Before Mark someday spins his inevitable tale — that he was “blocked” from seeing his kids, “stranded” in California, or too “financially strapped” to comply with court orders — let’s look at the actual mileage and time he’s invested recently… just not in his children.

In the past month and a half, Mark has embarked on multiple leisure trips:

• Two joyrides to Carmel-by-the-Sea
• A Santa Cruz Boardwalk excursion
• A Yosemite adventure
• A Bass Lake getaway
• A day trip to Pismo Beach

✅ Total leisure miles driven: Over 1,550 miles
✅ Total driving time: ~26 hours
✅ Estimated fuel cost: Nearly $300

By poetic irony, that’s almost exactly what it would take for Mark to drive from Atascadero, CA, to Clark County, WA, to complete his court-ordered domestic violence and mental health assessments — the only path back into his children’s lives.

But this doesn’t even account for the additional hotel costs, meals, entry fees, and time spent enjoying those destinations — time and money he claims he simply doesn’t have when it comes to doing the work required by the court.

And let’s not forget: a typical night at a mid-range hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea costs between $300–$400 — per night. So every time Mark escapes to Carmel for “healing” or “reflection,” he’s spending the equivalent of an entire month’s worth of gas to drive to Clark County and back… just on a single hotel stay. Multiply that by two trips in the last month alone, and we’re talking $600–$800 just in lodging — enough to cover gas, accommodations, and a whole week in Washington to finally begin his long-overdue court-ordered evaluations.

But of course, this isn’t about means or opportunity. It’s about motivation. Mark can always find time, money, and clarity of vision for beaches, boardwalks, and Bass Lake — but accountability?

That’s just too far… too expensive… too blurry… too inconvenient.

That’s time and money he did spend — just not on what matters.”

👉 So let’s be clear:
It’s not about distance.
It’s not about disability.
It’s not about poverty.

It’s about choice.

Mark has clearly demonstrated that when there’s a beach, a lake, or a tourist destination involved, he can find the fuel money, navigate the miles, and dedicate his time. But when it comes to showing up for his kids — for real accountability — suddenly everything becomes impossible.

Trip	Miles (Roundtrip)	Approx Time (hrs)	Estimated Fuel Cost ($4.80/gal, 25 MPG)
Carmel (2x)	508	8	$97.54
Yosemite	348	6	$66.82
Santa Cruz	300	5	$57.60
Bass Lake	348	6	$66.82
Pismo Beach	50	1	$9.60
TOTAL Leisure Travel (Last 45 days)	1,554	26	$298.38
Atascadero → Clark County, WA (Court-Ordered)	1,550	26	$297.60

The Curious Case of Mark’s Selective Hardships

For a man who claims he can’t see well enough to work, pay child support, or complete basic parenting evaluations, Mark sure knows how to find his way to Carmel-by-the-Sea for a photo-op.

Yes — while pleading poverty and disability, Mark managed to travel from Atascadero, California to scenic Carmel, snapping vacation shots along the way. Not bad for a guy allegedly debilitated by worsening glaucoma and “unable to earn income.” Uber? Lyft? No thank you. Mark’s preferred rideshare service is self-pity, with premium stops at coastal viewpoints and social media hashtags.

But this isn’t just about his tourism hustle — this is about his future narrative for Liam and Nathan. Someday, he’ll sit them down (or post about it online for the 9,000th time) and say:

“I was blocked from seeing you.
I couldn’t afford to do the court-ordered work.
I couldn’t be there because I was stuck in California.”

• 

• 

Let’s fact-check that fairy tale:

• Mark’s own message on April 11, 2025: “I would love to be at Nathan’s graduation and hope we can find a way to make that happen.”

So… travel to Washington for a graduation (where he can bask in applause) is no problem.
Travel to Washington to complete required domestic violence and mental health evaluations — the only path back into his children’s lives — suddenly impossible.

• In September 2024, Mark drove from Lompoc, California to Woodland, Washington — a 900+ mile trip each way — just to pick up a dog.
  A dog.
  1,800 miles round trip for a pet, but not a mile to fulfill court-ordered obligations for his children.
  WTF?!
• He claims financial hardship.
  Yet he’s not too broke to fuel up for two full days of interstate driving for a new puppy.
  He’s not too broke to coast up and down Highway 1, or to contemplate a trip north for Nathan’s graduation.
• He claims worsening glaucoma prevents him from working.
  Yet he’s posting vacation photos, navigating hundreds of miles of freeway, and curating hashtags with precision.
  The miracle of selective blindness: debilitating when it comes to responsibility, crystal clear for leisure.
• He claims Melissa (The Boys’ Mother) and their stepfather are blocking access.
  But the record shows 16 months of him ignoring the work required to repair that relationship — work he was ordered to do and still hasn’t completed.

💡 The truth?
Mark’s struggles aren’t logistical or financial. They’re about motivation and priorities.
When there’s a camera, a crowd, or a narrative to spin, he’s all-in. When there’s accountability, therapy, assessments, or boring hard work… suddenly it’s “just too hard” or “out of reach.”

So let’s be clear — if and when Liam and Nathan come across this history:
It wasn’t distance.
It wasn’t disability.
It wasn’t poverty.

It was choice.
Mark could travel when he wanted. He just never wanted to do the work.