Michael's family were inveterate travellers and as a child he was lucky to be able to enjoy many holidays in a variety of locations.
So it wasn't surprising that Michael also developed the travelling bug, a need to explore places both near and not so near.
In his early twenties, having qualified as a newly minted surveyor, he took the decision to take some time out, to take a sabbatical time out to set out on an adventure of his own.
And so it was that in 1981 Michael decided to set out on an adventure of a lifetime; a motorcycle trip across Africa.
Ever since his father had bought him a motorbike as his student transport, he had developed a love of motorbiking so a motorcycle trip on the African continent was a natural choice.
He prepared for his adventure with meticulous detail, finding a certain amount of joy and excitement even in the planning.
He wasn't even sure that he could make it across Africa, even having a bailout plan if things were to go wrong, his bike fail him or whatever. But his faithful mechanical steed did not fail him and, together, they succeeded in their cross continental adventure.
The store is very well told and Michael takes his readers all the way, you are with him when people throw rocks at him, when he is accused of spying, thrown into a police cell, has to deal with a variety of mechanical issues and minor details (!) such a sand dunes that had decided to block roads and the like.
He also met some nice people, including a very smartly dressed Algerian official who proudly took him for a walk through his gardens of which he was justifiably proud.
He met with fellow adventure travellers and a wide variety of characters as he made his way through Africa.
The book is copiously illustrated with a wide range of photographs and maps.
Michael used his travels to raise money for Oxfam.
It is published by The Book Guild at £19.95 in hardback.
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