Season 6. Episode 11. Adriatic Odyssey Final Reflections.

Since my last Blog in Martina Franca, we had 2 short rides to our finish. The first was 29 miles from Martina Franca to Polignano a Mare via Alberobello (famous for the many Trulli houses, so truly a must visit) and then a lunch stop in Monopoli. We’d highly recommend both Monopoli and Polignano a Mare as great seaside towns worth visiting. 

I love being on the water in my kayak, and I love being near the water; however, I don’t like being in the water all that much. But there was no way I was going to spend all this time circumnavigating the Adriatic and not take a dip!

With one day of riding to go, one of us finally took an Adriatic Plunge.

The final day’s ride from Polignano a Mare to Bari was a mere 22 miles and very flat (189’). It was as easy as can be. Is there such a thing as too easy?  We rode past the very spot where I repaired my flat tire 10 days ago, and I gave thanks for that repair (tire plug) holding up the rest of the trip. Aside from that feeling of gratitude, I surprised myself that I was aware I was not experiencing the emotion and elation that I felt on past final days. Heather asked me how I felt - and I replied feeling relief that the ride was done. I recalled that in past years, I was overwhelmed by emotion on the final ride – even moved to tears on a few of them, including last year when we approached Porto. I’m not sure why that was different this year and what it meant. Was I mentally done a few days ago, after the super strong winds exhausted me? Or was it weeks ago, after my fall when I could still enjoy rides but at less than 100%? Was it a matter of the first half of the trip being the better riding - both more scenic and better weather than the second half? It bothered me that I did not experience the elation of past completions.

Heather felt quite celebratory in Bari when we documented our finish.

From Bari, we enjoyed an incredible day trip to Trani where we met up with our friend’s cousin Amy (an expat Canadian) and had a wonderful visit learning about her life raising 3 kids in Puglia.

We’ve been home for 5 days now.  When I reflect back, I think of how incredibly perfect the Croatia cycling was – even with my accident. It could not get better than those days. I think of how interesting Albania was to me and I didn’t mind the crazy cycling, though Heather loathed it. I think of how incredible the old towns are in Puglia along with dinners and gelatos.

In past years, my final blog focused on the numbers – the total distance and elevation, as well as daily averages, and seeing how they stacked up compared to prior adventures. Somehow that is not of interest to me now and I still haven’t tallied the totals nor averages. Is that maturing and a positive evolution in any way on my part?

At its simplest, the trip was great fun, and was also at times tremendously hard. It took sustained effort. Sustained through each day, as well as from day to day. Not so different than previous years, maybe it just felt harder as my body is a year older.

When I think deeper about the trip, there are 3 bigger themes that occur to me:

First, I feel accomplished in our having increased awareness of spinal cord injury and our fundraising for the Reeve Foundation. We see the tangible progress in research that you help to fund. The recent progress includes electrical stimulation restoring hand function, the promise in improvement in bladder & bowel function, and the really big idea of brain-computer interface converting thoughts to action like controlling a computer. It’s a promising time and it’s gratifying to contribute. We are so grateful for the generosity of so many.

Second, on this trip, given European history (from ancient through medieval and right up to modern), I thought a lot about nation states and changes to maps. On day one, our driver from the airport was from Slovenia, but had been born when it was still Yugoslavia. Croatia only became independent in 1991 when I was 28. Montenegro became independent 15 years later, in 2006. I was born in 1963. Since then, approximately 85 to 90 new countries have been created mainly through decolonization, secession or breaking up like the USSR & Yugoslavia. Yet somehow today we tend to think of the world map as in a fixed and settled state. Why should we think that? Just last week the province of Alberta held a vote whether to secede from Canada. While it lost by a large decisive margin, it begs the question and makes me wonder how will the global map continue to change in my lifetime?

Third, after my collision and injury, I thought a lot about my need to actually complete this journey.  In this year’s opening blog, I explained the choice of the word Odyssey in the title for our trip. I referenced using the word Odyssey in the title of an adventure that I helped create and name as a tour operator 30 years ago. And I referenced the obvious, Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film this year brought The Odyssey into the zeitgeist. And a month ago, I presciently wrote: “it is the near perfect word for everything our bike adventures entail. There are so many daily hurdles and obstacles – both known and unknown!  And ultimately it is about returning home - safely. …we know challenges await us. We predict headwinds, downpours, …bike issues…! But other challenges will surprise (italics added now for emphasis) …. Every day does truly test our bodies and our minds. In fact, while the physical challenge is serious, the mental challenge is typically greater.”

But there was one other reason for using the word Odyssey. Last spring, we biked with a company named Bike Odyssey on their signature trip “The Odyssey” that cycled along an interpretation of Odysseus’ journey from Troy (in modern day Turkey) to his home in Ithaca, Greece. I was so psyched about riding Troy to Ithaca in the year of the film.

Heather with a modern-day Trojan Horse outside the archaeological site in Troy, Turkey in May 2026

However, we only completed 2 of the 4 weeks and they were incredible. But we never made it to Ithaca. We were summoned home early as Heather’s father, age 98 was hospitalized and took a turn for the worse. We made it just in time to have a poignant good bye with him before he passed away. He was a sage who lived a remarkable life – leaving a legacy of values, family, and as a pediatrician, he positively affected thousands of lives. I was privileged to be his son-in-law and to enjoy a wonderful relationship with him. Originally in naming this trip, I thought completing this Adriatic Odyssey may in some way bring completion to that previously unfinished Odyssey. I didn’t expect completing this trip to ever actually be called into question, the way it ended up being so.  And on this trip, I thought about my father-in-law often for a poem he had written at age 90, and which Heather read and shared aloud as part of her eulogy.  It captures the urgency I feel about my need to explore new places, and it’s a beautiful encouragement and reminder to all of us to carpe diem. It is titled: So Little Time. I share this in tribute to him.

So little time, so little time.

So much to read.

So little time.

I’m 90 now.

There are things unlearned, I still must try.

Seize the day, or it will go by.

So little time.

So much to write.

So little time.

I’m 90 now.

Thoughts to express, I must make haste.

The past to describe, not a minute to waste.

So little time.

So much to sense.

So little time.

I’m 90 now.

Birds do sing, hear the sounds.

Flowers bloom, beauty abounds.

So little time. 

So much to love.

So little time.

I’m 90 now. 

Family, friends, to hug, to kiss.

Remember always, love is bliss.

So little time, so little time.  

We remain, as ever, so grateful for:

• our health and well-being that allow us to experience such adventures;
• our loving and healthy children Sydney, Jamie & Matt;
• our extended family, friends and community;
• the Reeve Foundation for helping us grow and giving purpose to our riding ambition;
• family, friends and indeed complete strangers who we met on our ride who have generously donated $30k to the Reeve Foundation to help care for and cure spinal cord injuries;
• to Lenny and Ernie who inspire us by their example of living positively in the face of continuing adversity of paralysis. You helped us get this done! 

A large reason for continuing to blog is I feel that in asking for donations, I want to give something of myself in return. It is hard work and takes many hours to write this blog.  So, if you are still reading this, I like to think there is a reason. Perhaps you have been entertained, amused or educated? Hopefully all 3!  If you have enjoyed this blog, and not yet given to the Reeve Foundation in honor of our ride, please donate at Heather and Mark Ride for Reeve.

Thank you for reading!

© Copyright Mark Segal 2026. [with exception of So Little Time, © Copyright Morris Cherniak]