4 Strokes West: An Amazing American Adventure

By Mark DerMugrditchian

An Amazing American Adventure is a real life story of one boy's dream of roaming throughout America living and experiencing life along the way. This story is about Mark DerMugrditchian and his two friends during the years 1976-1977. I had an idea, which then became a dream. The dream became a fixation, which became a reality, and the reality would swell to include Muhammad Ali, national television, Mexican bandits, a gorilla in a tree in Louisiana, an ill-tempered Hell's angel, a narcotics drop, a canine conspiracy involving a backpack of mine, an (allegedly) stolen diamond ring, celebrating Thanksgiving with a Mexican American family in Texas, and a puppy who became, as they say "Man's best friend." The experiences turned into adventures and some into life and death episodes. The three of us bonded like brothers having fun, sticking together, even in bar room brawls. We met many nice, and a few not so nice people along our adventurous journey. We shared the experience of being cold, sometimes very cold, wet, hungry, tired, riding in rain or snow conditions, sleeping outside in a tent or just under the stars for nights on end. We were regularly looking for work and always making new friends. It was great to hike and camp in many famous national parks. We never knew where we would end up at the end of each travel day or who we would meet or what adventure loomed around the bend. During the entire time we were away from home, our 1975 Honda CB 360 T motorcycles, which had a two cylinder 356cc four stroke engine, were our only means of transportation and they served us well. Handa's slogan was right, you do "Meet the Nicest People on a Honda." Thank you Honda! But through it all, it was God who watched over us and kept us from real harm as we meandered throughout this great country. 4 Themes in The Book Think Big, Dream and keep dreaming until they come true, Be Nice to People, Thank God for all His Blessings Book jacket.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1098373898
• ISBN13: 9781098373894
• Release Date: July 2021
• Publisher: Bookbaby
• Length: 338 Pages
• Weight: 1.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Cross Country American Adventure

I thoroughly enjoyed this modern-day reality tale of the adventures and exploits of three young men just out of college with the determination and focus to make the dream of crossing this great country on their Honda motorcycles come true. In a way reminiscent of Thoreau and Mark Twain's Huck Finn, this is a story of connecting hearts and minds to many walks of people and their unexpected joys and consequences along the way. It is also a story of how the common bond of faith, trust and love (and a little luck) can overcome any obstacles. Highly recommend.