Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road (by Neil Peart)
I’m a latecomer to the writings of Neil Peart. Just a few months ago, I learned he wrote several nonfiction books and some fiction books too. Watching interviews online, I was immediately drawn to his personality, intelligence, love of travel, and admiration of books. Below is an interview with Neil that taught me what I needed to know about his writing career.
I decided to read his nonfiction works in the order they were published. I recently read The Masked Rider and loved it. Next up was Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road. The wonderful thing about books is that they can be timeless. Originally published in 2002, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of this book one bit. I only wish I had learned of his writing skills sooner.
Ghost Rider is the book I was most looking forward to reading. During my recent travels down the rabbit hole of learning about Neil, I quickly learned his 19-year-old daughter, Selena, died in a car accident in 1997. Ten months later, his wife, Jackie, died of cancer, which he believes was caused by her extreme grief. I remember thinking, ‘How does someone survive that magnitude of loss?!’ Well, Neil tells readers exactly how he survived in Ghost Rider.
Two months after Jackie’s death and one year and 10 days after Selena’s passing, Neil embarked on an undetermined journey on his motorcycle through Canada to Alaska, down through the western United States, to Mexico and Belize. He had a vague destination in mind and a zero-timeframe as to how long he would be gone. Along the way, he navigated motorcycle maintenance, lodging, meals, and notable attractions along the way. He spent a lot of time hiking, exploring national parks, and visiting independent bookstores. It was fascinating when he recounted the books he read and purchased along the way. He toured several homes/museums of famous writers. My favorites were Ernest Hemingway’s in Ketchum, Idaho and Jack London’s in Glen Ellen, California. Neil talked a lot about reading Jack London while on this trip; it makes me want to read his works too.
Neil enjoyed his solitude while also spending time with friends and family along the way. He scheduled visits when he was in proximity to a friend and scheduled a stay with his brother. He wrote a lot of letters and journaled daily, which he shared in this book. The letters provide an excellent description of how Neil spent his time. His journal entries told of his emotional journey and how he was processing his grief.
Neil’s first motorcycle adventure was 33,000 miles. He returned to his lake house in Montreal at the end of December and wrote how he managed his daily grief back at home. Neil is completely transparent about healthy coping mechanisms, such as recreational activities of the sport nature, and how he structured his days. He openly talked about his drinking and his awareness of the potential problems he could be creating.
As springtime rolled around, Neil felt the desire to get back on his motorcycle. He ventured on another journey in Canada, including Prince Edward Island. Then, another adventure into the western United States. Totaling 55,000 miles on the healing road. Neil seemed to be feeling more grounded and sure of himself as he explored the life of a bachelor.
I love how the book ended. It gave me a great sense of understanding of how he coped with such magnificent losses. I appreciate his willingness to share such a personal experience with everyone who reads this book. I felt closure and happiness for Neil as this chapter of his life transitioned into the next. I can only imagine how much peace he must have felt.
Below is a YouTube video of an interview with the bandmates of Rush about Neil’s time on the healing road.
I purchased Ghost Rider with my Audible subscription. I enjoyed the narration by Brian Sutherland.
You can read my review of Neil Peart’s first nonfiction book below.
The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa
If you’re a fan of Rush, and want to learn more about the band, you can read my review of Geddy Lee’s autobiography below.
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