PAGE NINE: The Grand Sweeping Conclusion

The Best

An ego trip within a bike trip, or a bike trip within an ego trip? / That is the question. / Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to conduct such a short bike trip off the record / or to take up thy pen and boast about it for all the world to see. / To dream, to live, / perchance to live on the edge. / Ay, there's the rub: / The edge / That undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns / The edge doth make cowards of us all. [1]

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There is no doubt that I did not fully reclaim my edge on this mini-tour. I had some successes, but the failures outnumbered them. I hated that I succumbed to a little bad weather on the first day. I was ashamed that I gave in to the temptations of my cell phone on the second day. I was not happy that I had far more human encounters than expected.

On the plus side, I enjoyed a wide variety of outdoor activities and, on the last day, got a few hours of much-needed solitude. Another positive is that I was able to use my own cartography skills for this trip rather than relying on a high-tech GPS machine or a mass-produced paper map. Now THAT'S what I call self-sufficiency. (There was a little cheating, but not much.)

On the journalistic front, my original plan was to divide each day into at least five or six Cycleblaze pages. I thought it would be a revolutionary experiment in edginess to write down every single idea that went through my head and post the results in 2 or 3-hour increments. Turns out, not that much goes through my head. Lack of intelligent thoughts forced me to divide each day into only two parts. Luckily, I redeemed myself with just enough edgy artwork, videos, vocal performances, and Shakespearean gibberish to put myself back into contention for a Pulitzer.

Still dreaming of that coveted Pulitzer Prize medal.

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I can tell you one intelligent thing that frequently went through my mind during my tour though. Here it is: Michigan's Upper Peninsula is the best place in the world for a bike tour.

But then, I probably said that about Kansas in my journal earlier this year while I was blinded by that state's wide-open beauty. Come to think of it, no matter where I'm touring, I seem to make the same claim in all my journals.

How is it possible that everyplace I tour is THE BEST? In order to answer my question, I have to consider two possibilities. 1) My standard for “THE BEST” changes as often as my favorite rock band changes. 2) I have the egotistical belief that any place I'm riding MUST be the best simply by virtue of the fact that I, Gregory S. Garceau, am riding there.

After looking deep into my soul for a few seconds, my conclusion is that both are true. I actually HAVE had about 30 favorite rock bands over the last fifty years, and my gigantic ego insists I really DO make the places I tour better than they would have been without my presence.

But this time I'm serious. Where else can you experience waterfalls, lakes, mountain vistas, seas of view-blockers, hiking and mountain biking trails, AND remote beaches on the world's largest and most beautiful fresh water lake in the world, AND a fresh, delicious, celebratory pasty at the end of your tour?

Thank you for reading. THE END

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Bonus Pictures From Marquette

[1] I'd prefer you don't start calling me the Shakespeare of Bike Touring Journalism--even if it's true.

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George (Buddy) HallGood journal, as usual. And I have added the U.P. to my list of places I should visit on bicycle someday.
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1 month ago

Karen PoretGuess my neighbors can’t be “wrong” here, as even though 3 do live here NOW, they are all from Michigan.
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1 month ago

Gregory GarceauTo George (Buddy) HallThank you for being nutty enough to like my journals. I know they don't make sense for everyone, but they work for me. ME is the guy I most have to please, because if I can't please me, how could I possibly please anybody.
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1 month ago

Gregory GarceauTo Karen PoretIf they're from the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, that doesn't count. The U.P. is the place to be. The L.P. is like a completely different state. If your neighbors are, in fact, from lower Michigan, don't call them apple-knockers like us Yoopers do. LOL
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1 month ago

Karen PoretTo Gregory GarceauI will have to ask! Stay tuned!

However, my late cousin was the director of the division of fish and game for the state of Michigan. He resided in Lansing, but I suppose this isn’t a good “ place”, because it’s not in the U. P. 😬
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1 month ago

Gregory GarceauTo Karen PoretYeah, Lansing is okay. So are Detroit and Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo. If not for those cities, along with Marquette, Michigan would be a solid red state.
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1 month ago

Karen PoretTo Gregory GarceauAnother cousin lives in Williamston.. is this “ ok”? 🧐🤣
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1 month ago