San Francisco to Halifax: 4,355 miles / 7,008 km

Halifax to San Francisco: 5,502 miles / 8,854 km

Total distance traveled: 9,857 miles / 15,863 km



Two wheels, five-and-a-half weeks, almost 10,000 miles, 2 countries, 16 states, 7 Canadian provinces, and every type of weather imaginable. One of the best things I've ever done in my life, looking back.

Thanks to everyone who encouraged or supported me. I lost three friends in 2010, and in a way those losses and this trip changed my life in a lot of important ways.

Life is to be lived. Shared with those you love. Know those who love you, and take care of them. Don't waste your time on revenge but learn your lessons. This taught me a lot about self-reliance. If you can depend on yourself, then others can depend on you.

And you only live once. You are only young once. Make it count.

Oh...and try and have a bit of fun along the way too!

-- Macker

Monte Rio, CA, to San Francisco, CA (Monday, August 30, 2010)

Day 38 - 71 miles

NOTE: This is the last day of this blog, finally finishing it in April 2011 - make that July 2012! I never got around to it until now, but I'm about to leave on another trip tomorrow, so I'd better finish the old one before I start a new one! Funny how, once you're home, you get back into your regular routine. Finishing this was one of "those things" (of many) I've been meaning to do. The trip all seems like a distant memory, but I'm glad I have this blog to look back on. It was trouble to write each evening, but is a great record to have. Okay, here's the last day from memory, two years on....

We got up the next morning, not too early, nine or ten o'clock, maybe.

My goddaughter and Darragh and Yvonne's "baby" Lily was so young then. It's amazing to see her now (which reminds me...I haven't in a while) all "grown up" at almost three. she is a complete dote.

I remember that morning well. I was glad that Yvonne had "made me" stay the night. It was wonderful  to have a sunny morning in the shade under the trees, and a nice early afternoon ride in beautiful weather back to San Francisco. Yvonne made a great breakfast to get me off and on my way.

I nearly wiped out on Highway 116 between Guerneville to Sebastopol. trying to video record in one hand and drive with another. Might post that later. (Note for next trip: Get a mount for the camera.) I almost overshot a corner at about 60 or 70. Slowed right down after that and said to myself, "Hey dude...you're nearly home. Take your time!"

I stopped in Sebastopol for an ice cream. I remember being super-excited to get back to the city. 


Half-an-hour later I was approaching the Golden Gate Bridge. Yaaay! Home!! I drove up into the Marin Headlands to take the obligatory shot with the bike and bridge behind me.


A few minutes later I was crossing the bridge, down past the Presidio and the Palace of Fine Arts, along Marina Green and Fort Mason. It was so great to be home!

I stopped at Royal Grounds "from whence I departed" almost six weeks and 10,000 miles earlier. A few of the locals (well, let's say it was Diarmuid Harrington and Richard Sepulveda inspired!) had put a "Welcome Back! Coast to Coast 2010" banner out in front of the cafe. I was suitably impressed.

We all hung out for a while and I regaled them with great tales of adventure far off lands. Then it was home to my Lily (the cat) and my own bed for the first time in many nights.

Until the next time....onwards!