This adventurous work records Robert Edison Fulton's solo round-the-world tour on a two-cylinder Douglas motorcycle between July, 1932 and December, 1933. First published in 1937.
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"A fascinating historical chronicle that can be enjoyed by motorcyclists and non-motorcyclists alike." living, this book is worth reading." -- Motorcycle Online
"Every now and then a book turns up which looks distinctly dull, yet which turns out to be so engrossing that you read it in a single sitting. One Man Caravan is such a book."
"Every now and then a book turns up which looks distinctly dull, yet which turns out to be so engrossing that you read it in a single sitting. One Man Caravan is such a book."
"For anyone who's thought about riding around the world, but who might've been put off by the thought of inconveniences brought on by war and national rivalries, Fulton's book might just convince you that it's possible, after all. And if the words aren't enough, there are 68 photographs to provide additional inspiration. The world is a very interesting place, indeed, and even more so from the seat of a motorcycle." City Bike Magazine -- City Bike Magazine
"My own favorite kind of read is a good story about someone taking a bike somewhere where the road is difficult, and the county strange. A granddaddy of this genre is One Man Caravan, by Robert Edison Fulton, the superbly told tale of a young Connecticut Yankee circling the globe on a Douglas flat twin back in the early 1930s. That's when having an adventure was having an adventure, and there was no phone system to allow you to contact the nearest U.S. Consulate, let alone call home. . ." -- Rider, February 1998
"One Man Caravan is a 'good read' " -- BMW Owners News, February 1998
"One Man Caravan is a fascinating adventure story which tells of a modern Renaissance man who, with an enormous appetite for life, did not stop at dreams. It's an inspiring read." -- Keystone Motorcycle Press, August 1996
"One Man Caravan will leave readers spellbound by the exploits of Renaissance man Robert Fulton, who explored the world his own way - on two wheels and a prayer." -- CC Motorcycle News Magazine, August 1996
"This is a story without compare...." -- Rpm Magazine
"Filled with many photos, maps, and charts, One Man Caravan is written in an uncomplicated style by a man who describes motorcycling as the closest thing to being a cowboy in this mechanized age. It is a classic, and still entertaining more than sixty years later." -- Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly, June 1998
A "superbly told tale of a young Connecticut Yankee circling the globe . . . when having an adventure was having an adventure, and there was no phone system to allow you to contact the nearest U.S. Consulate, let alone call home." -- Rider
About the Author
Robert Edison Fulton began his 18-month adventure on a customized Douglas motorcycle, and shaped the rest of his life. "One of the great advantages of the motorcycle is its ability to bring its rider close to the environment--winds, weather, roads, surroundings, nature." Fulton's incredible journey led him to accomplishments such as inventing the Airphibian flying automobile, the Air Force's Skyhook air-sea rescue system, and sculptured Water-Wings. Today, at 89 years of age, he still lives a creative life in Connecticut.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
R. Fulton circumnavigates the globe on a motorcycle in 1932.,
By A Customer
This review is from: One Man Caravan (Incredible Journeys Books) (Paperback)
"One Man Caravan" is a story very much like adventure travelogues I used to read as a kid. In 1932, a young man of maybe limited resources, but unlimited resourcefulness and "chutzpah", saddles up his motorcycle and travels around the world in 18 months. En route, he encounters exotic locals and locales, battles bad roads, breakdowns, injuries, officials and wanders into hot zones of civil wars - such as the British fighting some rebels in fictitiously-sounding Baluchistan. This would be quite typical travel adventure fare, except that it really happened. The author is Robert Fulton (later known to Cold War afficionados as the inventor of CIA/Navy Skyhook recovery system), grandson of steam-ship builder Fulton. In 1996 (re-publication time of the book) he was alive and riding his motorcycle at age of 87. Well-written and spell-binding, particularly in light of its authenticity.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The First &The Best,
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This review is from: One Man Caravan (Incredible Journeys Books) (Paperback)
Grandson of the Fulton Engine Genius, and Discoverer/Inventor in his own right, rides around the world on a Douglas Twin during his twenties on a bit of a lark. Out of his off-handed remark to impress a young woman we have one of the best motorcycle travel books ever written. Published umpteen times, I can imagine this book spurring on new generations of riders for decades to come.
The writing is excellent and extremely detailed, we get a breakdown of his trip during each section, along with Fulton's own sketchings and maps of the areas and people he met along the way. Photographs, of all things, to boot: images of a bike in the sea of sand, desert nomads and marketplaces; this book feeds your imagination. After 1 year of reading it a memorable item comes immediately to mind: That of Fulton being saluted and waved straight through road-blocks without stopping, to his incredulity, in occupied and dangerous Warizistan (yes, you've heard this place in the news recently), only to find that he shouldn't have made it past the first gate. It was his safari hat and fatigues that made them believe he was Indian-Army/British attache of all things. ;^) Fulton himself is still living life with adventure. Still kicking with his old Douglas Twin and flying his own plane at the age of 87+. If you want the best grab the first. You'll never put it down, and you'll go back a few times just to make sure you got it right when you read it there the first time. [For other two-wheel journey books I recommend Jupiter's Travels by Ted Simon- inspiration for Ewen McGregor's recent "The Long Way Round" and Ted made the trip without cameramen and support crews!]
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Anyone who rides or doesn't ride will love it,
By Gene Menzies (Walnut Creek, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: One Man Caravan (Incredible Journeys Books) (Paperback)
Mr. Fulton's style of writing is very straightforward and not nearly as dated as you would think. The narrative moves forward quickly as he describes his adventures in a matter of fact tone. But what a story and what a commentary on how our world has changed! One vignette. He is out of food in the middle of a desert. An Arab shows up and, as was the custom, shares exactly half of his food. Then he disappears inside of his closeby hut. Looking inside, Robert sees him setting up a homemade backgammon board. The Arab beckons him in and begs with his eyes--do you play?? They played all night and he gets trounced by his new friend. As I was reading about his trip from Damascus to Baghdad, our troops were attacking Iraq. I thought that this young man's journey simply could not be made today. The world, despite the technological advances in communications and plane travel, is not a safer place for the American adventurer. Get this book! You will not be able to put it down.
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books
cite this book:
- Two Wheels Through Terror: Diary of a South American Motorcycle Odyssey by Glen Heggstad in Back Matter
- The Perfect Vehicle: What It Is About Motorcycles by Melissa Holbrook Pierson on page 141
- The Big Book of Adventure Travel by James C. Simmons on page 197
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