In Conversations Across America, Loyd documents a journey along the TransAmerica Bike Trail with his father who is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. In addition to being an enriching story of the bond between a father and son, Conversation Across America included photos and quotes from people that Lola and his father met as the crossed the country. These quotes are so interesting. Some individuals share insightful comments, some make borderline offensive remarks, and some simply gave encouragement. The variety amongst their interactions really made this an interesting read. The photos giving us the ability to see those they met was a nice additional touch!

Kari (rhymes with "sorry") and his father Merv spend 73 days riding the 4,600-mile TransAmerica Bike Trail together. At the time, Merv was exhibiting signs of early-stage Alzheimer's, and his son wanted to connect. The father and son did share some heartfelt conversations as they navigated challenging weather, met new friends and discussed everyday tasks like using the bathroom along the road or finding gluten-free foods in small-town America.
I enjoyed reading this book. The father-son relationship is heartwarming. And I appreciate how the author included details like how they used the bathroom. It's not a book solely documenting how many miles they rode in a day or what gear they used (although those details are included).
The conversations with everyday folks were also fun to read. Throughout the trip, Kari conducted interviews with 300 people and shared their stories on Instagram. Everyone has a story, and I like how he included some of those stories in this travel documentary.
We never know how much time we have with our loved ones. However, this book reminds readers to spend time connecting, which we can do during everyday activities or trips of a lifetime.