This first edition is signed by the author on the inside cover, with an inscription reading \'To Alan & Sue, for many years of friendship and times shared! John.\'In the late 60s, two young men embark on a voyage which not only takes them around the world, but starts them off up life s incline which is, at times, steep, sometimes poignant, often amusing and frequently bizarre. They meet a disparate array of musicians, cruise the world, witness misfortune and death, have their instruments stolen, borrow a sports car, suffer a libation of Alaskan sea water, upset various policemen, see depravity at its worst and are paid for their trouble. They encounter two honest agents at the same time (imagine that), turn down the maiden voyage of the QE2 and move to Palm Springs on the toss of a coin, where Slim marries and John meets Steph. Slim flies to San Diego in a colander , they drive to Vancouver, repair their Volkswagen by the freeway, visit the Flying Scotsman in San Francisco and thumb a lift home on Oriana.