Author Description

Graeme’s adventurous travelling spirit began when he was only 20. This is the story of an amazing 6000+ mile, 260 lifts, 21 countries hitch hiking adventure from Liverpool to the Middle East and back. En route he encountered fights, attempted muggings, vehicle crashes, aerial bombing from enemy planes and all manner of other hazards. The young adventurer, by mischievous methods, found his way into one of the most prestigious, archaeological digs in the Middle East, and into the home of an Israeli cabinet minister. He also managed to rub shoulders with the Beatles, Yasser Arafat and several other dignitaries and personalities. Graeme Chapman MBE was born at the end of the Second World War in Liverpool. He has been in the Business Supplies Industry for most of his working life, where he has been honoured with a EOPA special recognition award and the prestigious BOSS Industries lifetime achievement award. His work took him all over Europe, the Americas and Australasia. Graeme was presented with the MBE for his Charity fund raising by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II In the millennium honours list. Reader Reviews: “To relate the tale of a year spent in Israel and Jordan without getting into politics is masterful in itself, however the author achieves something else… a real sense of being there with him. Hitchhiking there and back, and working for his keep, Graeme Chapman transports us to this magical place, 1,200 feet below sea level in his delightful book and engages us in the daily lives of people on both sides of the border. This is a book I couldn’t put down, full of fun, drama and humanity. Lee Clarke. I read "By Thumb" from cover to cover and absolutely marveled at this incredible true adventure. Traveling pre iPhone and the Google to death generation, was very special and exciting, due to the unknown around every corner. I recently had a taste of the middle east by visiting Tel Aviv for work, falling in l