 3, 2025 Pre-Review:
Happy publishing day!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a physical ARC. I love memoirs, and this YouTuber travel memoir sounds exciting!
This was a fascinating travel memoir that details Noraly Schoenmaker's 9-month journey in 2019 of acquiring her first motorcycle (a Royal Enfield that she named 'Basanti') in India and travelling solo from India to Malaysia (South Asia to Southeast Asia), and then from Oman (Middle East/West Asia) to Central Asia, then back to Europe.
Noraly is a Dutch geologist-turned-travel Blogger and YouTuber (ItchyBoots) who is known for travelling solo around the world on her motorcycle. This book covers her first motorcycle travel adventure, which you can also find in her blog posts and YouTube Channel (Season 1). I've never heard of her or watched any of her YouTube videos prior to reading this book and found myself captivated by her adventure across Asian countries that I've never dreamed of visiting (and especially not as a solo traveler on a bike!)
"Now I was trying to make traveling my job. But even more than that, I wanted to create and tell visual stories about people and places that not everyone knew. Show a side to the world I saw every day, but that was often snowed under by all the negative stories, wars, and misery. Even armed with just a small camera on my helmet, I had the opportunity to show others what people were really like in a country such as Iran. And that they were not people that we had to fear."
I learned a lot about the different countries and cities she visited (I lost count after ~16 countries), the challenges she faced (mostly related to issues with her bike, the weather and terrain, and the logistics of bringing a foreign bike into certain countries), the friendly and curious people that she met, and what drove her to start her journey in the first place.
I would never embark on a journey like this one and reading this book solidified that stance for me. Nevertheless, this was a great adventure to read about.
I have the ARC copy of this book so I'm not sure if the final published copy has any pictures, but that would be nice to include (because I can't be bothered to check out her YouTube videos...)
*All quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy and may change prior to the release of the final copy.*
**I received a physical ARC from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
June 3, 2025 Pre-Review:
Happy publishing day!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a physical ARC. I love memoirs, and this YouTuber travel memoir sounds exciting!
July 13, 2025
WOW. I just finished Free Ride by Noraly Schoenmaker and I feel like I just spent a few days hanging out with my female ADV riding bestie.
This book hit me in all the right ways—from its honesty and vulnerability to the raw thrill of adventure. It echoed everything I’ve ever felt as a female motorcyclist, from the self-doubt to the pure freedom of riding alone.
What I loved most about this book was its duality: the deep familiarity of the female moto experience, paired with the thrill of exploring places in the world I know little about. It truly felt like Noraly brought me along for the ride—dusty roads, awkward customs, emotional struggles, and all.
So many times I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her and say, “You feel that way too?” Other moments, I was holding my breath while she navigated rough terrain, injuries, and unfamiliar countries, hoping she’d make it through safe and sound.
Right from the prologue, I knew this was going to be special. She writes,
“I was filled with grief, and physical exertion became my lifeline.” As someone who also turns to physical challenges as therapy, this resonated deeply. And then she mentions “the pain of wearing uncomfortable motorcycle boots.” YES. Preach.
Some of my favorite moments in the book were subtle but powerful in their honesty. Like when she admits,
“I was secretly relieved the others left so I could get ready in my own time without being asked technical questions I couldn’t answer.” Or the night before that, sitting around a dinner table as others discussed tire types and compounds, and feeling completely out of her depth. I’ve been there. So many of us have.
She doesn’t shy away from revealing the less glamorous parts of ADV riding either. Midway through Chapter 9, she admits to not checking her tire pressure daily. (Guilty.) In Chapter 10, she talks about riding in freezing weather with cold hands and not-quite-right gear. Then there’s the brutally honest moment:
“The road is rough, my body hurts, and I want to go home.” That right there is adventure riding in a nutshell.
But despite all that, she presses on—with grace, grit, and zero pretension. She lets us into her mind and her heart, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful. This wasn’t just a travel memoir or a motorcycle diary—it was a powerful look at rebuilding, reconnecting, and rediscovering strength through solo adventure.
And just when I thought I couldn’t feel more seen, the book ends on one of the most resonating notes of all. Noraly is asked what it was like to travel the world as a woman. She reflects on how she never really thought about it in those terms—and how she almost felt guilty not giving a more “empowering” answer. But what she does say is this:
“If what you’re really asking is whether men are dangerous, then let me say this: I’d like to give a gold star to all the men who came to my aid without me ever needing to ask.”
I felt that to my core. Having lived in communist Venezuela under Chávez’s rule, I too was often asked what it was like being a woman navigating such a volatile world. And like Noraly, I never thought to define it by fear or limitations—only by the kindness and courage of strangers along the way. Her words gave voice to something I’ve felt for years but never quite knew how to express.
If you’re a rider—especially a female rider—you must read this. And even if you’re not, Noraly’s story is a moving reminder that sometimes the road we need most is the one we’re terrified to take.
This book hit me in all the right ways—from its honesty and vulnerability to the raw thrill of adventure. It echoed everything I’ve ever felt as a female motorcyclist, from the self-doubt to the pure freedom of riding alone.
What I loved most about this book was its duality: the deep familiarity of the female moto experience, paired with the thrill of exploring places in the world I know little about. It truly felt like Noraly brought me along for the ride—dusty roads, awkward customs, emotional struggles, and all.
So many times I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her and say, “You feel that way too?” Other moments, I was holding my breath while she navigated rough terrain, injuries, and unfamiliar countries, hoping she’d make it through safe and sound.
Right from the prologue, I knew this was going to be special. She writes,
“I was filled with grief, and physical exertion became my lifeline.” As someone who also turns to physical challenges as therapy, this resonated deeply. And then she mentions “the pain of wearing uncomfortable motorcycle boots.” YES. Preach.
Some of my favorite moments in the book were subtle but powerful in their honesty. Like when she admits,
“I was secretly relieved the others left so I could get ready in my own time without being asked technical questions I couldn’t answer.” Or the night before that, sitting around a dinner table as others discussed tire types and compounds, and feeling completely out of her depth. I’ve been there. So many of us have.
She doesn’t shy away from revealing the less glamorous parts of ADV riding either. Midway through Chapter 9, she admits to not checking her tire pressure daily. (Guilty.) In Chapter 10, she talks about riding in freezing weather with cold hands and not-quite-right gear. Then there’s the brutally honest moment:
“The road is rough, my body hurts, and I want to go home.” That right there is adventure riding in a nutshell.
But despite all that, she presses on—with grace, grit, and zero pretension. She lets us into her mind and her heart, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful. This wasn’t just a travel memoir or a motorcycle diary—it was a powerful look at rebuilding, reconnecting, and rediscovering strength through solo adventure.
And just when I thought I couldn’t feel more seen, the book ends on one of the most resonating notes of all. Noraly is asked what it was like to travel the world as a woman. She reflects on how she never really thought about it in those terms—and how she almost felt guilty not giving a more “empowering” answer. But what she does say is this:
“If what you’re really asking is whether men are dangerous, then let me say this: I’d like to give a gold star to all the men who came to my aid without me ever needing to ask.”
I felt that to my core. Having lived in communist Venezuela under Chávez’s rule, I too was often asked what it was like being a woman navigating such a volatile world. And like Noraly, I never thought to define it by fear or limitations—only by the kindness and courage of strangers along the way. Her words gave voice to something I’ve felt for years but never quite knew how to express.
If you’re a rider—especially a female rider—you must read this. And even if you’re not, Noraly’s story is a moving reminder that sometimes the road we need most is the one we’re terrified to take.
December 28, 2025
My husband has enjoyed Schenmaker's videos, so we decided to give the audio edition of this book a try during holiday travels. I like travel books and travel memoirs, but I am going to give a counter opinion to most reviews. Both of us found this book amazingly lacking in details of the places she visits. Instead, we had repetitive details of how the motorcycles were acquired and performed, how bumpy dirt roads are, or mentions of her stomach gurgling. I did enjoy her interactions with people in the various countries, but you are going to provide a chapter on getting to a geological wonder; one would expect at least two sentences describing the landscape. My husband had also wanted to know more about her background and found the non-chronological and scattered inclusion of this content to be frustrating. Neither of us could wait for this to end, not from anticipation but from utter boredom. Stick to her videos, which at least show you where she went in this book.
June 12, 2024
Dit is het verhaal van haar eerste motorseizoen als Itchy Boots. Haar reis op Basanti van india terug naar Nederland.
En toch voelt het heel anders zo te lezen dan de reis op youtube te volgen. Helemaal met de aanvulling van de emotionele staat waar ze zich in bevond, voor, en gedurende de reis,die je in youtube videos niet meekrijgt maakt het nog veel sterker.
Daarbij is het prettig geschreven travelogue en leest het vlot weg. De emotionele kwetsbaarheid die ze toont maakt het voor mij een erg krachtig verhaal. Kijk uit naar het volgende seizoen (zowel op YouTube, als in boekvorm)
En toch voelt het heel anders zo te lezen dan de reis op youtube te volgen. Helemaal met de aanvulling van de emotionele staat waar ze zich in bevond, voor, en gedurende de reis,die je in youtube videos niet meekrijgt maakt het nog veel sterker.
Daarbij is het prettig geschreven travelogue en leest het vlot weg. De emotionele kwetsbaarheid die ze toont maakt het voor mij een erg krachtig verhaal. Kijk uit naar het volgende seizoen (zowel op YouTube, als in boekvorm)
August 20, 2025
If you are not watching itchyboots on YouTube you’re missing out on a lot of the world. On her channel we see the smooth-sailing versions of her journey motorbiking across the world and witness how she’s prepared and able to overcome any obstacle in her way. In this book we get the raw journey and every lesson she had to learn to be the smooth-sailing expert she is now. And what a relief it is to know that there once was a time when she was just beginning and she had absolutely no idea what she was doing.
December 29, 2025
Noraly Schoenmaker's journey of 22k+ miles, through many countries starting in India ending back in the Netherlands (no, she's apparently still moving! See YouTube!) has resulted in her report to the world in her book
Free Ride
. Inspirational and proof of what one can do when one sets one's mind to a particular path. She bought a bike - a Royal Enfield Himalayan, made a plan, got some cameras and took off.
It must be said she comes from a riding family and so this was a reasonable and supported way for those in her tribe to face challenges and prove themselves. I'm not sure all families would so calmly do so - but you won't know until you try!
Kudos to Noraly Schoenmaker for sharing her story with us all, and those in the future. I missed a map - and so, checked out a published copy (I'd read an ARC) and it fulfilled my needs for maps and pictures that audio version and pre-published copies don't provide. Keep those amenities in mind, dear readers!
*A sincere thank you to Noraly Schoenmaker, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:38e
It must be said she comes from a riding family and so this was a reasonable and supported way for those in her tribe to face challenges and prove themselves. I'm not sure all families would so calmly do so - but you won't know until you try!
Kudos to Noraly Schoenmaker for sharing her story with us all, and those in the future. I missed a map - and so, checked out a published copy (I'd read an ARC) and it fulfilled my needs for maps and pictures that audio version and pre-published copies don't provide. Keep those amenities in mind, dear readers!
*A sincere thank you to Noraly Schoenmaker, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:38e
August 20, 2025
I am a fan of the author and have watched all her seasons of Itchy Boots on YouTube. What a great adventurer and writer. The book kept me riveted.
October 8, 2025
After watching her YouTube channel "Itchy Boots", it was nice to get the background of how she started off her solo motorcycle travels.
January 10, 2026
loved it but felt like it needed a little more detail as she does some incredible things but feels like it's glossed over too quickly. such an inspiration though and love her approach to adventure!
January 28, 2026
I was a little bit confused by the time sequence in the first few chapters but when I caught up, I just couldn't stop reading. I hope for another book.
June 2, 2025
“Nobody would have thought we’d come this far, including me”.
This book was a fun ride through remote places of the world. Like “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed, but make it on a motorcycle. It opened my eyes to places in the Middle East (the Kalutes and Darvaza Crater both sounded very cool). Noraly is a brave/tough lady!
Definitely worth a read to go escape with Itchy boots on her motorcycle for awhile.
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC!
This book was a fun ride through remote places of the world. Like “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed, but make it on a motorcycle. It opened my eyes to places in the Middle East (the Kalutes and Darvaza Crater both sounded very cool). Noraly is a brave/tough lady!
Definitely worth a read to go escape with Itchy boots on her motorcycle for awhile.
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC!
January 19, 2025
Ik heb dit boek in een record tijd uitgelezen. Noraly neemt je mee met haar avontuurlijke 36.000 kilometers waarbij ze bijzondere mensen ontmoet. Ik heb nu al zin in mijn volgende motorvakantie :)
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.
September 19, 2025
Really wanted to like this book more than I did. Incredibly boring considering how amazing the journey must have actually been.
February 2, 2026
Finished reading: February 2nd 2026
"I was living in a constant state of excitement and fear. My emotions rose and fell, just like the peaks and valleys around me. Everything I did was so far away from what I knew and was familiar with that nothing felt safe or secure. I had no faith in my own skills or knowledge, was left to hold on only to my hope of a good ending."
REVIEW
April 13, 2026
Free Ride is a memoir by Noraly Schoenmaker was a thirty-something geologist living in the Netherlands when her life changes drastically. Losing her house and having no place to stay, she decides to quit her job and set off to India for a new beginning. When she arrives in India, she falls in love with a motorcycle, and changes her plans. Initially planning a short tour of the Himalayas on her Royal Enfield Himalayan she named "Basanti", she then travels 20,000-mile (32,000 km) across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe back to The Netherlands. This is her story as she covers remote and unfamiliar territory, has several breakdowns, meets people who help her and falls in love with the world, the open spaces and Basanti, all while discovering her own inner strength.
I have come to enjoy travel memoirs and this one was amazing. Noraly is one tough cookie. Traveling solo for so many miles and in such difficult territory is not a trip to be taken lightly. I know she made it, but I worried for her all through her trip. Traveling in areas of Iran were scary as she was heckled at times. Language barriers didn't upset her and she was able to communicate using gestures and the few words in Russian that she knew. The people she met were kind, and so many helped her out with food, repairs, petrol etc. I was online checking maps to follow her trip through 25 different countries. An exciting adventure that I went along on sitting in my recliner. This is quite the story of a wonderful trip by an amazing woman. She has her own youtube channel that I checked out and watched a few of the clips, if you want to see some of them yourself. Imani Jade Powers narrates the audiobook and does a fantastic job. I felt like I was sitting and listening to Noraly tell me her story. If you enjoy travel memoirs, especially one by a fearless and strong woman, then I recommend you pick up Free Ride in whatever format you prefer.
I have come to enjoy travel memoirs and this one was amazing. Noraly is one tough cookie. Traveling solo for so many miles and in such difficult territory is not a trip to be taken lightly. I know she made it, but I worried for her all through her trip. Traveling in areas of Iran were scary as she was heckled at times. Language barriers didn't upset her and she was able to communicate using gestures and the few words in Russian that she knew. The people she met were kind, and so many helped her out with food, repairs, petrol etc. I was online checking maps to follow her trip through 25 different countries. An exciting adventure that I went along on sitting in my recliner. This is quite the story of a wonderful trip by an amazing woman. She has her own youtube channel that I checked out and watched a few of the clips, if you want to see some of them yourself. Imani Jade Powers narrates the audiobook and does a fantastic job. I felt like I was sitting and listening to Noraly tell me her story. If you enjoy travel memoirs, especially one by a fearless and strong woman, then I recommend you pick up Free Ride in whatever format you prefer.
June 15, 2025
Free Ride by Noraly Schoenmaker.
This is a memoir by Noraly Schoenmaker also known as Itchy Boots on You Tube. It details her personal journey after a break up and what a series of random meetings with a variety of people during her travels in India led her to buy a motorcycle as a mode of transport for her travels. Over the course of the book, the reader gets an insight into what it takes to travel through multiple countries on a motorcycle during various weather conditions, dealing with cultural and language issues and the ever present bureaucracy of currency/visa/passport/insurance/motorcycle paperwork etc. The overall conclusion I took away from reading her journey was that all over the world, people are people and regardless of what government is in place the every day people you encounter on your travels are mostly friendly and want to help.
Having watched Itchy Boots for years on her You Tube channel, I am delighted that she decided to write her first book/memoir about that first season traveling from India to the Netherlands. I hope that people who read her book, take the time to view her You Tube channel and watch those episodes she talks about in her book.
Noraly writes the same way as she narrates her You Tube videos, she takes you along her journey. For the many people around the world, who for whatever reason are not able to travel, Noraly gives them a glimpse of the beauty of the landscape and the people in far away places. I look forward to her next book. 5 stars.
This is a memoir by Noraly Schoenmaker also known as Itchy Boots on You Tube. It details her personal journey after a break up and what a series of random meetings with a variety of people during her travels in India led her to buy a motorcycle as a mode of transport for her travels. Over the course of the book, the reader gets an insight into what it takes to travel through multiple countries on a motorcycle during various weather conditions, dealing with cultural and language issues and the ever present bureaucracy of currency/visa/passport/insurance/motorcycle paperwork etc. The overall conclusion I took away from reading her journey was that all over the world, people are people and regardless of what government is in place the every day people you encounter on your travels are mostly friendly and want to help.
Having watched Itchy Boots for years on her You Tube channel, I am delighted that she decided to write her first book/memoir about that first season traveling from India to the Netherlands. I hope that people who read her book, take the time to view her You Tube channel and watch those episodes she talks about in her book.
Noraly writes the same way as she narrates her You Tube videos, she takes you along her journey. For the many people around the world, who for whatever reason are not able to travel, Noraly gives them a glimpse of the beauty of the landscape and the people in far away places. I look forward to her next book. 5 stars.
February 2, 2026
I found Itchy Boots on YouTube and have been forever hooked. It just so happens that I went back and watched season 1 while reading this book, so it was great to read the details on her travels.
I am a huge fan of Noraly. If I was younger, I would have been so inspired that I might have hopped on a motorcycle! I loved her genuineness of telling of her past and only grew my appreciation on what she does. NOT to say, I could ever do what she does! She is one brave woman.
Her Itchy Boots channel I love not only for the armchair adventure, but love all those humans she meets, the animals she sees, the weather she experiences, the food she eats and the cultures she encounters (have to mention the maps she shows!)...all on a motorcycle.
The book added many details to what she explains on her channel. And since I watched and read hand and hand, you nodded to yourself..."ahhh that's what she was thinking!" For that, the book was great and giving a whole picture was certainly enjoyable. I would mention that the writing could be more flowing, witty, eloquently more descriptive. For instance, reading "First They Killed My Father" along with this book. Both Non Fiction on experiences (completely different experiences I might add), but FTKMF is written with such flow and eloquence, you smell what she smelled. The comparison isn't that fair due to subject matter, but since I am reading together, it is my comparison.
Loved it regardless and currently watching her in China...amazing, amazing amazing. I want a pair of motorcycle boots.
I am a huge fan of Noraly. If I was younger, I would have been so inspired that I might have hopped on a motorcycle! I loved her genuineness of telling of her past and only grew my appreciation on what she does. NOT to say, I could ever do what she does! She is one brave woman.
Her Itchy Boots channel I love not only for the armchair adventure, but love all those humans she meets, the animals she sees, the weather she experiences, the food she eats and the cultures she encounters (have to mention the maps she shows!)...all on a motorcycle.
The book added many details to what she explains on her channel. And since I watched and read hand and hand, you nodded to yourself..."ahhh that's what she was thinking!" For that, the book was great and giving a whole picture was certainly enjoyable. I would mention that the writing could be more flowing, witty, eloquently more descriptive. For instance, reading "First They Killed My Father" along with this book. Both Non Fiction on experiences (completely different experiences I might add), but FTKMF is written with such flow and eloquence, you smell what she smelled. The comparison isn't that fair due to subject matter, but since I am reading together, it is my comparison.
Loved it regardless and currently watching her in China...amazing, amazing amazing. I want a pair of motorcycle boots.
June 13, 2025
I didn't want this to end and forced myself to read only a few chapters per day. If you're one of the more than two million who follow Noraly's videos on YouTube, you'll want to read her book, where she opens up about her personal history and shares thoughts and information never seen on her videos. If anything, after reading Free Ride, I am an even bigger Itchy Boots fan.
Her autobiographical first effort, Free Ride, briefly covers her pre-Itchy Boots life, then concentrates on her first ride, an epic journey that began on a rented motorcycle in India, continued on her own newly-purchased bike eastward to Myanmar and Thailand, then back west eventually all the way home to the Netherlands ... basically, season one of her YouTube adventures. If you're like me, you'll find yourself watching season one videos between reading chapters of the book.
I bought the Kindle version, which includes the color photos included in the hardcover book, only they're in black & white. And I'm happy with that, but if you want the full experience you should probably pop for the hardcover.
If Noraly decides to write more about her adventures, I'll be there. Just as she reveals a cinematographer's eye in her videos, here she reveals herself as a talented writer with a gift for words.
Her autobiographical first effort, Free Ride, briefly covers her pre-Itchy Boots life, then concentrates on her first ride, an epic journey that began on a rented motorcycle in India, continued on her own newly-purchased bike eastward to Myanmar and Thailand, then back west eventually all the way home to the Netherlands ... basically, season one of her YouTube adventures. If you're like me, you'll find yourself watching season one videos between reading chapters of the book.
I bought the Kindle version, which includes the color photos included in the hardcover book, only they're in black & white. And I'm happy with that, but if you want the full experience you should probably pop for the hardcover.
If Noraly decides to write more about her adventures, I'll be there. Just as she reveals a cinematographer's eye in her videos, here she reveals herself as a talented writer with a gift for words.
July 7, 2025
I adore travel narratives featuring solo women traveling in fairly exotic places, and this well-written memoir filled the bill. Noraly, a geologist who worked in exotic locations all over the world for a dredging company, suffers a bad breakup and is forced to sell her home. With the funds, she embarks on an epic motorcycle journey, taking her from India to Myanmar, Thailand, and on to the extremely remote sections of Iran, Afghanistan, and more former Soviet bloc countries I can't name without looking them up. Traveling for nine months and over 22,000 miles, she suffers from mechanical breakdowns, gets into precarious situations in uninhabited areas, and meets many kind people who are always willing to lend a hand. As she traveled, she filmed the journey and established a YouTube Channel called "Itchy Boots," which now has over 2 million subscribers.
I read an advanced digital copy with no photos (although I'm unsure if the print book includes any), so I'm off to explore her videos.
Other good books featuring intrepid female travelers are "One Year and a One-Way Ticket" by Danika Smith and "Tales of a Female Nomad" by Rita Gelman.
I read an advanced digital copy with no photos (although I'm unsure if the print book includes any), so I'm off to explore her videos.
Other good books featuring intrepid female travelers are "One Year and a One-Way Ticket" by Danika Smith and "Tales of a Female Nomad" by Rita Gelman.
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