A Pictureful Ride Around America

Well hello there! My name is Mark, and I'm out on a journey...and I thought perhaps you'ld like to come along. I'm originally from the Pennsylvania town of Montrose, and by one of Life's caprices, I happened to find myself in the state of Florida, The Sunshine State, or as I like to call it - The State of the Torturous Orb...I've yet to acclimate. Perhaps I haven't given it enough time...how long should it take to feel comfortable in a buggy jungle, overheated by an irradiating fusing sphere of plasma? Time would tell, if I waited for it's answer...though I've decided instead to roll on down the road. It's been near 90 days since my departure(Sept 1, 2016) from Ormond Beach on the rig pictured there...a contraption I put together myself, and one that has served me very well so far. Inside the modified B.O.B Ibex trailer I have all one needs for a fantastical tour - cloths, hammock, peanut butter, guitar, sleeping bag, cookies, binoculars, dark chocolate, swim goggles, and a scrappy old iPod loaded with audiobooks(currently re-listening to Infinite Jest:). Atop the trailer are enough solar cells to keep my fleet of USB doohickeys(lights, hair trimmer, iPhone, iPod, IR motion detector, bike alarm) well charged. The bicycle has often been thought to be an electric model by inquisitive folks I've met, I tell them - "No, the bike is peanut butter powered":) Their curiosity and my desire for some company has made for some great conversations, and friendships. I've been taking a great many pictures, and thinking some thoughts, and they can be found on my Facebook page...everything there has always been public, and I welcome you to follow along with what I hope will be a 2-3 year journey up, down, and all around the United States. My decision to embark on this adventure was in great part due to not at all knowing what I wished to devote my energies toward, and not wanting to spend one more moment squandering the preciousness of life toiling away at another job that was not an exercise of passion. I am interested in so much, and at 43 years on, strong like bull, this did, and does seems like just the thing that should be done. While epiphany hunting sounds fun, it's rarely fruitful - though I am hopeful that the experiences found, and those to follow, will function to widen my perspectives, sharpen my focus, and ultimately illuminate a path towards a passion fueled existence...we shall see. Your contributions, be they conversation or cash, will be greatly appreciated. I would use the monies for the occasional hamburger, maintenance of the rig, refitting for other climes, morning coffees, and chunks of chocolate. I would like to trade in this iPhone 5 for a newer model - I've been asking a lot of its camera, and there are many views I am not able to share...low-light, distance and fast moving critters are all beyond its capabilities. I haven't needed to seek shelter beyond what I carry yet, but having the ability to rent a room through a storm might prove handy...though I'm pretty brave, bordering on stupid with regards to the weather! I was talking with a couple the other night about lightning. If a bolt were to strike one of the trees I've hung my hammock between, would it continue down the tree to ground, or would it decide to meander across the hammock to the other tree, and then to ground...we decided that there was but one way to find out, then laughed:) Living is risky, Not living - all the more so...Pedaling on Florida roads - wayyy up there on the list of risks! Please feel free to email me, or better still - send me a message with FB Messenger...that way I can "see" who I'm chatting with. If you see that I'm in your neck of the woods, I would consider meeting over a cup of joe...it can get a little lonesome out here. Thanks for reading, I hope your day is lovely!
FB - Mark Eric Maga
Email- [email redacted]