We have begun our day with a sideways kiss ( you know bad breath and all ) and a hug.
Category: Wisdom
"My wives, girlfriends, and concubine."
Keep me outside in the world I love.
"Big Cypress National Preserve & the Florida Keys."
An opportunity to capture photos and enjoy the beauty of the ride
Nomadic traveler/author inspirer
Balancing my loves of hiking, bicycling, and photography with sitting still to write
"Humanities Blue Balloon."
we all live upon a planet with a downward force of gravity
"What a Summer!"
Surrounded by nature, emitting happiness and contentment.
“Falling in love with nature.”
Surrounded by nature, emitting happiness and contentment
“Poetry is Nature.”
Poetry is nature, infinite in age.
“Sacred spiritual site for all.”
A sense of reverence is experienced as you pass the enormous Coast Redwood Trees
“Pacific Crest Trail hikers.”
If you stop moving, you will die
PCT 2019 people and animals
Among the thousands of people hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019, there are also animals, and photographer, Andrew Burns. He is not hiking the trail,
“2019 Pacific Crest Trail Days.”
We are sleeping inside a pup-tent for the very first time together.
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is a natural amusement park, with hiking, and backpacking trails providing a soul calming meditative experience costing less than the entrance to
“My hiking and backpacking evolution. (part 2)”
As I mature, I’m discovering the wisdom to calm my anxious excitement to cherish every moment of my travels.
MJL
“My hiking and backpacking evolution. (part 1)”
After the Continental Divide Trail Days in April, I set off for the City of Rocks Campground in New Mexico, which is by far one
“New camera begins with Texas Bluebonnets.”
Writing, reading, mountain biking, and fishing, be patient daddies got a new toy!
“My restless soul; (“Poetry”).
In the forest I close my eyes hearing insects buzzing and humming around me.
“Photography.”
This past February I attended the Key West Photo Festival with other photographers from around the US who broaden my knowledge and inspired my soul
“Alligators.”
Do not feed the animals their diets do not include human tourist.
“Burmese Pythons Bounty hunters.”
“A good man always knows his limitations.”
Everglades “Waste management.”
These birds are the official and original waste management facilitators of the Florida Everglades
“Wayside parks & Mosquitos.”
Once you exit your vehicle, your first experience will be the sultry humidity and soon the mosquito.
“Winter in the Everglades.”
Always beware, there will be alligators in those waters. 🙂
“Rubber Tramp Rohndeveou.” aka RTR
My attempted winter destination for 2019 was the Quartzsite Arizona in Western Arizona. It is also the winter destination for several thousand RV’ers, Van dwellers,
It’s been a while. :-)
Ok, ok, I know it has been quite a while since my last blog posting, and many have emailed me with concerns of “where the
“My nomadic travel origins,”
One aspect I thought of was my self-diagnosis of having a hyperactive personality with a dose of attention deficit disorder. 🙂
“Fellow World Travelers.”
It is always great meeting fellow travelers who seek nomadic adventures as we are a unique tribe of people whose experiences of the open road brings joys to our hearts.
“Zombie bike ride.”
I recommend you visit Key West during the Fantasy festival with a daily schedule of events, there is something for everyone.
“Some fun Mountain biking time.”
It has been three months of writing, editing, re-writing, editing, and a repeat of all with an occasional blog post. I recently took time for
“Expressing your passion.”
Doubt, courage, and confidence are a persistent emotional tug of war deep within you and between your ears.
“Love, Peace, and Happiness.”
These three words are the essential foundation for every human living on this planet. There are millions of different ways to achieve all three based
“Knowing I love you.”
Every day I’m honored to wake knowing I love you.
“Their love is with me forever.”
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
“Hiking and Backpacking Fears.”
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
“Elegance in nature.”
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
“Hiking and backpacking fears.”
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
Regular routine?
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
“A patched quilt of life.”
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
“A National Parks Geek.”
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
Traveling soothes the soul.”
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,
“Pacific Crest Trail Days.”
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,
“Chipmunks Everywhere!”
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
“Womens Rights Museum.”
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
“Angry voice of gratitude.”
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
“Table talk.” (short Story)
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
“Fathers Day.”
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
“The circle of life: Birth to Death.”
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
“Juxtapose, the yearly ceremony.”
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
“Petrified Forest National Park.”
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
“Age and Wisdom.” (poetry)
We do not celebrate wisdom, because it comes with age. Many fear age while never gaining its wisdom. Youth spends money, wisdom would never consider.
“Appreciating natural surroundings.”
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.
“Travel destinations and tours.”
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,
“Astonished tantrum.”
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
“Vaguely bestowed history.” (short story)
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
“Authentic Migrations.”
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
“Montgomery Alabama.”
On a cold rainy spring day, I toured several critical locations in the city of Mongomery Alabama which is ground zero of the Civil
“Our timeless love.”
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
“Churn or grind.”
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
“Radiant eyes.”
From the time, I saw her from across the dance floor, I was tranced into seeing them closer. Standing in front of her, I
“Layers upon layers of hope.”
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
Betrayed and frantic, I think not!”
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.
“I’d Rather Be.”
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
“Identical.”
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
“Blushed.”
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
“The wisdom of patience.”
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
“Time to return to the trails.”
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
“Meander.”
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
“Suddenly there is no sound.”
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
“Defining our love.”
Our parents, families, and friends say we are too young to know love. We both wish and desire a love we neither know of
“A Grey Nomads Gap Years.”
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
“Self-publishing courage.”
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
Astral Congregation
At the beach, or in the park, the morning blend of sites and sounds coupled with the warm sunrise temperatures to sooth the skin adds to the beauty
“Encrusted.”
As a caterer with twenty-two years in the business, I love the quote “Eating is a necessity, cooking is an art.” I once prepared dinner
“Travel guts: A special mode of travel.”
For over forty years I have traveled around the US for which my family and friends were astonished by the journey and marveled at the
“Valentines Day of love”
Well, it has come around again the commercially celebrated Valentines Day of love. It is the erotic, exotic, enticing, inspirational day for the expression and
Travel Fears? “Carpe-Diem”
Within the imaginations of everyone who’s creative ideas and thoughts are inspired or influenced by anything seen on television, read in a book or magazine, can
“Travel, what title?”
When I began traveling in the late 80’s upon a 1987 Kawasaki touring motorcycle around the US, I never created or was bewildered with a
“Wedding anniversaries and a birthday: part #3” (Final)
The twins and Johnathan are in the rear seat of the car with their father at the wheel, as they travel along their driveway from
“Wedding anniversaries and a birthday: part #2”
At 4:45 pm, their father, Jefferson Wheeler, was a third-generation farmer, who stood six-foot, seven-inches tall, with muscular arms, and a matching barrel chest. He
“Wedding anniversaries and a birthday: part #1.”
It was 4:30 pm on a western Nebraska farm, in the summer of 1969 with the humid July winds blowing as usual while the Wheeler
“Inscrutable trill silhouetted in front of me.”
I was scared almost out of my seat when Sister Abigale screamed at the top of her lungs forcing all of the fifth-grade students to
“I’m candid, fairly agile living on island time.”
I was born and raised in the Adirondacks in Upstate New York, and the first time I saw photos of a beach, I dreamed of
“The next dominant generation.”
I am a part of what some people call the greatest generation. When I consider how my parents who lived with nothing close to the
“Blink.”
Fortunately, during my lifetime I have recorded hundreds of hours of video with accompanied thousands of photos of my now adult children. My recorded library
“Candid.”
Be candid with me, I can take it. Honesty is the best policy when the truth is the foundation for any relationship. However, many lies
“Study.”
As the college semester comes to an end, the mood of the students on the entire campus becomes stressfully solemn. Every nook and cranny is
“Natures Transformations.”
The desert is a great place to experience the beauty of nature when the approaching rains transform the landscape scenery. A weather system pushed through
“Loophole.”
For twenty years’ or more, the theater’s dancers have taken a ten-minute break every hour during any rehearsal no matter how long they rehearsed. Three
“Horizon.”
My thoughts often drift to the Arizona desert horizon at sunrise during our two week Christmas break. My face brightens with a smile, and yet
“Winsome Characters.”
When a child is born, they are an unwritten computer program learning from parents teachers and society.
M. J. Leake
“Viable at any age.”
Mel and Susan Hubbard a married couple were sitting on a park bench after walking three miles along the beach which they do every other
“Treated reservations.”
If you are lucky, your life will treat you to various forms and types of reservations. I have had room and dinner reservations and I
“A blogger conversation.”
The first daily word prompt “conversation” is appropriate to begin 2018 since a blog post initiates a conversation between bloggers around the world. Four years
“Finally 2017 ending, now 2018!”
Finally, with the end of 2017, the entire world is looking forward to 2018 with incredible optimism. Many people around the world will begin new
“Cozy Confessions.”
My thirty plus years of travel destinations are filled with photos and encountering people who are the inspirations for some of my creative writings ideas.
Grandparents & Parents Revelations: A love story
Kevin and Katelynn Crawford age 38 and 39 are a couple with seven children. They have twin four year- olds, a 6, 8, 10,
A traveler’s miraculous discovery
Wanderer, your footsteps are the road, and nothing more; wanderer, there is no road, the road is made by walking. Antonio Machado A wannabe traveler’s
“Silent bliss without a compass.”
I hiked a trail without a compass within the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument in the Robledo Mountains of Doña Ana County, New Mexico. The area
“Legendary Inheritance.”
Fifteen years have passed since international Dodgeball star Lucas Leonard Lopez was seen on the court. However, his eldest son Lewis Leonard Lopez has followed
“A lifetime of Jolly degrees of happiness and varnish layers of love.”
During anyone’s life, there are jolly times filled with degrees of ups and downs, covered with varnishing layers of love. A life is filled with
“Sparkling at any age.”
The word “age,” is a noun, defining the length of existence from the beginning to any given time of life. Existence is the sparkle of
“Procrastinating Pressure.”
The significance of procrastinating pressure to complete goals is sometimes a necessary emotion when you find snippets of excuses to forgo what should be done. With thirty
“Atmospheric; A Short story”
Three months ago Jill and I decided to take a break with a tropical island weekend getaway. On our last evening, I dressed adorned in
“Droolling mushroom hunters.”
Hiking in the great northwest of the US brings you into contact with many types of people. My first encounter with mushroom hunters began with
“Music’s dubious riffs.”
During our annual concert, my high school’s jazz ensemble was playing before a packhouse of parents, students political dignitaries. We played several pieces that excited
“Centenarian love, passion, marriage, and dancing.”
The annual sweetheart’s dance has become a coveted gala event for the 190 residents at the “Living Years Village.” And again for the third year
“Faintly simmering and being beckoned.”
I stood in the doorway of the kitchen watching my mother cooking and preparing the Thanksgiving dinner as I drooled with excitement wanting to sneak
“Halloween Neighborhood-Lessons.”
There was a time in the 60’s, and 70’s when the mystery of keeping your home secure during the Halloween season was something you passed
“Ghoulish.”
I have never really liked Halloween since the horrible calamity of 1975, for which my father tells the story with the smiling gleefulness of a
“Autumn Fluffy.”
The end of green summer leaves leads to the transformation to various bright colors. During an October hike with crisp, breezes blowing red, yellow, purple,
“Mirrored Gratitude.”
With their annual Halloween party two days away, Erica stood in the mirror admiring her Cleopatra costume. She adjusted the black wig with a gold
“Identifying Trademarks.”
The identifying trademarks were visible when the border officer lifted the tarp to reveal the cylindrical barrel. This story began after my best friend Charles
“Cacophony: A band parents story.”g
My next door neighbors, Clifford and Joyce Ingram’s raised 6-children, who were born two and three years apart. When their eldest child Cynthia began playing
“Enlighten.”
Enlightening moments in time brings life into focus. (M. J. Leake) After thirty-nine years of marriage, three adult children, one hysterectomy, and a husband I
“Express.”
Do you love to dance, sing, write, sculpt, paint, or debate? What’s your favorite way to express yourself, creatively? I use words creatively in sentences,
“Brave, heroic, courageous, and daring.”
The above words are used to describe acts done by a person that if given a moment of thought many people would not perform for
“Risk?”
What would your daily life be without risk? Most people try to avoid risk and some at all cost while many people take a calculated
“Loyalty.”
Loyalty is determined and measured by who you interact with over time. Loyalty and friendships are determined by time. Loyalty can be a long-term commitment
“Ascending.”
Life is like ascending a mountain one foot after another to accomplish what is desired. Standing atop of an accomplishment is a personal goal and time
“Succumb.”
Succumbing to life’s temptations keeps you from being your best. Succumbing to the bitterness of life closes your mind to reconciliation. Succumbing to the
“Cloaked in darkness.”
A 5-year-old girl in a playground stops to look at the flight of a butterfly. She runs around mimicking its movements to understand the butterfly’s
“Fraud”
The fraud you do. The fraud to deceive. The fraud to trick and cheat. The fraud for your personal gain. The fraud committed in darkness
“Exceptional Mistake.”
Mistakes are a part of life because life comes with morals but not application instructions. Mistakes of the heart usually provide a second chance. Mistakes
“Inflated elastic beauty.”
The elastic balloons cover the grounds as far as the eye can see. Ground crews hold lines as the balloons are inflated reaching heights towering
“Fashionable Beauty.”
Hiking a forest or desert trails with only the sounds of your footsteps crunching the ground quiets your soul to experience a believable sense of
“Popular outdoor activities interest continues.”
For baby boomers, it is believed that upon a certain age exciting, interesting outdoor and athletics activities are limited, curtailed, or not done based on
“Focused, divided attention and multitasking”
The term “laser focused” is associated with academics and athletics. To reach this level of concentration takes months, years and decades of mental and physical
“Humanities pampered planet?”
What would our planet look like if the extinct land animals were to return? Would we make room for them to live in the wild?
Leaf, needles, and a forest.”
Hiking the trails within the National Parks, National Forest, and National Conservation Areas can produce a feeling of irrelevancy for whatever is going on in
“Mighty is the music of our lives.”
Mighty is the sound of instruments to create the music of our desires from within our soul. Without the sound of instruments to create
“Social media crumbs”
Social media produces journalling crumbs of our past. Crumbs for those you chose to see the highs and lows of your life. Wisdom can be
“An iconic American road.”
I was traveling south along Nevada route 95 when I wandered into Las Vegas to visit family and to check out Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area.
“”Penchant for poo.”
As a child growing up, I always had Labrador Retrievers as pets, and one of my chores was picking up after the dog. When I
“Disobey.”
I learned very early in my childhood before I started school that acting bad or being bad brought about a spanking or a scolding at
“Sympathetic Peculiarities.”
The peculiarities of life and death manifest itself before, during, and after stressful painfilled tragic events. Personal reflections and contemplation about life, its meaning, and
“Overcome.”
The word “Overcome” is over used, because everyone’s daily life is filled with moments, hours, days, months, and years of challenges. Without challenges, life will
“Anticipated Crescendo.”
As a traveler, I have encountered many others who’s mentality like mine is filled with the anticipated experiences of the journey and destination. The journey
“Elevating my knowledge of West Wendover NV.”
My travel mission was set to photograph the Bonneville Salt Flats with a refuel top off in the town called West Wendover, NV en-route to Reno
“Educated?”
The word educate is applied to every travel destination I encounter. There is something to learn no matter how many times I have visited any
“I am Pricelessly, Critical, to Continue.”
My last posting “Enamored with nature,” apparently was my 1000th blog post on WordPress. 🙂 My priceless blog life began 2013 when I signed up
“Enamored with Nature.”
After viewing and capturing photos of the natural beauty in Yellowstone National Park, I found the Flagg Ranch Campgrounds located along the John D Rockafeller
“Rhyme or Reason?”
Children who become teenagers and eventually adults are a wonderment of untold measurement. (M.J.Leake) As the days, months, years, and decades pass, with mothers day, fathers
“Heart Mountnain, Japanese-American Confinement.”
I love history and consider myself an amateur historian of American History, so when I entered the Cody Wy visitors center to see what
“Travel reflections in a Cody Wy Walmart lot.”
Some retirees try to recall memories and thoughts of their adolescent and childhood years. If they are able, they spend the second chapter of their
“My Homage to Travel Dreams.”
A retiree who accepts their status will become a happier person going forward into the second chapter of their lives. While many retirees remain in
“Unfurl and Synchronized Traffic.”
Depending on where you live planning a trip from your home to travel across town can easily be accomplished depending on where you live.
“Carousel of Life.”
The carousel of life cycles through many stages hopefully surrounded by family, friends, culture, and an environment shaping your life forever. Along the way you develop
“Humorous moxie.”
Our eldest son Geoferry organized and paid for a private dining room in the exclusive up scale restaurant “Alain Ducasse,” inside the Dorchester hotel
“Dare-Devil Great Grandmother.”
Six months ago, I was with twenty-one of my family members to watch my youngest great-granddaughter tandem parachute from a plane 12000 feet above the
“Spring Symphony!”
There was a united symbolism as the band members walked from both sides of the stage to their seats for their premiere spring symphonic performance.
