Mike Boles, a Saskatchewan man who set out on a six-year journey on a bicycle, has returned home with a blog full of stories and a sense of accomplishment.

"It's kind of a special day, actually. It feels pretty good," Boles said Sunday as he made his way into Regina. "I've been 61,000 kilometres on the bicycle."

I'm sure I've changed. - Mike Boles

In six and a half years Boles visited 38 countries.

The final leg of his journey took him to Victoria Park in downtown Regina where he was greeted enthusiastically by friends.

"It's nice to be home," Boles said, noting that although he felt exhausted, he also felt good about what he had done.

Mike Boles is home in Regina after six and a half years touring the world on a bike. (Dean Gutheil/CBC) He added he has not yet determined what he will do, next, specifically.

However, he said he plans to, in some way, repay the many kindnesses he encountered on his trip.

"People have really shown me the best of themselves over the last six years," he said. "What I do for the rest of my life is pay it back."

Boles said he undertook the trek after feeling he was in a rut.

"I felt like (I was) wasting time I couldn't replace. And I just needed to kinda take it back, if that makes sense," he said. "You can't lie to yourself, so if it doesn't feel right you need to make it right."

Boles said he understands some people may not appreciate how he ended up taking such a journey, but it was important to him.

"So if you have to go and do something impractical and maybe a bit crazy and people think you're mad it's still OK, because that way you can look in the mirror in the morning and it's gonna be okay."

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Amazing stories

"When I was in Uzbekistan, I got robbed," Boles said, recounting one of his more memorable experiences. "They took the bike, they took the bags, they took everything."

He said he was left standing in a field with nothing.

"It was devastating," Boles said. He said he went to the police, expecting to encounter a corrupt system that depends on bribes and was pleasantly surprised.

"In this case they were actually amazing," he said. "They helped me out and it all came back."

He added, on a down note, that he learned the police violently beat the people who stole his gear.

"Everything that was either broken or they couldn't find, that had been stolen, the cops actually bought for me. They replaced it themselves," he recalled.

Struggled at times

Boles said he struggled at times, especially during the winter months when cycling 100 kilometres per day was a physical challenge.

"I biked in winter in China and I really struggled there. There were a few times when it was pretty close to being bad," he said.

"I'm sure I've changed," he said, when asked how six years on the road affected him emotionally. "I think I'm maybe more patient. I'm as stubborn as I ever was but I think I'm more patient with myself and with people and that's a good thing."

The entire trip was accomplished with the same bike and Boles said that, although he fell ill on a few occasions with bouts of dysentery and the flu, he did not suffer any serious physical injuries.