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I recently viewed the movie trailer “Green Book” scheduled for November 21, 2018, release in the US, and it triggered my thoughts about my travels across the US during my lifetime. I was moved emotionally as I thought of my parents who suffered through their fears, worries, and concern for my safety in the 1980’s when I began traveling across the country on my first … Continue reading “Their love is with me forever.”
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On many occasions, my family and friends have voiced their concerns about me backpacking or hiking into the forests and deserts. They fear for my safety of everything and anything from zombie hikers to lions, tigers, and of course, bears. I see a trail as natures peaceful serenity revealing the visuals of various trees, flora, ground cover of assorted ferns in a wooded climate zone. … Continue reading “Hiking and Backpacking Fears.”
In 2006, I rode my newly purchased 1800cc Honda Gold Wing motorcycle westward to tour the National Parks and attend a family reunion in Las Vegas. After three days of hard riding from the DC Metro area, I used Cody Wyoming as my jumping off point before heading into Yellow Stone National Park. The morning before riding into the park, I stopped for breakfast and … Continue reading “Cody Wyoming!”
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Elegance is a word used to describe style and beauty. Outdoor photography captures natures ever-changing elegant views of a Florida sunset. This, landscape sunset cloud formation in Key West stretching across the sky reveals nature’s canvas of elegant creative changes. Vivid colorful flowers effortlessly captivate your eyes with their elegant colors. WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Elegance in nature.”
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On many occasions, my family and friends have voiced they’re concerned about me backpacking or hiking into the forests and deserts. They fear for my safety of everything and anything from zombie hikers to lions, tigers, and of course, bears. I see a trail as natures peaceful serenity revealing the visuals of various trees, flora, ground cover of assorted ferns in a wooded climate … Continue reading “Hiking and backpacking fears.”
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For the past several months, I have struggled with a writing routine as I traveled but, summer has eased into autumn, and I draw inspiration from quotes, by Gustave Flaubert. Capturing photos from around the US has been inspirational. I’m discovering a routing for my writing. 🙂 “Passionate happiness.” With many years of discovery, passion and happiness are life desires. Combining both with something you … Continue reading Regular routine?
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Two weeks before Thanksgiving, I entered the local library for a book, and I saw the most incredibly beautiful king size quilt hanging on display behind glass. I stood for several moments mesmerized by the lovely simplistic yet intricate design of the quilt, and to my surprise, the quilt’s was named “Babe.” I felt and sensed a presence of contentment within me as I was … Continue reading “A patched quilt of life.”
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It was a day after the American Labor Day holiday and the unofficial end of summer. But more importantly for me, it is the demographic transition of the US National Parks. I learned a couple of new phrases distinctive to Yellowstone National Park with the upcoming change of seasons, as the winds blow new color onto the leaves. The phrases “newlyweds, to the nearly dead,” … Continue reading “A National Parks Geek.”
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Recently while I was touring and photographing the West Rim Drive of Crater Lake in Oregon, I met a New Zealander in his late twenties, and a 66-year-old couple all of whom were northbound hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I first noticed them descending a mountain using their trekking poles to guide and control their descent into the scenic pullout where I was parked. As … Continue reading Traveling soothes the soul.”
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The Pacific Crest Trail Celebrated 50 Years as A National Scenic Trail of 2,650 miles from the California Mexican border to the Washington State, Canadian Boarder. It normally takes six months to traverse the distance separated from family, friends, a job, homes, to overcome fears, regret, enduring pains, seeking water, dealing with loneliness at times while away from an established life. The trail is a … Continue reading “Pacific Crest Trail Days.”
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I was taking a short day hike around the campground in Collier Memorial Park in Oregon when I met another camper/traveler and our conversation turned to current events. It was unique how on August 25, 2018, neither one of us were aware of current events, and in so many ways I felt it was a fortunate blessing. But, later in the day, when I tried … Continue reading “Chipmunks Everywhere!”
It has been a little over a month since I last posted a blog simply because I’m enjoying the time of my life fulfilling my dreams. The photos displayed in this blog post and the next couple to follow identify my destinations across the U. S. from Grand Isle north of Burlington VT, to Cape Disappointment State Park in Washington State along with everything … Continue reading “Travel dreams crossing the U.S.”
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There are many unique museums and places I want to visit, learn and further understand American history. Many tourists and travelers see and reveal in video and blog postings the visual beauty of the locations they visit without explaining the history of the location, the people, their dreams and more importantly what we can learn from this knowledge to improve our world. The Women’s Rights … Continue reading “Womens Rights Museum.”
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During the last couple of years, I have traveled mostly in the western US and back home to my much beloved Florida beaches and the Florida Keys, I have seen and witnessed many forms and types of camping, but the new phenomena is the roof-top tent. I have viewed thousands of Youtube videos about roof-top tents mostly in connection with the Overland travel community. There … Continue reading “New tent and picturesque islanding camping in Vermont.”
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I will never forget the sunny Monday morning inside the coffee shop, knowing you had seen me dozens if not hundreds of times reading the new paper. But on this particular morning, your cheerful smiling hello sparked my day of depression its hope when you agreed to hike a local trail with me. I was happy using my new hiking poles to steady my walk, … Continue reading “Angry voice of gratitude.”
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My freedom is traveling nomadically, one destination to another, exploring, discovering and learning. (MJL) In April I attended the 2018 Continental Divide Trail Days held on the Campus of Western New Mexicos University in the town of Silver City NM. The quaint little town is situated at 6000-feet above sea level and is an escape from the summer heat of the arid southwest desert. … Continue reading New Mexico; Trail Days.
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The town of Creighton New Hampshire was to celebrate the 1948 class reunion of the small towns only high school with 43 of the original 97 class members still alive. On Friday morning the weekend of the festivities at the Jenkins diner, in Creighton New Hampshire an elderly man enters shuffling along in search of a place to sit. He stopped at a table occupied by … Continue reading “Table talk.”
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Today men all over America are celebrating Father’s Day spending time with their families, throwing a ball in the yard or enjoying a quiet day they all deserve. My father, taught me by example that every day is “Fathers Day” because my father worked consistently, rarely taking a day off, never taking a vacation, leaving town for special occasions like funerals but always providing for … Continue reading “Fathers Day.”
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A man and woman conceived a child. Some people debate when the circle of life begins, but for this poem, the ring of a lifetime starts when a mother is aware she is carrying a child in her womb which begins the symbiotic bonding before birth. Upon birth, infants around the world are, breastfed, allowing the mother to continue providing vital nutrients building upon a … Continue reading “The circle of life: Birth to Death.”
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Again, as usual, I am seated watching the archaic traditions leaving no assumptions for what is to happen at this ceremony that has been held every year since 1877. I glance around to see the awkward familiar faces and, I imagine many other narcissists have gathered here guiltily pretending to care, making this entire ordeal infectiously annoying. I wish I could disappear, or if I had … Continue reading “Juxtapose, the yearly ceremony.”
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Many things in life are comfortable assumptions, like night or day, green light or red light, and a massive crater in the middle of a desert created by a meteor. About 50,000 years ago an unbroken stretch of the flat desert landscape was suddenly disturbed when a meteor streaking across the day or night sky at 26,000 miles per hour impacted with the desert floor … Continue reading “Meteor Crater.”
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I attended the 2018 Overland Expo West gathering that brought people together from around the world to Fort Tuthill County Fairgrounds in Flagstaff AZ. This event is organized for anyone who is interested in everything connected and associated with short or long-distance overlanding any part of our planet. The expo has been etched on my calendar for more than a couple of years since my … Continue reading “2018 Overland Expo West.”
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Everyone who visits Arizona always recommends the Grand Canyon and their next recommendation is usually the city of Sedona AZ to see the picturesque red mountains surrounding the town. Many travelers use some form of an electronic map on their cellular phone or the built-in mapping system in their vehicle providing the most economical way to travel an arrive safely. One aspect the map exclude … Continue reading Arizona’s Route 89A, a scenic drive.
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Oh yes, the Petrified Forest National Park has been on my must-visit list for years, and my recent scenic drive tour has only conjured up plans for a re-visit to backpack the backcountry overnight and hike some of the incredible trails. The park was initially dedicated in 1906 and became a National Park in 1962. The 28-mile scenic drive gives each visitor the visual excitement … Continue reading “Petrified Forest National Park.”
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We do not celebrate wisdom, because it comes with age. Many fear age while never garnering its wisdom. Youth spends money wisdom filled people would not consider. Youth is the fertile ground for what can be obtained on credit, i.e., time. Time builds wisdom by living or suffering through life. Age is celebrated while reminiscing about younger days. Age and wisdom is hope for waking … Continue reading “Age and Wisdom.”
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There are many places in the world, but none compare to traveling to witness vistas, landscapes, and wildlife. My current place on this planet is the above photos inside Bluewater Lake State Park in Prewitt, NM campgrounds. At over 7000ft above sea level, my current vistas are spectacular, from sunup to sundown. The night sky fills with millions if not billions of stars across … Continue reading “Places in the World.”
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Usually, on the weekends mostly during the morning hours, a hiking trail fills with groups of people flaunting their newly purchased hiking and backpacking gear. These groups move along in packs of ten or more resembling a social bubble with verbal noise drowning out the beauty of songbirds chirping from the trees above. Many within the group will fail to absorb the essence and serenity … Continue reading “Appreciating natural surroundings.”
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My travel aura was projecting as I sat reading about my next destination inside my vehicle at an eastbound I-10 rest-stop in East Texas. Actually, it was my Florida tags Jess Duran observed who greeted me with a hearty “good morning and our conversation continued for the next hour or more about our travels past and future. Jess is a lifelong Los Angeles Dodgers fan and … Continue reading “Travel destinations and tours.”
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I have witnessed unbelievable angry tantrums by toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults. But, during an incredibly beautiful wedding, I watched as a 5’4″, 180-pound, grey-haired woman, with red lipstick, crimson rouge applied to her cheeks appearing to be in her late eighties was slowly escorted into the church on the arm of who I later learned was her grandson. She used a cane painted blue … Continue reading “Astonished tantrum.”
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Ms, Charlotte Wetzler, was seated on the main stage, looking out upon well over 500-hundred guests who are her former students and the recipients of her 42- years of teaching eight and ninth grade American and World history. Accompanying the stage with Ms. Wetzler are members of her school’s administration, School board members, politicians and the master of ceremonies along with the keynote guest speaker … Continue reading “Vaguely bestowed history.”
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With each swing of the mallet, I pound the spike deeper into the ground. Anger, jealousy, envy, and hate fuels my swings but, I cannot stop pounding the spike more profoundly into the ground until my arm and shoulder begin to ache as tears and sweat streaming along my cheeks. I hear the faint echo of voices rising above my delirious fog of emotions. With … Continue reading “Mallet.”
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Capturing sunrise photos while stopped at the “Sols Cliff scenic overlook with views of Bar Harbor Maine from inside Acadia National Park. The crisps winds of an early September cold weather front, caused my eyes to tear and blur my exquisite views leaving only the distant ocean waves sounds lapping against the shore for my senses to consume. Wiping my eyes, I feel at peace … Continue reading “Authentic Migrations.”
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On a cold rainy spring day, I toured several critical locations in the city of Mongomery Alabama which is ground zero of the Civil Rights Era in America. In 1877 the Dexter St. Baptist Church was founded when congregants moved from the First Colored Baptist Church in Montgomery Al. In 1954, at 26-years of age, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was chosen and assigned as … Continue reading “Montgomery Alabama.”
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Our family, our children, forty years we made. The mind-numbing daily routine we made. Our separate sleeping bedrooms we agreed. Because of commitments, our love has become veiled from one another, allowing our hearts to become etched hallowed caves. Our separate cars to attend church we agreed. Our time for one another is thwarted with hobbies and volunteer positions and we reflect our emotions without … Continue reading “Our timeless love.”
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The daily WordPress word prompt inspires thoughtful, creative writing ideas based on the WordPress user’s past experiences with the word which can hold various meanings and definitions. The word churn, cause me to think of the word grind. Let me explain, the word “churn” based on my history holds significant connotations, when my high school football coach used the word “churn,” as a reference to players moving their … Continue reading “Churn or grind.”
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April is National Poetry Month, and I’m creating inspired poetry daily to celebrate events online, at libraries, and communities everywhere. A mindset for poetry can be inspired and created by the surroundings of your room, home, community, and humanity. But nature can be the stimuli exposing your five senses to create poetry from your soul. So allow your creative and inspired poetry to flow. WordPress daily … Continue reading “April is poetry month.”
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From the time, I saw her from across the dance floor, I was tranced into seeing them closer. Standing in front of her, I was awakened by her voice with my mouth opened breathing heavy, I was mesmerized by a uniquely beautiful pair of eyes. When I spoke, I was happy with her politeness in the presence of what caught my eye. Her name … Continue reading “Radiant eyes.”
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Attending a funeral, a retirement gathering, a college or high school graduation, of a family member or friend allows for personal self-reflection. Your thoughts peel away layers of life’s reality igniting and stirring emotions, to bring tears to your eyes similar to peeling layers of an onion. Life is similar to the layers of an onion when reaching the center lies the heart, filled with hope for a … Continue reading “Layers upon layers of hope.”
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Since Feb I have enjoyed and settled into the Florida warmth, and because of cold temperatures, I used my backpacking pants’ less than a week. As March winds to an end, my mind repeatedly drifts to traveling the roads in the vast western US and hiking/backing treelined canopy trails. Although my focus has been to complete a short story novel for self-publication my various editors … Continue reading Betrayed and frantic, I think not!”
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The weekly photo challenge asks the question where would you rather be. The following photos reveal where I would rather be as photography allows for the repeated return to moments when the original photo was taken, over and over and over forever. Within the past two years, I have traveled to many different locations around the US as seen in these photos and each … Continue reading “I’d Rather Be.”
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Every day since forever, I have seen you, and we are identical twins. I look into your eyes, and I see the mirror image of me. I have seen pictures of you, and you look like me. Your cheekbones, lips, eyebrows, and chin are all like mine. We are identical twins? As far back as I can remember, I dreamed of a brother or sister. … Continue reading “Identical.”
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See my elegance? My jet black hair was cooked and processed with waves galore, against platinum silver and neon green, circumferencing from temple to temple rising to the cowlick above the top of my head. My head held high, arms across my chest, I stood erect and poised like the dandy I am, dressed in my best neon blue 3-button suit coat, with green, and orange … Continue reading “Invisible.”
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Casandra entered the room, and I could not make eye contact, She walks past my table, and I look down at my paper, I sensed a connection, but I’m too shy to speak. Brian will not notice me when I walk into the classroom. He will not acknowledge me with eye contact. I walk past him, and I sense a connection. Twenty-seven years later inside … Continue reading “Blushed.”
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I can remember as far back as a kindergartener, hearing my mother, father, siblings, friends, and teachers, telling me, or writing in the margins of a report card, “Slow Down.” On many occasions throughout my life, I was told I need to develop and hopefully discover some patience. “Slow down,” is the repetitive word I knew more than anything throughout my life. After I retired, … Continue reading “The wisdom of patience.”
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As the days of March wind down and I continue editing, re-editing and repeating the process of my short stories. The recent cold weather in Southwest Florida provoked a wrinkle in my ability to sit outside and write. So, I traded in my shorts, tank top, and flip-flops for my long pants and long sleeve shirt. The feel of the cloth around my arms and … Continue reading “Time to return to the trails.”
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During my lifetime of travel along the back roads, my reason to stop is best described as “distracted.” by what my eyes witness and I want to learn and discover the details of my initial distraction. I developed this type of travel during my twenty-five plus years of riding my touring motorcycle across the US wandering from one small town to another. (PS: Motorcycle Memoirs … Continue reading “Meander.”
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Suddenly there is no sound of the trail, but I feel and hear my heart pounding after my climb to summit the small peak of 2500 feet. My breathing slows matching the calmness surrounding me, and I pause to absorb the silence. I have replaced my forty hour work week noises of voices, car horns honking, rolling tire along the asphalt streets with the un-nerving … Continue reading “Suddenly there is no sound.”
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Our parents, families, and friends say we are too young to know love. We both wish and desire a love we neither know of or have ever experienced, yet, we have said “I love you” to one another unknown of loves potential and power. I believe we share a love for one another that feels like the wind blowing over out bodies from atop … Continue reading “Defining our love.”
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My plan for the day was to set up somewhere along the beach to write and read all day on a picnic bench under a shelter looking out onto the Gulf of Mexico. My location today is called the “Little Hickory Island Beach Park” located in Bonita Springs FL 34134. The park is a sliver of land with less than thirty parking spaces, two public bathrooms … Continue reading “A Grey Nomads Gap Years.”
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I want to start the first day of March 2018 with a cheerful hello to all of the followers of this site. For the next 30-days or so I’m developing a short story novel which I’m continually re-writing to my satisfaction and a submitting to a professional editor for critique. For the past year or more I have been the beneficiary of unique serendipity, that … Continue reading “Self-publishing courage.”
Last year, at this time, I was very proud of having attained the, respectable, age of 60. I thought about what it meant to be entering the door of another decade…and recalled, how old, my family and friends, who were 60, seemed to me…when I was much younger? My father-in-law was close to my age, […] via ’61’ and Just Getting Started! — The Happy Traveler Continue reading ’61’ and Just Getting Started! — The Happy Traveler
Originally posted on Read Treat:
? Writing is a talent that snoozes inside your chest until you unleash it someday either by chance or by choice. This peculiar talent then arouses a flair inside you. I had no idea that I can even write until one day my friend published her first paid article for a magazine. This ignited a spark within me and I… Continue reading “Because a writer is always right”- Exclusive article for all the writers and readers out there. Filling the Writer-Reader gaps. Some of you might have achieved your goals with flying colors while the others just stepped onto the first rock of the mountain. Keep climbing champs as the best is yet to come.
Originally posted on COW PASTURE CHRONICLES:
When I began blogging, I will admit I had no idea what I was getting into. I just wanted to write. I discovered a few things along the way: ? Blogging is hard work. It takes time, lots of time. Blogging and writing my novel was a difficult balance. P. S. Hoffman has written a great article on this very… Continue reading Some Hard Truths About Blogging
Originally posted on Trish Hopkinson:
Second Day I just rewrote the poem I started yesterday, updated the TOC in the new manuscript, and yawned. Am I running out of steam? I have decided to start this record of my one month between-teaching assignments that I have dedicated to writing at home. The flow and movement of prose will keep me going. Recording my progress will… Continue reading Diary of an At-Home Residency – guest blog post by Diane K. Martin
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