After a two-week hiatus, tomorrow I will finally return to my ride.

Initially I had some hesitation about taking this intermission. I feared breaking the continuity of what I was experiencing, or that I might lose the desire to continue to push on. But in the end I think that stopping near the halfway point was an enlightening thing for me to do, although perhaps not for reasons which are obvious.

The time I spent in Reno and Fort Collins brought me close once again to almost all of my good friends, particularly those in Northern Nevada whom I don't see frequently enough. It was good, very good, to be reminded of all the people who care about me and made me wish that I could be near them more often. It struck me in a whole new way that this voyage isn't just a vacation. With the biggest anchors of my old life abandoned, there isn't any way for me to step back into what I left behind. I think that at some level I found this disconcerting, as it meant that everywhere I stayed I was a welcome intruder but that there is really no place to call "home" anymore.

Despite not really having a life to return to, I found I still had habits to return to. As I began to let the old rhythms and patterns of my daily existence reassert themselves, I still had the vision developed from the road to examine myself with. In a way, I could simultaneously live and watch myself living. It is this opportunity to watch myself, and to return to the road with what I have seen, that I think was most valuable about taking this break. Although I choose at this time not to share my personal insights, I have been left with new food for thought for the miles ahead.

But I digress...

This seems like a good time to reflect on where I am so far. I've ridden 2,746 miles and have a little over 1,600 to go. I've crossed six states to date and have four more left to enjoy. I've spent 54 days living on the road and have around 30 ahead of me. I've sent 258 emails, taken 617 pictures, and of course have maintained these web pages. For those of you reading, I hope that you continue to find something here that you find worthwhile and I thank you for your words of encouragement.