Suit to Saddle

Biographies & Memoirs

synopsis

Synopsis

"Your job has been eliminated." In other words, you're unemployed, out of work, and desperate to find a new purpose. When US Army veteran Larry Walsh heard those words, his world was turned upside down. With a desire to move beyond unemployment, create an exciting new future for himself, and push past his limits, he decides to fulfill his lifelong dream to bike across the country. He purchases a Surly Disc Trucker touring bike and begins his 3,120-mile ride of the Southern Tier from California to Florida. Cycling over treacherous mountains, through open plains, unforgiving deserts, and over 200 unique small towns, Walsh not only discovers a new world and new people, but he uncovers a side of himself that he thought was long forgotten-one filled with true grit and determination. In Suit to Saddle, Walsh chronicles his story of triumph over adversity. Each person he meets along the road plays an integral part of his quest for inner peace and growth. Through the eyes of a one-armed cyclist, a retired police officer, a gun-toting waitress, and a thousand miles of open road, Walsh learns that the true meaning of a life well-lived is the journey. Join Walsh on his trip across America and see what it feels like to experience life one mile at a time.

bio

Author Biography

I'm a US Army veteran, basketball enthusiast, family man, and the author of Forty to Finish, the sequel to the #1 New Release, Suit to Saddle, stories of my cycling adventures across the country. After a seven-year stint serving in the US Army and a twenty-eight-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, I stepped away from corporate life to cycle into the heart of America. I enjoy sharing my story with others, reading, spending time with my family in New Jersey or vacationing at our cabin on Torch Lake, Michigan.

A wise man once said, "If you dig it, do it. If you dig it a lot, do it twice."-Jim Croce.

So that's what I did.

website

Author Insight

Discipline and Routine

When I wrote the first word for Suit to Saddle, I had a clear beginning and end in mind. That was not the case with my second book, Forty to Finish. The beginning was clear. Hop on a plane and fly to Astoria, Oregon. Simple and straightforward. The ending? I had no idea. Writing for me is all about discipline and routine. Since August 2020, I stayed at it, day in and day out. Early mornings. Late nights. Breaks in between. My routine. Maps, pictures, notes, a computer screen and keyboard laid out in front of me. And then just write. And write some more. The ending to Forty to Finish became clear during a break (jog) one day in early April '22 in my hometown of Mendham, NJ. I’m psyched to be on the final stretch of my writing journey, rounding third. Forty to Finish coming soon! Counting the days!!! (Introduction to Forty to Finish is included at the end of Suit to Saddle)

Book Excerpt

Suit to Saddle

May 30, 2019

I wore my green Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible hiking pants on United Flight #2415 to Portland, Oregon, the same ones I had donned eight months earlier for a United flight to San Diego when I began my three-month odyssey from self-doubt to self-confidence. A blue Smartwool 100 long-sleeve shirt and silver Northside Brille lightweight water shoes rounded out the ensemble, giving me an appearance that revealed my enthusiasm for the occasion.

The clothing easily fit into the Salsa Half-Frame Bike Pack, with adequate storage capacity to carry only essential items for my journey. Beginning on June 2, my Smartwool shirt would serve a much more critical purpose than casual travel attire: it would warm my torso as I cycled over five mountain ranges, including the Cascades and the Rocky Mountains, and into the heart of middle America.

The landing gear extended, the wing flaps opened, and the distinct roar attributable to the airplane’s hydraulic motor signaled the final approach. A loud thump and screech of the brakes triggered an immediate roar due to the rush of high-speed air spewing out of engines. United #2415 touched down at 11:12 a.m.

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Larry Walsh

Suit to Saddle

Synopsis

Author Biography

Author Insight

Discipline and Routine

Book Excerpt

Suit to Saddle

Comment on this Bubble