I See by My Outfit: Cross-Country by Scooter, an Adventure [Paperback]

Peter S. Beagle (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“… an enchanted journey recounted with the special magic of a born troubadour.” -- TIME

“An original and sustained performance” -- SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

“full of the gaiety and the gusto of youth, candid, uncompromising, unashamedly high–hearted.” -- Louis Untermeyer

From the Publisher

In 1964, Peter Beagle and a friend—bearded non–beatniks in their early twenties—rode across America on motor scooters. Beagle’s report from the road, originally published in 1965, has deservedly earned a place on the shelf of classic American travel narratives. With a new Introduction by the author.

Product Details

• Paperback: 249 pages
• Publisher: Akadine Pr (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585790478
• ISBN-13: 978-1585790470
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,089,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The trip we all wish we had taken, September 30, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: I See by My Outfit: Cross-Country by Scooter, an Adventure (Paperback)

This is an early 60's memoir of two young, scruffy, life-long friends making a cross-country road trip on scooters. The dialog is first-rate, funny patter. But along with the lighthearted moments are the fascinating vignettes of the people that they meet along the way. Like Peter and his friend, Phil, we are drawn into the lives of these brief aquaintances for a few hours, perhaps only minutes, and must continue the journey, never knowing what the rest of their life story will be.

For this re-release, Mr. Beagle has added an afterward, telling what happened after he and Phil reached their destination, how their lives changed and how those changes affected their friendship. This addendum was particularly poignant since Mr. Beagle reflects on some unsettling post-journey developments with the insight and wisdom acquired in the succeeding 39 years.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Time Capsule, April 9, 2003

By 

Lynn Flewelling (East Aurora, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I See by My Outfit: Cross-Country by Scooter, an Adventure (Paperback)

I read this book back when it was new and I was very young, long before I knew Beagle by way of "The Last Unicorn". It was the first road book I ever read and he swept me away. I've since driven across America four or five times, and the spirits of Peter and Phil always go with me. Just looking at this new listing makes my feet itch to go. Time to read it again.

My older son is 17 now and talking of journeys; I'm ordering a copy for him.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Scooter Adventure, December 9, 2010

By 

Thomas M. Wallace "Grandpa" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I See by My Outfit: Cross-Country by Scooter, an Adventure (Paperback)

This was a very good read. I love motorcycle riding and camping along the way and that's just what these guys did. Set in the mid 1960s on small Vespa style scooters, the author takes short, 50 to 150 mile, daily scoots from small town to small town meeting a lot of interesting people along the way. Today a trip from coast to coast might take 5 days but they spend weeks getting from New York City to Menlo Park in California. Any adventure rider should enjoy this book.