conclusion

After six months of riding, it's time to head back home. Although I'd love to continue, this has been a very self-indulgent trip. There's the excuse that it's my "retirement bash," but even so.... six months. That's a helluva long party, and a long time to abandon Heather to manage our household. There are a number of people who post lengthy trips on CycleBlaze, but as far as I can tell I'm the only one who is partnered.

The last time I talked to her I let her know in a very straightforward tone: "I've finally found grounds for divorce ." When she responded with, "Oh, honey, I can always hope...." I knew our relationship was still as strong as it always was. She didn't even have the link to click on.

For me, I'm not sure how to stop. Inertia propels me forward, and the momentum to continue riding hasn't dissipated. How do you put the brakes on? Even now, two weeks after my final riding day, I feel the need to plot out tomorrow's ride, to seek out the weird and unusual, to chat up complete strangers and eavesdrop on conversations, and to load up the bike and take off to somewhere I've never been.

I'll eventually figure it out, but in the meantime the consolation prize isn't so bad: hanging out with someone I love and who loves me, visiting with our friends, going to plays/movies/concerts, reading for pleasure.

But: the itch is still there....

When we were riding the GAP together, Heather looked down at my bloodied ankle.
"What did you do to your ankle?" she asked
As frequently happens, I had no idea that I'd even injured it and, in this case, must've banged it against my pedal.
"I guess I just can’t keep my feet away from the pedals."
"Yeah," she said. "That sounds like the allegory of your life."

She is correct. I don't know how long I can keep going, but I don't know if I can stop, either.

So, circling back around to the very first introductory post of this journal:
"I'm going on a trip. Then I'm going on another one, then another, until my window closes and I sit in front of a fireplace with a blanket across my lap."

I hope you can join me, because I'll be back.

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One last thing: If you made it this far, you're hard core. There aren't many of you who completed the entire trip, and I appreciate you accompanying me. It's an odd phenomenon, but I really do feel like you're traveling with me.

If you've made it this far, I have a request: when you have a moment, would you consider leaving a comment about something particularly memorable about the trip.... a story or event that really stuck with you, or your favorite photo, or simply some fact you found interesting... all of the above would be okay, too - I'd appreciate it.

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Comment on this entry	Comment	34

Annette SchneiderHi Mark...I did indeed follow you throughout your entire trip. It was great to read your prose, particularly your (sometimes unusual) take on any number of things. After the fall which compromised my rotator cuff some 30 years ago, I never got back on the horse. I'll be 83 in January, and really enjoy having a site such as CycleBlaze, where I can appreciate the adventures of others. Thanks for sharing.
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo Annette SchneiderThanks so much for commenting, Annette, and also for following along!
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2 months ago

Stuart NottinghamHi, Mark! It has been a fun (albeit, virtual) adventure riding along with you. At the tender young age of 72, I still plan on riding across the US before I “go.”

I particularly enjoyed reading your GAP exploits, as they reminded me of my own trip some fifteen years ago (PGH to DC.)

I look forward to reading your next journey. Stay upright and roll on!
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2 months ago

Nancy GrahamHi Mark, now at the end of this 6 month journey, I await your next explorations. After reading every one of your posts of each day, I now wish I had made notes of a few of my favorite moments, photos and experiences! Had I known we would be getting this assignment (😉) at the end, I would have done just that! I had so many favorites that it is not possible for me to recall anything in particular, though I am sure I had more than a few! I liked your titles of each day as a prelude of what to look for ;’-), and you are indeed fortunate to have such an understanding and supportive partner as Heather. I enjoyed a chuckle about your “Grounds for Divorce”, but more so her response. 😉.

Thank you for taking the time to include us all in your journey and your humor. I enjoyed every word and do indeed look forward to the next one. I will be keeping my eye out for you.
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2 months ago

marilyn swettHi Mark - boy, that's a tough assignment and one I guess I'll "fail"! Every day had great photos, interesting encounters etc. I was always surprised that you made it to your next stop as you had to have been stopping every 15 minutes to take just one more photo of something that caught your attention:) I'm looking forward to following you on your next tour!
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2 months ago

Gregory GarceauI think I most enjoyed the unusual accommodations you managed to find--a hut in a hippy commune, an off-shore boat, a motel that had a famous murder, and a blockhouse along the canal, come quickly to mind.

Oh yeah, and you definitely have a way with similes.
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2 months ago

Bill Shaneyfelt"Naturally" I liked the nature photos best, but it was all done very well. I just wish I could have actually ridden along for a while... So, if you ever pass through Dayton, OH, let me know you are heading this way and maybe I can put in 5 miles or so riding with you as I've done with others.

Thanks for faithfully posting! I will be eagerly watching for the next installment.
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo Stuart Nottingham
Go Stuart!! I hope to be able to read about your transcontinental trip.
The GAP was definitely one of the highlights, and I think the C&O would've been more pleasant had the mosquitoes not been so abundant. Thanks for sharing!
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo Nancy GrahamThanks for following along each day, and for commenting. As far as the favorite moments, you can always go back and reread the entire journal to come up with something. ;-)
And you're absolutely right about Heather - I couldn't ask for a more supportive partner.
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo marilyn swettWow... you are so right about stopping every 15 minutes (although frequently it was more than that!). It made for slow going but, as I've said before, the point isn't the "getting there," it's the "going."

I appreciate you following along!
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo Gregory GarceauI feel like I got really lucky with the accommodations, especially since many of the coolest ones are no longer available, or won't be in the near future.

As for the similes, they come as easily to me as cooking does to you.

I'll add that one of the disappointments in not getting as far as I'd planned is that I wasn't able to make it to Hastings so we could hang out. I was really looking forward to it.
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo Bill Shaneyfelt
"Naturally" is the perfect word, Bill... ha! I appreciate the comments on the nature photos because, like I mentioned before, they add another dimension to the journal. And also because I'm lazy and therefore didn't have to look them up. :-)

Twice on this trip I tried to make it work out so that we could get together, but the stars just didn't align. Someday, though... but only if you promise to ride slowly. Thanks for following along!
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2 months ago

Bill ShaneyfeltTo Mark BinghamI ride slowly... top speed on the flats, no wind, unloaded, is 12 mph, for a little while.
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2 months ago

Rich FrasierI vaguely remember that night you spent in a hotel where some woman had murdered people. And then went to dinner in a bar that sounded like the scariest place in the USA. That night stuck in my mind. :) I didn’t look back to check my memory - I hope I have that right.

I also really appreciate all the straight lines you fed me over the course of the trip. :)

As for continuing the ride, you could always just keep your bike loaded up at home and go out every day and ride around your town. You could still stop and talk to people. You might be able to keep going for a couple of months before the locals start avoiding you…
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo Rich FrasierI spent the night at The Scoot Inn, where Aileen Wuornos lived for several months, and went to The Last Resort, the dive bar where she was arrested for murder (Day 19). For me, it was one of the most significant events of the trip, and I'm considering adding an additional post about it because of the impact it made on my life down the line.

Regarding the straight lines, did your check ever arrive? I'm sure I mailed it. :-)

I plan to continue riding (grocery store, bookstore, lunch...) all winter if I can but, oddly, it's difficult for me to strike up a conversation unless I'm on a trip. The Introvert returns, so you might have to pick up the slack.
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2 months ago

Bob DistelbergAnother one of your dedicated readers here. I’ve really enjoyed following along every day. It’s really tough to believe it’s been six months. So tough in fact, that I had to scroll back to the early entries to check the dates to see if it’s really true. Like Nancy, I really wish I had known there would be a test at the end. I would have kept better notes. But, I really don’t think I could pick out a single event as my favorite. Seems like every day was an adventure. I’m sad to see it done, but hopeful that it’s really just the start of many more adventures. And you’re allowed to make them shorter than six months if you want.
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo Bob DistelbergBob, I really appreciate you following along with me all these months, and you're absolutely right: every day WAS an adventure! I hope to take a trip every year, and will continue posting as long as people are interested in reading about it.
Thanks for reading!
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2 months ago

Lyle McLeodOMG, might as well start at the start, and your incredibly researched overview of the history of Key West. And it definitely was “your” history - L. Rust Hills, The Count, polydactyl cats, Bum Farto, just to scrape the surface. So much to learn! And from there you just kept rolling.

Downhill.

That brought us to Mackinac Island and the great adventure of finding your hotel, the highly sanitized final version, and your subsequent conundrum regarding delivering 1st Ayd. Still laughing about that one now - so much so that I think I’ve got to go for a pee!

Back now.

On a serious note though, your ride from Munising through to Ishpeming was beautiful, and I got the impression that it was one of the best parts of the trip for you. This was the only part of your trip that Kirsten and I have also ridden, albeit in the opposite direction. It was one of the highlights of our 2015 cross Canada trip; our night camping along the shore of Superior at the Munising campground (actually closer to Christmas) was just sublime.

Thanks for the great journey. it was fun and informative (in so many weird and wonderful ways) to follow along.
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamLyle, I'm really glad you enjoyed following along, and even more so that you got a chuckle here and there. I'm particularly happy that it brought back those memories of you and Kirsten riding in 2015 (and you're right: it was definitely one of the best parts of the trip, and a wonderful surprise).

Thanks for following along on my weird and wonderful journey!
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2 months ago

Larry FrahmOh boy Mark, there are so many interesting things! I enjoyed the entire ride. I haven't been on a bike since I was in grade school but after reading your prose and viewing the photos I feel that I blew it. My traveling for the most part has been the destination, without the time to enjoy the things along the way. Often wishing the destination weren't so far to drive, only stops were for gas and a burger and fries. Anyway, I was a little concerned for your safety when you challenged that alligator. However I was amazed at your agility for a man of 69. You really took it out of that sneaky gator He was totally motionless when you released him. I also found your choices of lodging somewhat daring.
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2 months ago

Larry FrahmTo Larry FrahmOf course the stay at The Scoot Inn and your visit to the nearby killers bar made me think you are either crazy or just dumb. I opt for the first. Have you ever considered writing a book? You could be the next Erma Bombeck. Lets maintain contact maybe we could do lunch at the Flying Weiner. Again thanks for the ride!
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2 months ago

George (Buddy) HallIt was an interesting trip to say the least. Hard to say what stood out the most. There is 1 stat though, that I think may be a CycleBlaze record; miles/day per quantity of journal text. Over 128 days you rode 3,409 miles and extensively documented your experience. Your gross daily mileage average was 26.6 miles - of course, if rest days weren't considered your stat for miles ridden per cycling day would be significantly higher. What is most certainly a record is the extensive research you did to document the highlights and history of each day's travel, and that made the journal quite interesting and fun to follow! Well done, looking forward to the future continuation of your journey.
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo Larry FrahmHi Larry,
* I appreciate you following along, as well as all of the comments you made along the way. Since you said you haven’t done much traveling I hope you now feel like you’ve pedaled across the country with me (without the fatigue!).
* I’m only 67! Don’t shortchange me! :-)
* I got lucky with that alligator attack. He was totally motionless when I released him because The Alligator Slide paralyzed him.
* Crazy or dumb? If I were smarter, I probably wouldn’t mention the fact that a person can be both.
* I’ve considered writing a book, but wouldn’t even know where to start, or what to do with it after I wrote it. Of course, I’m open to ideas! If anyone out there wants to be my agent.... :-)
* Email me in the next few weeks so we can get together for lunch.
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo George (Buddy) HallI haven’t had the chance to look at the statistics of the trip yet but I’m not surprised at all that my average daily mileage is so low, and suspect that after I take out the rest days the mileage won’t improve much. This trip will easily be at least 20 miles a day below any other trip I’ve ever taken, which is okay since, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m now retired and didn’t have a deadline.

You’re right about the research - there was a lot of it, and I hope it added as much to the readers’ enjoyment as it did to mine.

Thanks for following along!
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2 months ago

Gregory GarceauTo Mark BinghamYou did warn me that you might not get out of the U.P. before the weather changed, but I kept waiting and waiting and waiting and hoping for you to get to Hastings. It's okay though. Being only one state apart, I'm pretty sure we'll figure out a way to get together again.
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo Gregory GarceauYou can be 100% sure of that, and I might even make a run up there just to hang out.
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2 months ago

Kathleen ClassenI followed your entire trip but in a different kind of a way. I started reading when your tour began but then planning and going on our own bike tour interrupted my reading. It seems I can’t ride a bike all day, and then write a journal entry without falling asleep before I have a chance to catch up on what others are doing. Now home, I just started over and have read your journal like a book, finishing tonight. It has been a wonderful read and I so appreciate the time and effort you put into writing it. My favourite moments are so many, but will laugh forever when right at the beginning you mentioned Heather declaring you weren’t listening and you thought it was an odd way to start a conversation! Looking forward to your spring tour, wherever it may be.
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo Kathleen ClassenIt’s interesting when you say that “I can’t ride a bike all day, and then write a journal entry without falling asleep,” because that’s how I’ve always been… until this journal. The reason? As Buddy Hall noted in his comment above, my average daily mileage was only 26.6 miles, which is exactly the amount y’all pedaled on your fourth day of riding (entitled “A Brilliant Short Ride”). Cutting back on the daily distance made a huge difference in my energy level at the end of the day, although, at times, I still got really behind in posting.

Anyway, I really appreciate you reading, and ESPECIALLY going to the effort of coming back to it after your trip….. and if you sat down and completed it in one sitting, you deserve a prize! That’s a lot of reading!
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2 months ago

Kathleen ClassenTo Mark BinghamIt was a lot of reading, but I really enjoyed it. For the record I didn’t read it in one sitting! It took about a week and a half!
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2 months ago

Karen PoretWow. Homework assignment grade for this person? big fat “F”. This “Student”( me) version of “Cliff’s Notes” is not cheating, but actually not remembering what I already read ( well) and now I cannot write what I should to get that “A”!
In all seriousness, your journal rates at the TOP of the page because you always made it worth our while to read, learn, share and enjoy!
Looking forward to another MB “gotcha” journal, as only you can write.
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2 months ago

Larry FrahmType your comment here
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2 months ago

Larry FrahmTo Larry FrahmMark, I do not have your e-mail. Please send it to me.
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2 months ago

Mark BinghamTo Karen PoretKaren, you get a big, fat "A+" because you followed along for SIX MONTHS, and you get bonus points for scrutinizing every picture and noticing things that I didn't even see.

Thanks for reading!
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2 months ago