Ready to Turn the Page

In a few words, 2025 went like this:
- Cycled 4070 miles – Less miles than prior years; & still not faster, but Why this number? Read on.
- Took time to celebrate my 40th anniversary of riding a bike.
- Read 85 books, but I did sit and write quite a bit, too.
- Visited 17 locations in 7 states but alas, none to call home.

In too many words, it was more like this:
Looking back, the year began at my special spot on Sebastian Inlet after an exhausting couple of months in South Florida. In just four days near the sea, a community of sociable tent campers brought me back to life.

It was then a month-long share in a comfy home with a woman and her chihuahuas that had me running about a new town – Ormond Beach. It was an enjoyable stay, and while cycling I discovered Flagler Beach, a small seaside community a bit north with a friendly, casual feeling. By mid-March, I was back in my tent at Black Horse Resort Ranch, a private spot surrounded by the Ocala National Forest. I was the only tent camper among an RV-equestrian clique, but I met a friendly Canadian gal who’s still in touch.

Spending 10 days enjoying the quaint Historic District of Sanford and Lake Monroe trails before hopping the Auto Train was a good idea. While landing in lovely Frederick, Maryland in late March was even better; it was warm and peak cherry blossom season. Ah, but pushing 108 miles west to Frostburg offered plenty of rain, wind and a morning of snow squalls. The below freezing temps may also be why my Element was dying out. Holding my breath, I drove 152 mountainous miles to Pittsburgh friends for days that wavered between winter and spring. Happily, a valve job had me back on the road in no time.

A quick stop to see friend Barbara in Rochester was unplanned but enjoyable, and it was the first time I saw the Erie Canal drained. What no skating? A month-long drop into nearby Ithaca, a college town on the “Could I live here?” list offered a month of cold, gray, rainy weather. Yet, there were many ways to alleviate the claustrophobia of the indoor life – hill climbs up to Cornell, a marvelous library, an incredible weeks-long book sale, and a free writers conference. My body was feeling sluggish but my mind was quite engaged.

June began at the foothills of the Adirondacks on lovely Moreau Lake for a warm, peaceful 5 days at camp as I pointed toward my favorite county in Vermont. An affordable room for a month in “The Parsonage” offered time with familiar faces, as well as friendly, chatty locals. Weather did impact my visit though just one week of rain, a few days of the heat dome, and a couple of days of Canadian smoke. The hilly terrain brought my calves back to tip-top shape, and while this may not be the Vermont I hold dear, it still feels like Vermont.

My descent into Massachusetts on the 1st of July was the start of a heavy social month with friends and family. It was fun by a lake, lunch by the sea, game nights, plenty of seafood and catching up on life, hometown nostalgia, and Salty the Seahorse. The go-go came to a halt when I went into “active relaxation” on Mount Snow where I felt like I was on vacation.

For some reason, I opted to spend August in Schenectady; somewhat influenced by friends nearby and access to the Mohawk-Hudson Trail. I was most surprised by the Stockade District – one of the oldest neighborhoods in the country, and most pleased with the amount of free music, good pizza, and time spent with friends, including a birthday celebration of Thai cuisine.

A return visit to Rochester was in order with friend Barbara to kick tires in a few nearby small towns and villages near the Erie Canalway Trail. A winery visit, days poolside, miles on the saddle, and dining out were fun, too. I fell for the town of Fairport but my head is still spinning by the estimated property tax fees. So, my new home came in a box that I put up at Newtown Battlefield State Park for four nights, a location I chose for convenience. Yet, spectacular fall colors surrounded me, trail walking in the woods was peaceful, and I could’ve stayed another few days simply being disconnected.

My “state of residence” really tested me this year with weather and car trouble in the spring, followed by theft in the fall. While enjoying a stay with an interesting host in Hagerstown, Maryland, my license plates were stolen in broad daylight. That dampened the remainder of my visit, and though the MVA did surpass my expectations, I wonder what I would do if I were in any other state. Thankfully, I had a return stop in Frederick, including a friend visit for a most delightful day.

In just two hours, I landed in the Piedmont region of Virginia for a stay with a lovely woman and her adorable german shepherd. Once again, I was lakeside, but living in a community that felt like a microcosm of this country. Human behavior is very difficult to decipher these days. As temps dropped and early darkness began mid-November, it was time to hop that Auto Train and come full circle. While happy to escape winter’s fury to the north, I’m never ready for the culture shock of South Florida.

The holidays seemed like an extremely long season this year. So, I’m now looking forward to returning to familiar surroundings on February 1 with no vision of what 2026 will bring.