Interesting how we great mind cyclists often think alike - I keep a Word document with quotes in it that I might use on upcoming tours - a few of these were already in it, and now they all are! People don't read these days, so I especially liked your Mark Twain quote "The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them." Thanks for the thought-provoking quotes.

No worries.... it never even occurred to me you meant that. Everyone knows that you're too nice of a Tough Guy to say anything negative or critical.

Glad you enjoyed them!

Hey Mark. I just wanted to clarify my previous comment after seeing the David Shields quote. I hope you didn't think I was accusing you of taking (plagiarizing) all the good quotes from my journals. No way. I was just joking that you didn't leave any good quotes for me to use in the future.

"In many senses, creativity and 'plagiarism' are nearly indivisible."
- David Shields -

While reading these quotes, I repeated some of them aloud to my wife so we could laugh together. What a great collection. The only drawback is that I sometimes like to use quotes in my own journals, and now, it seems, you've taken all the good ones.

I'm going to bookmark this one...

I wish I could think of a funny quip for my comment, but I can't so it's just thank you for a great start into the day with this great collection.

Thanks, Greg, although I think you misspelled the word “almost” when you noted it’s “all most enjoyable.” 😊

Regarding my encounters with people, I find it interesting because I’m about the most shy, introverted person I know. However, I find people endlessly fascinating so I love to hear their stories. So, while I can stay at home and be very happy never leaving the house, when I do meet someone I’m completely engrossed in what they have to say. I believe everyone has a good story if you’re willing to listen, and, having met you in person, know that you’re personable and people will open up if you give them a chance. Some of my best bike tour experiences are related to people.

Thanks, Rich! I appreciate the time you spent reading it, and I’m looking forward to reading about your next ride.

Hi Buddy,

Thanks for reading the journal. Because I don’t write my journals in real time I have that same end-of-trip feeling when I make the final post. I just finished experiencing the trip again, and wonder how long it’ll be before I pick it up again.

Klaus lived in Wiesbaden when I met him, and now lives in Frankfurt, so he’s pedaled those trails for at least 40 years. I have no doubt that you’ve traveled over the same paths.

I’m looking forward to reading your next journal, regardless of where you end up going. If you do the Southern Tier, I think I would suggest an East-to-West route because of the wind. And because there are fewer dogs in that direction. ;-)

Outstanding journal, Mark. The quotes, the stories, the descriptions --all most enjoyable. Even your interesting encounters with other people make me think I should reconsider my loner touring style in which I try my best to AVOID people.

Nice piece about turning the crank once, then turning it again. Keep doing that, and you can get through ANYTHING.

Also, good job in shaming that "ride on the sidewalk" jerk.

I really enjoyed this journal. Thanks for writing it!

Congratulations on a very successful tour! I very much enjoyed the journal, read every page. I understand exactly the strange feeling you have when completing a long tour - it's very hard to explain it to someone outside of the cycle-touring community. When your friend Klaus rode from France to Frankfurt, Germany, he most likely rode on the bike routes along Rhine River as he approached Frankfurt - which means he would have ridden through Mainz - Wiesbaden is just across the river from Mainz and that's where I stayed for 6 months in 2019 - long story short, Klaus would have ridden on the same roads and bike paths along the Rhine River that I rode every weekend. Just an interesting tidbit, at least to me. I'm amazed that you had no dog encounters - but you did veer off the ACA route as you entered into the southern underbelly of our great country, so perhaps that was the saving difference? And, of course, your tour was a few years ago - many others have had lots of dog encounters. I have an interest in riding the Southern Tier someday and hope to lessen the dog issues somehow. But I digress - thanks for publishing your tale, it was a very enjoyable read!

Classic movie, and a great scene. You can’t go wrong with a Coen brothers movie. Fellow Minnesotans, if I recall correctly.