It was a special time, an envelope of peace in a war-weary Europe. The 1930s presented a unique opportunity for three wandering Swiss horsemen to journey across a recovering continent, a chance to see the last remnants of nineteenth century village life before it was swept away forever by the horrors of the Second World War.

From Seattle, Washington to Marysville, Ohio on a Fowler Truss frame wheel in 53 days, covering over 2,600 miles on eighty-five dollars and fifty-nine cents. That is how William Henry Sheneman spent the summer of 1896.

People .asked why we did not take a motor instead of a motor ‘sidecar. They were extra-ordiriarily fertile in recommending makes of motor-cars. And I had to explain that - yes, we have no motor-car - no, we belong to the fraternity of vagabonds.

Sheridan, Clare. Across Europe with Satanella. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1925.