Home Sweet Home

From: Portage, IN
To: Waterloo, ON (via Windsor, ON)
Mileage: About 714kms

After checking into the motel, I decided to check the weather for the next day.  I noticed that it was supposed to be rainy all day, all along my planned route.  And it was supposed to remain that way for the next few days.  The only break in the rain was that night.  So it was either I press on, drive through the night, and stay dry, or I get some sleep and hope the rain isn't too bad the next day.

I got a refund (minus $3 for "credit machine charges" *rolls eyes*) and jumped back on the road.  After wasting so much time looking for motels and fighting with managers, it was already late (I think it was 9 or 10 pm). I got onto the 401 and headed East.  I stopped only for gas.  At one point, I saw a deer on the side of the road.  I flashed my lights to warn drivers behind me, and managed to scare him/her off.  I guess I don't have the same bad luck as my friend Ryan and his poor Buell...

As I entered Waterloo region, I started feeling really excited, and proud.  I guess I couldn't really believe I'd done it.  I pulled off on my exit and started realizing that I'd been gone long enough that I wasn't sure how to actually... get home.  I mean I knew a sure fire way, but not the good way.  I figured it out though, and as I pulled up to my street I got pretty damn excited.  My Hindle pipe roared up the street, bothering all my neighbours in the middle of the night, and I pulled into the same driveway I'd left 27 days and 10,512.5 kms earlier.I put the bike in it's spot and paused before turning the key.  I had serious thoughts about turning around and just riding off toward the sunrise.  I really didn't want the trip to end, and I had strong, yet ambivalent feelings.  I was happy to be home, to see Ginny, to have accomplished my goals, but I was sad to be ending the journey and getting back to real life.

I turned the key, put the bike on her stand, and ran inside to see Ginny.  I opened the door to:

The finish line.

Thanks, Ginny!

And with that, I was home.  After being inside for about 20 minutes, I felt completely at home.  Almost as though I'd never left... Seriously.  I saw my bags sitting there and started to think "Did I really just live on a motorcycle for a month? Did I honestly just drive to California?"  Sitting in my PJs in the exact spot I was in before leaving, everything I did this past month seems surreal and it's hard to believe I ever left.

Now that I'm back, I need to pack frantically and move out of this apartment.  But at some point, I'm going to write another post with some overall impressions and memories, but also a bunch of pictures that haven't been posted.  I also shot a few movies while riding, and Ginny might try and work on a video montage, so check back every now and then for some extra goodies.  Also, please post (or email) comments and questions, and I'll reply to them.  I'd be happy to answer any questions you guys can think of.

Thanks for reading.  I hope you enjoyed following along - I know I enjoyed every minute of it.
-Grant