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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:22 a.m., Friday, July 18, 2008

Dad travels to Hawaii, elsewhere 2 years after death

Associated Press

SENECA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — When Mark Bonney died from complications of gallbladder surgery two years ago, his family thought his wish to travel the world had died with him.

A burly, friendly man who loved playing practical jokes almost as much as he loved his family, Bonney was only 55 when he died, never having made the trip to Hawaii that he'd always dreamed about.

Since last summer, though, he's had an unorthodox sort of afterlife, with an itinerary that started in Hawaii and has included Scotland, Thailand and Afghanistan.

Two of Bonney's children, Morgan and Bret, were heading to the Aloha State and took along photos of their dad to drop off at random points: their hotel, a restaurant, a cave on a beach. Each picture included a request that whoever found it, carry it along on their own travels, then log onto www.markonthego.com and post some details about Mark's journey.

"He always wanted to travel," said Nora, his youngest daughter. "But with five kids in the family, he never could."

Since that first trip, the Web site created by their sister, Mirinda, has gotten more than 2,000 hits; and about two dozen visitors have left information about their travels with Mark.

"When I'm having a bad day, I go to the site," says his widow, Kris Bonney.

Jessica, Morgan, Mirinda, Nora, and their lone brother, Bret, came up with the idea while searching for ways to celebrate their father's legacy. At first, they thought about traveling to Hawaii to live out his dream vacation, and perhaps taking a picture or two of themselves holding a photograph of Dad while they were there.

The plan evolved into something that just keeps getting bigger as it gives more joy to more people. Nora said Thursday that her mom had just gotten decals of the Web address made, so they'll each have one on their car and if people say "What's this?" chances are Mark will be heading somewhere else before long.

The Bonney kids have been sending photographs to any relative or friend they know is traveling, and sometimes, they pass them on to strangers. Once, when Morgan was in an airport on her way to Florida, she met a couple headed to Alaska and asked them to take Mark along.

"Anybody we hear is going somewhere, we say 'Hold on take some pictures!' " Morgan said.

It's not just the Bonney family who misses Mark and finds joy in his global tour. Bonney worked at Gould Pumps for more than 30 years, rising to chief of technology for its global data center. Like his family, former co-workers remember him as a generous, good-natured guy, and they take his photos along wherever they travel.

"After working that long with somebody, they become like a second family," said Uva Davis, who knew Mark for more than 20 years. She said she keeps several pictures of him in her desk, and she and co-workers took one when went they went to Philadelphia, even carrying the snapshot of the prankster through a haunted house.

"It would have been right up his alley," she says.

The Web site logging Bonney's travels features a world map, with flags marking each of his stops and pictures people have taken with his photograph. Now, visitors can even request photos be sent to their home address, so they can carry him on their own travels. The site's background music is a tribute, too, featuring Bonney's favorite band, Led Zeppelin, with its hits playing on each page.

"I know he would love it," Nora said.

And Mom?

"He would be thrilled to think the kids went to this kind of trouble for him," she said.

On the Net: Mark Bonney's Travels: http://www.markonthego.com