Trek and Travel: How a Local Travel Agency Pedaled Its Way Into the Heart of Spring Hill

What began as a life-or-death decision 40 years ago has since transformed into a thriving dual business that fuels both wanderlust and wellness in Spring Hill. West of the Moon Travel, celebrating its 40th anniversary this November, has long been a staple for planning unforgettable global journeys. But in recent years, it’s also become a surprising local hub for two-wheeled adventure as the operator of Trek of Spring Hill, one of the top-producing Trek concept stores in the region.

What’s the connection between cruise ships and bicycles? For co-founders Randy Bowser and Owen Williams, it’s about passion, community, and people.

Randy Bowser, the heart and soul behind West of the Moon Travel, doesn’t shy away from the story that started it all. “In 1985, I was told I had six months to live,” he recalls. “I booked a cruise and decided I was going to live the rest of my life the way I wanted.”

It was on that cruise, a five-star luxury liner, where the desire to travel truly struck. “I was seated with an 85-year-old widow and a honeymoon couple. We downed bottles of wine and laughed through dinner,” Bowser says. That night, he won a game show on the ship, scoring $3,600 in prizes. “That more than paid for the cruise. I was hooked.”

Not long after, he made a life-changing decision. “I asked my travel agent if she’d manage a travel agency if I lived. She said yes. So I opened one.”

Four decades later, Bowser has sent clients across every continent and now leads many trips himself. “I might not be around forever,” he says. “Go and see the world. You never know what tomorrow is going to bring.”

This past summer, Bowser went to Alaska with a group, pictured below.

Members on the Alaskan summer trip join for a group dinner. [Courtesy Photo]

Though digital tools have made travel seem simpler, Bowser says DIY planning often leads to disaster.

“We build detailed itineraries. We know the best prices, best value, and what cruise lines and destinations work, and which don’t,” Bowser says. “If you try to do it all on your own, you’re going to run into issues.”

Recently, Bowser has been curating epic, multi-leg journeys for his clients and often joining them. One upcoming trip includes a cruise from New York to Southampton, a stop at Stonehenge, flights to Munich, a two-and-a-half-week road trip through Europe, and a second cruise from Rome to the Greek Isles. He’s recently finished a 16 day transit of the Panama Canal from Miami to Los Angeles. “Trying to piece all that together with hotels, transfers, and rental cars? It’s almost impossible to do without messing it up.”

With decades of firsthand experience and feedback from thousands of clients, Bowser knows what works. “Rome was a little disappointing,” he says. “The five fishing villages on the northern coast of Italy, Cinque Terre, now that’s a hidden gem.”

Now semi-retired, Bowser travels frequently with his clients. In the last two years, he's led tours through Hawaii, the ABC Islands, the Leeward Islands, and Alaska, including a breathtaking flightseeing adventure around Denali. “Absolutely spectacular,” he says. “Photos don’t do it justice.”

Denali Main Lodge, Denali, AK. [Courtesy Photo]

His calendar is packed:

• Nov. 2025: 7-night cruise on the new Celebrity Excel

• Jan. 2026: 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from Tampa

• April 2026: A month-long voyage through Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Hawaii

• Aug. 2026: A 10-day UK and Ireland round trip exploring Scotland, Wales, and Great Britain

• Sept. 2026: Canada and New England cruise from Boston

• May 2027: Machu Picchu land tour

“These aren’t cookie-cutter trips,” he says. “We look out for our clients’ best interests and their wallets.”

In 2018, West of the Moon Travel made an unexpected pivot. The agency purchased Blackbear Bike and rebranded it as Trek of Spring Hill, a bold move that brought together Bowser’s love of community with a new avenue for adventure.

“We didn’t want it to just be about traveling,” says Owen Williams, who manages the bike store operations and handles brochures and flyers for both ventures. “We wanted to create something that serves our neighbors right here, too.”

That decision paid off. Trek of Spring Hill has since become one of the top producers of Trek and electric bikes in the country.

“When COVID hit, we kept the bike store open seven days a week,” says Bowser. “People thanked us for staying open. It was an essential part of the community.” 

Together, Bowser, Williams, and Stan Kaszuba, who handles advertising, shorter trips, and day-to-day operations of the shop, form a trio committed to their shared mission: enriching lives, whether through a journey across the globe or a bike ride through Spring Hill. 

“This is more than a business,” says Bowser. “It’s about building relationships, creating experiences, and serving the community.”

As West of the Moon approaches its 40th anniversary on November 1, the team is reflecting not just on past milestones, but future horizons.

“We’ve been to hell and back between 9/11, the 2008 economy crash, and COVID,” Bowser says. “But here we are. Stronger than ever.”

For more information on West of the Moon Travel, call (352) 596-6912, email travel@wotmt.com, or follow their adventures on their Facebook page. For Trek of Spring Hill, call (352) 294-2603, visit their website at www.trekspringhill.com, or email them at trekspringhill@gmail.com.