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She’s among the best known motorcycle riders in the world and, just possibly, the most adventuresome having ridden throughout Africa and South America, from India to Europe, and in numerous other countries worldwide over the past eight years, and doing so on a variety of bikes.
Her popular YouTube channel “Itchy Boots” has 2.75 million subscribers, who view her tales with awe, jealousy and respect. Overall, she’s ridden solo more than 175,000 kilometers around the globe, facing challenges and experiencing pain – such as when she broke her collarbone when she crashed in Tanzania.
There’s very little that can stop Noraly Schoenmaker of The Netherlands. One adventure she won’t experience, though, is a tour planned for June in the United States to promote her new book “Free Ride.” She thinks it’s just too dangerous because of recently implemented federal policies under President Donald Trump.
U.S. Visit Too Risky
Writing from Yemen, Schoenmaker announced on Facebook today that her U.S. visit has been scrapped “because it doesn’t feel safe to travel to the US right now.”
Schoenmaker provided a lengthy explanation for her decision and expressed disappointment. “A lot of planning already happened, venues contacted and fun stuff arranged,” she reported. “I was looking forward to meeting so many of you in the U.S. and I’m gutted it’s not going to happen now.”
Coming to America simply presented too many risks given the current administration.
She explained, “I have a valid, 10-year visa that I was planning to use, but the U.S. immigration authorities are now reviewing social media activity for content deemed to undermine the U.S. foreign policy. Visas are being stripped from people on a daily basis now and several Europeans have been detained for weeks and then deported.
“Given my recent travels and content in the Middle East and especially Yemen, I run the risk of having the same happening to me. I never thought I would say this, but it doesn’t feel safe to travel to the U.S. right now.”
Alluding to previous challenges and obstacles along the road, Schoenmaker hinted her decision wasn’t rooted in a lack of courage, rather a desire to do what was best for her long-term prosperity.
“If you’ve followed me for a while, then you know, I don’t back down easily and don’t shy away from a little risk. But the risk of being detained and deported could mean a decade long ban on entering the U.S., and having ‘Deported from USA’ in my passport could jeopardize visa applications for other countries too.”
Fans Support Her Decision
The Itchy Boots post on Facebook instantly generated overwhelming support for Schoenmaker and much outrage over the conduct of the federal government. In the first 14 hours, she received more than 16,000 “likes” and more than 5,000 comments.
Schoenmaker’s book – full title “Free Ride: Heartbreak, Courage, and the 20,000-Mile Motorcycle Journey That Changed My Life” – is due for release in the U.S. on June 3. It is available for pre-order online at Barnes and Noble and Amazon for $26.99.
(Photos taken from the Itchy Boots Facebook page.)
