Intrepid cyclist and musician making his way to Bemidji from Gulf of Mexico

Sep. 9—BEMIDJI — Many folks have traveled from the Mississippi River's source at Lake Itasca to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico. They've done it by canoeing, kayaking, swimming, bicycling or walking.

But there's only one guy who has made the trek from the Gulf to Itasca at 6 miles per hour on a recumbent bicycle towing a tuba-toting trailer.

That guy, 62-year-old Jon Hodkin, is nearing the end of his journey this weekend with a concert at Itasca State Park on Saturday, Sept. 9. He plans to reach his final destination in Bemidji on Sunday, Sept. 10, and will culminate the 150-day pedaling pilgrimage with a performance with Bemidji musicians on Friday, Sept. 15.

It all started in April when Hodkin left his home in Scotland and arrived in Louisiana to embark on a 3,000-mile journey. He averaged 30 miles per day, spending his nights camping in a tent or with hosts who are part of a worldwide network of cycle enthusiasts called

Warm Showers.

He endured this summer's scorching heat with only one emergency stop at a farm in Wisconsin, where the owner put him up in a barn for the night.

"I've been very lucky with the weather," Hodkin said this week while taking a break along the Paul Bunyan Trail near Brainerd. "As an Englishman living in the north of Scotland, we're just not used to this level of humidity and this level of heat. But it only stopped me that one day when I had to come off the road sooner than I wanted to."

Hodkin has combined his passions for cycling and music, which he calls "InnerTuba," since 2000. His first "professional" tour was a 21-day, 1,200-mile trek across England's East Midlands Region.

Since that time, he has pedaled and performed extensively throughout the United Kingdom. In 2019, he took his show overseas for the first time, taking part in the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. He had planned the Gulf-to-Itasca ride for 2020, but COVID put that trip on hold until this year.

While his itinerary has been closely mapped out, Hodkin said the most memorable moments have been spontaneous and coincidental. He'll stop in a town and play impromptu concerts or entertain people at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

"When you're traveling you've really no idea exactly what's going to happen in the next moment," he said. "Some unbelievably spellbinding, joyful occurrences have arisen. Just meeting people who are generous in spirit."

An example occurred last week when Hodkin set up his tent for the night at Charles A. Lindbergh State Park near Little Falls.

"I turn up there and I pay money and go and get a shower," he recalled. "The people opposite from me are a family ... the most phenomenally talented close harmony singers. It was just unreal. They played for me, I played for them."

Hodkin spent most of his career as a healthcare professional, first as a care worker and later as an occupational therapist.

"That's why I absolutely adore playing in places like assisted living centers and special needs units in schools," he said, "because I speak the language of the people being treated and I speak the language of the people who are looking after them."

Hodkin lost his partner, Karin Prior, when she was killed in a car crash 11 years ago. As a tribute to Karin, who was an occupational therapist for children, he has been raising money for organizations that work with youth.

"When I do performances I'm inviting donations to be made to be distributed to very small grassroots nonprofits that support children with special needs from along my route," Hodkin said.

One of those groups is Front Yard Bikes of Baton Rouge, La., which employs troubled youth as bicycle mechanics. Another is an inclusive playground in Keokuk, Iowa, which plans to build a changing room. Hodkin will try to find a similar youth program to help in the Bemidji area with donations given by those who attend Friday's free concert.

During his week in Bemidji, Hodkin has a few other things on his agenda.

On Monday, Sept. 11, he will be at the Bemidji Senior Center from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for music, treats, coffee and fellowship. The event is free and open to the public.

On Tuesday, he will spend some time with music students, visiting Bemidji High School in the morning and Bemidji State University in the afternoon.

Also on the schedule are rehearsals with the local musicians who will join Hodkin on stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday on the main stage of BSU's Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex. They include the Bemidji Area Community Band, BSU Symphonic Band, BSU Wind Ensemble, members of the BHS Wind Ensemble and a Tuba-Euphonium Quartet with Hodkin and Brendon Warren on tuba and Glenn Seibel and Bob Madeson on euphonium.

Scott Guidry and Ryan Webber from the BSU music department will conduct the concert. Nick White, a retired music teacher from Wisconsin who has been Hodkin's support person on the trip, will take the baton for a special piece composed by Franner Otter called "Tuba Odyssey — the journey of InnerTuba."

Also on the program will be a song called "For Emily," which was composed by Hodkin's Scottish friend, Willie Gilmore, to celebrate the story of Emily Brown, who had a severe brain aneurysm at the age of 18.

"They thought that it was unlikely she was going to live," Hodkin said. "They were preparing her for her funeral."

But she made a miraculous recovery, and while she still has permanent disabilities, her progress has been enormous over the last two years.

Hodkin met Emily and her parents, Joe and Stacey, in 2019 when he completed the RAGBRAI at Davenport, Iowa. He performed with the Big River Brass Band, which includes Joe on trumpet and Stacey on percussion.

Emily's story will be told in a multimedia presentation during Friday's concert.

"She's very brave actually to share her quite fragile story with all of my audiences up and down the country," Hodkin said.

The concert is free, but donations will be accepted.

"It's going to be more than just a concert. It's such a community celebration of his journey," Guidry added. "Every community he's been in he's just so thoughtful and giving."