The trip described was tumultuous and disappointing, characterized by moments of rapid excitement interspersed with slower, more difficult experiences. As the narrator reflects while heading back to San Francisco, there is a sense of disillusionment. It seems that, overall, the experience did not live up to expectations, prompting a search for a suitable way to summarize this journey.

In the quest for a fitting epitaph, the narrator draws inspiration from Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," evoking the haunting phrase "The horror! The horror!" This reference underscores a deeper commentary on the darker aspects of the experience, linking it to broader themes of despair and the harsh realities encountered during the trip, reinforcing an overwhelmingly negative sentiment.