A total pleasure. My generation, Beagle's just a few years older than I am, so I can really relate to the time period and the Zeitgeist.

I'm also an amateur musician, an old "folkie" if you will. Naturally, I adored the music they played on borrowed guitars, in music stores, or simply referenced.

Their camping experiences were quite a crack up. I'm a fairly experienced camper myself, so I was appalled at their ignorance yet admired their bravado.

It was a terrific tour of the USA, seeing areas I've either been to or haven't been to, all through their eyes.

They met some truly fascinating people, many of them warm-hearted and generous, making them feel right at home, like family.

I once had a little motorscooter, a Vespa, back in the pre-helmet days of 1970, with my little girl, who was just 3 years old, on the back.

I found some You Tubes of Beagle and his partner Phil Sigunick playing guitar, and also discovered a lot of Sigunick's art work online. It was as good as I expected, and his work is widely admired and still in galleries. They even did a reunion gig for I See By My Outfit in 2008.

I lent the book to an old folkie in his 80s who has ridden motorcycles, is an artist, and has a variety of stringed instruments. I just know he's going to love it.

WSJ Five Best review, 5/27/23

In the early 1960s, Peter S. Beagle, the novelist who would later gain fame for “The Last Unicorn” (1968), embarked on a journey with the painter Phil Sigunick. Both were budding artists, neither quite beatniks as they were a bit too old, nor part of the burgeoning hippie wave as they were a touch too young. They set off westward from their home in the Bronx, N.Y., on a pair of Heinkel Tourist motor scooters. As they traveled, they carried with them a perception of the nation shaped by literature and popular culture. They constantly weighed the reality of what they witnessed against the images they had internalized from novels and films. The book’s title巧妙地引用了 the song “Streets of Laredo”: “I can see by your outfit, that you are a cowboy.” At certain moments, even the landscape seemed to mimic art. In the desert outside Colorado Springs, Colo., Mr. Beagle saw his surroundings as “a science fiction magazine cover conjecturing the surface of Mars.” By the time the two reached California, Mr. Beagle was already mentally composing the book that would turn the journey itself back into literature, as he strived to relish both “the sweetness of having arrived and the different joy of being on my way.”

This is truly a gem of a road book. Surprisingly, in my opinion, it outshines "On the Road". The author maintains a simple and direct style, allowing the magic of the road to emerge in small, exquisite doses.

When you take into account the introduction and afterword, it becomes an even better book. Both of these sections successfully continue and embellish the story of their childhood friendship, which reaches its climax during this trip.

The "inside" chatter between the chums has its pros and cons. On one hand, it adds authenticity and a sense of camaraderie. On the other hand, it might seem a bit too insular for some readers. However, overall, it is a captivating read that offers a unique perspective on the road and friendship.

A coast-to-coast journey in the early 1960s, filled with unpredictable setbacks and encounters, but not only that. In fact, within this atypical book by Beagle, a famous author of fantasy novels, there is also the sense of friendship and its vulnerability powerless in the face of the passage of time. There is the changing of roles in life. There is the discovery of the next world that awaits us. From the very beginning, I was the writer and Phil was the painter.

I have a precise memory of him as we walk in the Van Cortlandt Park - a magical place of our childhood - and he points to a tree and says: "Rosa. Look at that damned tree that everyone paints black, brown or in any other way, and I can't do anything about it: I see pink in the bark, down there. Do you think it's me who wants to see pink? Don't you think it would please me to perceive the same colors that other people see? How can I tell you?" - from the author's afterword.

For myself, it was truly an eye-opening experience to read descriptions of places that were so vastly different in time. The details and imagery painted a vivid picture in my mind, transporting me to eras long past.

However, there were aspects that I found myself struggling to connect with. The adventure and private jokes that were mentioned seemed to be part of a world that was foreign to me. I couldn't quite grasp the context or the significance behind them.

Perhaps it was because I was viewing these descriptions from a modern perspective, with a different set of values and experiences. Or maybe it was simply a matter of not having enough background knowledge about the specific time period.

Nevertheless, I continued to read, hoping to gain a better understanding and appreciation for the unique stories and cultures that were being presented. Despite the challenges, I knew that there was much to be learned from these accounts, and I was determined to persevere.

A road trip of two best friends is always an adventure, especially when it's all about seeing a girl.

One of my favorite parts of this journey was when they decided to take on the personas of something completely ridiculous just to have a unique and entertaining discussion.

They transformed into the Lone Ranger and Tonto, with one friend playing the heroic Lone Ranger and the other as his trusty sidekick Tonto. Their banter and exchanges in these roles were hilarious and added a touch of lightheartedness to the trip.

Not only that, but they also took on the personas of a general and his collective men. The friend playing the general would give orders and the others would follow suit, creating a comical and absurd scene.

These moments of role-playing and silliness made the road trip even more memorable and enjoyable. It showed the true friendship and creativity of the two best friends, and it was a joy to witness their antics.

Overall, this road trip was filled with laughter, adventure, and of course, the anticipation of seeing the girl. It was a journey that will be remembered for a long time.

Ever since I read Steinbeck's "Travels With Charlie" during my grade school days, I have been on a quest for travel books, particularly those about road trips.

This book commences in April of 1960. The author and his childhood friend Phil, who seem to be in their mid to late 20's as far as I can tell, plot a journey to traverse the U.S. on Heinkel scooters. [Note: as they clarify to someone, they are scooters, not motorcycles.] They have affectionately named these scooters Jenny and Couchette. At times, they describe themselves as bearded Beatniks. Their conversations are filled with esoteric, referential, and shared experience stream of consciousness meanderings that I often find myself skimming over. Although I can identify with having had a similar "insider language" with my high school friends, I still found it rather distracting.

Peter has a specific goal for the trip, which is to reach his girlfriend Enid's house in California by a certain time. Phil understands this, but they both feel that it is somewhat restraining and prevents them from fully indulging in the adventure of their trip. Their experiences are a blend of the funny and the poignant, offering great insights into Americana that are not usually encountered. However, their limited funds, the hunt for pawnshop guitars, and their quirky personalities land them in situations with a unique cast of "characters".

I am aware that Beagle's other writings are all within the realm of science fiction, which is a pity. This is because I discovered that his descriptive language is quite unique and highly evocative.

In 1964, the author embarked on an adventure with his dearest friend Phil, who happened to be an artist. They set off from the bustling city of New York and made their way towards the sunny state of California, all on their trusty motorscooters.

The story of this journey might have held more allure for me had I actually set foot in any of the places they halted at along the way. However, the truth is that I have never had the opportunity to visit the United States, and to be honest, I don't have much interest in motorscooters either.

As a result, I found the entire account rather tiresome and lacking in excitement. It seemed to drag on and on, without really capturing my attention or making me feel any sense of connection to the experiences described.

Perhaps if I had a greater affinity for travel or a passion for motorscooters, I might have been able to appreciate the story more fully. But as it stands, it simply didn't resonate with me.

When I delved into this book, a profound longing surged within me, wishing that it would never reach its conclusion.

Tolstoy, with his remarkable literary prowess, managed to condense his colossal 1000-page epic (albeit some might view it as a monstrosity) into a mere 50 pages. Oh, how I wished he had chosen to publish that summary in a pamphlet and then transferred those extra pages of "War and Peace" to this very book.

I am well aware that such a thing is not possible in the real world of literature, but still, a guy can dream, can't he?

Sometimes, in the midst of reading, our imaginations run wild, creating scenarios that might seem far-fetched but are born out of our deep love and passion for the written word. This book had such an enchanting effect on me that it made me envision a different literary landscape, one where the boundaries of possibility were stretched just a little further.

It was an amazing adventure, a road trip on scooters through the beautiful countryside of a certain country. The moment I heard about it being on scooters, I was completely sold. There was just something so exciting and liberating about the idea.

We set off early in the morning, the sun shining bright and the wind gently caressing our faces. The scooters were our trusty steeds, carrying us along the winding roads with ease. As we cruised through small towns and villages, we were greeted with warm smiles and curious looks from the locals.

The scenery was breathtaking, with vast fields of green, rolling hills, and clear blue skies. We stopped along the way to take in the views, snap some pictures, and just soak up the atmosphere. It was a truly unforgettable experience, one that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and exciting way to explore a new place. Five stars all day long!

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my father-in-law Dan for presenting me with this book!

I have never had the opportunity to read "The Last Unicorn," so I don't have any particular associations with Beagle's most renowned work. However, I have traversed the country numerous times by car (not by scooter), and it is truly one of my all-time favorite activities. This travelogue has made me long deeply for one of those trips and has also reminded me of all my past road-trip companions: my mother, father, and brother, as well as Jen, Maggie, Evan, Mike, Bill, and Annie. There is something truly special about traveling together in this way that allows you to connect with a person on a level that nothing else can. Even other forms of travel, such as by plane or train, or even hiking on pre-blazed trails, are not the same as spending day after day in the car, making individual decisions about where to stop and where to go. Especially in this vast country, where, due to language and historical circumstances, you can pretty much go anywhere without permission or much difficulty. I am eagerly anticipating the day when I can take this kind of trip with my wife and sons - and equally, but separately, just with my wife.

If you have ever traveled across this country by road and have loved the small misadventures and the quirky people you meet along the way, then I highly recommend reading this book.

The original article is not provided, so I can't rewrite and expand it specifically. However, I can give you a general example of how to expand an article.

Let's assume the original article is: "The dog is running in the park. It looks happy."

Here is the expanded version:

The dog is running freely in the park.

Its tail is wagging vigorously, as if it is expressing its joy.

The sun is shining brightly, and the grass is green and lush.

The dog seems to be enjoying every moment of this beautiful day.

It chases after a butterfly, barks at a passing bird, and rolls around on the ground.

Its owner is watching from a distance, smiling and enjoying the sight of the happy dog.

This simple scene in the park brings a sense of peace and happiness to everyone who witnesses it.