Journey's End

Portsmouth, England to Mount Shasta, California, USA

We arrived home in California one month ago.

It took twenty days to make the trip from eastern France. Much of it was tracing our journey in reverse. We revisited Caen in Normandy. A few days were spent in Southern England. We returned to Brooklyn on the Queen Mary II. The final four days we traveled across the U.S. on a train.

From the train, familiar landscapes whizzed by our cabin window. The rail line paralleled our bike path along the Hudson River. The Suminski Innski flashed by in the early evening darkness. Ironically, our first Amtrak dinner was served as we zipped through the Erie Canal town of Little Falls, New York. Five months earlier, while on our bike journey, we struggled to find anything at all to eat in Little Falls.

We were back in Nebraska as nighttime fell two days later. The rolling of the train along the track was rhythmic and soothing. At daybreak we were still in Nebraska. The prairie seemed interminable; reminding us how big the country is.

Reaching the mountains of the West was a homecoming. The pines and granite along rushing streams felt like old friends. Pretty little campsites inspired dreams of heading back out on the bikes. Eagles fished the rivers. As we rolled down from the Sierra past green farms with orange trees and palms, the setting sun, low in the west, gave a lovely glow to an idealized picture of California. Our friend Bill met us at the Sacramento train station and whisked us home to Mount Shasta. 

For making our grand journey possible, we owe much to many people. Adrian helped with the bikes. Mike looked after our home. Patrick rescued us when we were in need. Georges and Martha hosted us for weeks. Brian in Ossining, Roger and Martine in Kings Langley, Toni, Màite, Amanda and Mike, Ginnette. There are others of you to whom we owe a debt of gratitude, and if you are reading this you know who you are. Thank you!

Finally, and with sorrow, I need to pay tribute to Lisa’s dad Dwight Kleven. Dwight unexpectedly passed away days after our return to California. This past summer we rode our bikes to his home in Mason City, Iowa where he hosted us and fellow bicycle tourist, Mark. We treasure fond memories of riding bikes with him around Mason City and his assisting us with our bicycle maintenance. He was a constant booster and supporter of our journey. He loved hearing the tales of our travels. Dwight was known for his humorous quips and his uncomplicated wisdom. If he were here to provide a final word to this blog, he would surely advise us all to live everyday fully; you never know what tomorrow might bring.

Thanks for following along with us!

Sure beats United Airlines!

Tom and Thierry, our QM companions and friends!

Rockefeller Center, NYC.

Ready to roll, the last 13 mile ride from Brooklyn to Manhattan on Christmas Day.

The Amtrak California Zephyr.

Home in Mount Shasta with Bill.

Dwight Kleven, 1946-2026. Rest in Peace, Dad.