The Zen of Motorcycling

SEYMOUR THE "DUCK"

2008-11-29T17:16:00.001-05:00

Seagull in Normandy
Originally uploaded by 5348 Franco.

Seymour is a fine, clean, white seagull. I know it and you would know it if you saw him. But Seymour doesn’t know it. He thinks he’s a duck.

After all, his duck mother, Lucy, hatched and raised him yet never told him he was a gull. Her nurturing nature made her gather his little egg into her own batch after she found it this past spring all alone in the marsh grass.

Lucy loved him just that way she loved her four other little ducklings. She raised them well. So did Quackers, his father. (The author acknowledges having been an unapologetic anthropomorphist since birth.)

When Quackers taught the little ones to bob for yummy food at pond bottom, Seymour bobbed just like his brothers and sisters. When Lucy taught the brood how to glide and turn in the gentle tide flow, Seymour glided and turned with grace. In every way Seymour was raised a duck. He missed only one lesson: the need to fly south when Quackers announced the day.

Today, however, on this late November date, Seymour is so alone. As he did yesterday and the day before, Seymour is floating on the tide in Hampton’s Meadow Pond. His white feathers and orange beak shine as he glides atop darkening blue water. He gently turns left and then, a moment later, deftly swings right. He is searching for his family oblivious to why they three weeks ago left Meadow Pond.

The late day sun sits low above the western horizon. Acres of golden shoreline marsh grass make Seymour and the author feel warmer than they really are. The gentle breeze that glides along with him now ripples both the grasses and the water.

Seymour is once again looking for his family. Meadow Pond is the only home he’s known. “When are they coming back?” I imagine he asks himself. “Why did they leave me?”

He glides along deeper into the pond, pausing to look in every shoreline nook. A group of four brown ducks paddle by giving him no notice. Seymour watches them and tries to join them. He wants to ask them if they know where his family is, but they move away at his each attempt. Seymour slowly, indeed dejectedly paddles away

I watched Seymour’s drama unfold daily since last spring. Poor Seymour doesn’t understand that his family flew south for the approaching winter. Soon Meadow Pond will freeze over and sleep beneath a windswept blanket of snow. Open water will appear here and there from the strong current. But most of the pond will be unrelentingly hard and cold.

Spring will come though and Seymour’s’ family will return to the pond. One day, after all of his searching and searching, Seymour will hear the Lucy’s and Quackers’ cheerful quacks of homecoming. He will be so happy.

Seymour is indeed, and for all intents and purposes a duck.

Do you think Seymour will fly south next fall when repetitive cold nights and chilly days foretell of yet another approaching winter?

WHY ADVENTURE?

2008-04-13T21:34:00.001-04:00

it really is
Originally uploaded by perfectbound.

Because it's there. Because it's always worth it.

The Incredible Greenness of Being

2008-04-06T16:31:00.001-04:00

shades of green
Originally uploaded by cjohnson7.

Spring is here at last.

The green tips of the crocuses arise skyward; the birds of summer have returned. They are ravenous from their journey. My bags of birdseed empty faster than bottles of good wine at a dinner party.

I've often wondered how many shades of green one could find in a day. Hundreds I would think.

In Ireland they claim over a thousand. But we Irish once in awhile, though very rarely, claim more than a few things with just a pinch of literary license. (Son, yer great-great-great grandfather was the King of Cork I'm positive).

The next warm and sunny day that finds me, I hope to take a long Spring ride on the motorcycle and head way into the countryside. There I hope to don hiking boots and take a little walkabout to count a day's worth of greenness.

Should be a lovely way to spend a day.

WATCHING THE RIVER FLOW

2008-02-24T19:38:00.004-05:00

It's been awhile since I've written on these pages. So much happens in our lives that we sometimes need to stop if for no other reason than to watch a river flow. (Thanks, Bob Dylan, for that wonderful song.)

I hiked and snowshoed today in the White Mountain National Forest. The Pemigewasset Wilderness in northern New Hampshire offered such a glorious day. I found myself enthralled by the beauty of the frigid waters, the snowy shores, the seemingly impenatrable riparian ice.

Come summer I plan to motorcycle back to this river. Perhaps a picnic on the rocky shoreline can be enjoyed: toes dipped in the racing water, fingers wrapped around fine bread and cheese, and maybe even a little taste of Amorone wine to round out the perfect meal.

Falling Colors

2007-10-07T17:38:00.001-04:00

Landscape in October
Originally uploaded by Giorgos ~.

The year moves on: Summer gives way to Fall. Chill night air triggers nature's orgy of color.

Riding through fields aglow in Autumnal elegance brings to the soul an incredible focus. The air smells different, wonderful. Gone are the floral aromas of Spring -- here are the dusky smells of the past saying goodbye--the future saying hello.

Enjoy the days of nature's last hurrah. Tomorrow the earth sleeps neath a snowy blanket. And new life prepares an ever so soon grand entrance.

Ride safe and well.

BALANCE AND THE SIMPLE LIFE

2007-09-25T19:39:00.001-04:00

Balluminaria
Originally uploaded by waxinggibbous.

Nature must indeed abhor a vacuum. Offer nature even the tiniest opportunity for life to flourish and flourish it will. The balance in this is obvious upon observation.

Peak at a slight crack in a roadside boulder and observe. Tiny dust particles recently settled transform from atmospheric flotsam to a nourishing soil for a litter of lichen. How perfect this life force.

Life is simple. As we too are life therefore we are simple. We nevertheless try so hard to complicate our lives: we confuse ourselves on a daily basis. I am as capable of this mistake as are any of us.

Yet balance and purpose unfold to show a path to perfection.

Example time – let’s take one of my favorite topics, motorcycling. If we ride for joy and toward a goal we wish to achieve we are riding in balance with nature. We are pursuing a simple life.

If, however, we ride out of pain we are not riding in balance. If we run away from something we wish to avoid, we are making a mistake. We are failing further in the healthy pursuit of a happy and simple life. In a simple, balanced life, we must first deal with the cause of our pain, take action to fix it, and then ride.

Like most motorcycle enthusiasts, I’ve ridden both such rides. I’ve learned more of life these past few years. I’ve learned that the joy of riding toward my goals far surpasses the shallowness of riding away from problems.

The problems, left unresolved, will be there to greet us when we return. And that is the antithesis of a simple life.

Destiny on the Road

2007-09-20T23:42:00.001-04:00

Llugwy Downstream
Originally uploaded by Stu Worrall.

Go easy now -- we'll meet along the way. Later on the road will rise up and bring us home.

SUNSET SAILING and MOONLIGHT RIDING

2007-08-26T14:50:00.000-04:00

I would expect that a sunset sail across Buzzards Bay for dinner at The Chart Room (on Cape Cod) would be the perfect conclusion to a fine day. It can be, and yet it can fall short of the perfection of a sunset in the mountains while on a motorcycle tour.

Please think me not a dismisser of fine sailing and the sea. Those who know me know that I treasure these things.

Yet now, in the brilliance of tonight's full moon shining down I am reminded of so many sunsets and moonsets not on the sea but on the land. I remember camping in the desert with a moon so big it seemed to fill the sky. I recall sleeping on Cape Breton beaches neath moons so bright it was hard to remain asleep. I see evenings in Alaska when the moon fought hard with the summer sun to find a place in the late night sky.

There are hundreds of full moons I recall seeing while cruising on motorcycles. Few, however, hold the magic I now see in tonight's moon.

There is magic happening, and I know not where or why. I will trust the universe to set things right. I feel ready for a new life, a life filled with adventure and simplicity. There's too little of that in my world lately.

I am ready for my moon.

A Green Wave

2007-08-22T00:10:00.001-04:00

On a Green Wave
Originally uploaded by maruchan313.

A few weeks ago I went Body Surfing. No it wasn't that spectacular stuff we see on television when nubiles grab huge tubes off the coast of Hawaii -- it was more like swishing into the path of a small swell off the coast of Maine. Indeed, it was cold but very refreshing.

Temperature and size are not the issue here. The simple act of swimming out to the point break and then dashing toward shore to catch 15 seconds of rapture is what I'm talking about. That's the magic of "Catching a Green Wave."

Truth be known the ocean up here is cold. Truth continuing, as it should always, body surfing in our cold New England seas is worth every effort. When you're done you know you've enjoyed an excellent day. You've melded with the ocean, and that's pretty good, no?

Hay Rides

2007-08-20T20:27:00.001-04:00

Montana sky
Originally uploaded by Jodene.

The fields are full of mown hay -- bales, rolls, stacks, and mounds abound.

The air is pungent with a grassy perfume.

Two months of great riding remain before the gales of November and the snows of December set upon us. Get out and ride friends.

Breathe in the organic air of late summer/early fall. Its simplicity is more than pleasant. It is seductive.

Belgium at Night

2007-08-13T20:32:00.001-04:00

Orange & blue
Originally uploaded by Jason's Travel Photography.

I remember Belgium. After a ferry crossing of the English Channel my Triumph 650 and I headed north to Belgium as I many years ago commenced a Continental Tour .

My strongest memories are of the people and architecture of Belgium. I don't recall eating Belgian Waffles: I do recall dining with fine wines and yummy meals.

The architecture, however, stands out strongest in my mind. Canals, colorful manses, tall steeples, these I remember so well.

Then it was on to the Netherlands for me. Looking back I wish I had stayed just a few days more. The young man rushes. The wise man pauses to look deeply into the soul of each place and its people.

Orange Sun -- Salty Sea

2007-08-08T21:14:00.001-04:00

Buena pesca
Originally uploaded by GomoX.

The sun and the sea - - a marriage of light and liquid creating a perfect day's beginning and end. Every motorcycle ride should begin or end at such times and places.

Ride into the mountains but begin at the sea.

Ride through farmlands and lakes and end at the sea.

Start or finish with a plunge into an ocean gloamed in the orange light of transition. You are reborn and ready to ride again.

TREATS ON THE ROAD

2007-08-07T21:42:00.001-04:00

Berries
Originally uploaded by ·júbilo·haku·.

This is the northern season when berries of all species explode aside scenic twisting backroads and byways. A stop to investigate, nay to pick makes a long day's ride tasty beyond compare.

A recent spirited blast through Crawford Notch suprised me with yummy roadside blueberries, glistening blackberries, and a few other little treats. The sweet feast broke up an otherwise gorgeous yet hot daylong cruise to the Maine coast. It was surely a pause that refreshed.

Wouldn't it be nice if these tiny treats of nature flourished all year long.

Z is for Living

2007-07-29T20:36:00.001-04:00

Z
Originally uploaded by sandcastlematt.

Sea and sand melded together into a perfect Z. How wonderful. Z may be the last letter of the alphabet but it is the first letter of Zen.

Z is for living, Z is for balance, Z is for perfection in balance.

I watched a perfect moon illuminate the sea this weekend. Diamonds of light glittered along the waves as they lapped the beach. Tranquility adorned the shoreline.

Earlier in the week I enjoyed an evening ride with a bright three-quarter moon riding my left shoulder all the way home. Its brilliance shone along the highway more beautifully than any daylight could. I sang songs aloud to myself with the ease one normally finds only in the shower. I was of course bathed in moonlight, so why not?

May your day be balanced in Zs to lead your heart where you need to be. May your night be gloamed in moonlight to lead your soul where you truly should be.

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

2007-07-18T22:22:00.001-04:00

Enchanted Pool
Originally uploaded by SplodgusMaximus.

Water seeks water.
Hope seeks hope.
Love seeks love.
Souls seek eachother.

Bridges, Oceans, and Chocolate Martinis

2007-07-16T18:39:00.001-04:00

Fog
Originally uploaded by konaboy.

Where there's water there's sure to be a bridge. Some bridges are more famous than others, though all bridges join worlds otherwise divided.

Motocycle travel, too, joins worlds that otherwise seem divided to one trapped in the cozy confines of a car. Certainly yesterday's wild and wet ride from Newburyport Harbor to home proved that to me once again. I not only drove through a pounding and relentless downpour, I was literally immersed in it.

And it was fun. (I'm glad that a hot shower awaited my arrival, nonetheless.)

Bridges and cruising are just part of the joy of visiting friends and family far and wide. On Saturday evening in Maine, my sister Marie suggested that we concoct a new, untried Martini recipe. So we did.

We made our own version of a Chocolate Martini: chilled vodka, shaken with Coffee/Chocolate Dibbs (little ice cream marvels), squeezed orange rinds, a bit of fresh squeezed orange pulp, and a liberal pour of pure Pomegranate extract, all gently poured into tall Martnini glasses that had been drizzled with chocolate syrup.

I must report that these new liquid wonders are a decidedly undebateable delight.

So was my Sunday morning ride down the coast of Maine to Newburyport, Massachusetts. I was privileged to crisscross ocean bays, a wide river, and estuaries via beaucoup bridges. Some were of steel, others of wood. Each was a joy on a perfect Summer day.

Perfect, that is, until a black wall of rain advanced from west to east directly between me and my intended destination -- home.

All is well. My clothes and motorcycle have dried without harm. My mind and soul are refreshed. The sea and the motorcycle have a way of enlivening the spirit. The Chocolate Martini didn't hurt either.

ROAD ZEN REVISITED

2007-07-10T22:39:00.001-04:00

Love These Roads!!!
Originally uploaded by Farol's Fotos.

Here is a road for the motorcycle enthusiast to dream of. Awesome!

WOVEN VINES

2007-07-09T23:24:00.001-04:00

Cottage charm
Originally uploaded by Lawrence OP.

Woven fabric, twisted vine;
hand spinned silk, hand woved spline.

A house in the meadow, a home Divine,
Take me there tomorrow, take me there in time.

Reaching for Greatness

2007-07-08T19:34:00.001-04:00

Silence
Originally uploaded by SezzRS.

We reach for greatness when we strive to do the best we can do: no less, one hopes for a bit more.

We reach for greatness when we look deep within ourselves and ask the hard questions.

Like the cactus flower that reaches for the sun, we reach for our destiny when we grab our magical machines, our motorcycles, and speed purposefully into our futures.

We are alive.

Pond Zen

2007-07-05T21:35:00.001-04:00

Reflected
Originally uploaded by gilmanr.

Ponds are alive with life, color, and flora.

I spent time earlier today walking through seacoast wetlands and shoreline gardens. Birds of every sort sang songs of comfort. A tiny rabbit bounded from beneath a thicket and then vanished within a patch of orange hued flowers.

How fortunate we are when we happen upon nature splendid.

How fortunate we are that ponds dot our landscape with that life giving nectar we call water.

Magical Motion

2007-07-03T00:11:00.001-04:00

Great surf this morning
Originally uploaded by stormsurfer29.

One finds magical motion while motorcycling. It can be found in surfing too.

I no longer crash the waves as a surfer: a few shoulder surgeries took care of that for me. I do, however, still find the perfection of motion in the ride.

Magical Motion is alive and well for me and for all who love two wheels in sync-- and that , as they say, is a good thing.

MORNING WALK

2007-07-02T18:41:00.001-04:00

morning constitutional
Originally uploaded by Greg'.

How beautiful to walk early in the morn when the sun rises to chase away the night.

Summer In the City

2007-06-26T22:34:00.001-04:00

Summer Night
Originally uploaded by alex.dorand.

The thermometer read 102 F when I left work today. I was worried that I was destined to spend a hot night in my city flat. I

nstead two nice things happend: first, dear friends called and invited me to dine and swim at their suburban home. Second, when I returned to the City I found such laughter and happiness in the streets that the stickiness of the heat evaporated.

Downtown is alive this night. Couples young and old are strolling, hand in hand. Music seeps from doorways. Laughter is ubiquitous tonight.

I might begin to like this urban living thing. As Tony Bennett says, "Out of the Tree of Life I Just Picked Me a Plum."

A SURPRISE SOJOURN

2007-06-25T22:17:00.001-04:00

Puffin Sunrise
Originally uploaded by abstract_effects.

I enjoyed an unplanned ride to the coast for dinner with my cousin this evening. By 6 pm, when I was able to motor, the late day sun still burned hot and bright, and a large rising moon pulled me east for an hour's cruise to the Atlantic shore.

The ocean was unusually calm, almost still. Tiny waves, too small for even a squirrel to surf, lapped lazily onto the sandy beach. They made no sound. Gulls darted here and there.

I pulled into the parking lot at Ron's Landing. A large sign said "Valet Parking Only," but motorcycles are immune from such things. "Park your bike wherever you like," said the friendly young man in the white valet uniform. "Thank you," I replied.

Dennis soon arrived on his Harley. We dined upstairs in the perfectly air conditioned lounge where we spoke with a number of the diners, each with a different story to tell. A fellow from Alabama made us laugh when he chided the bartender by telling her that she "was as crazy as a lab rat." I whispered to Dennis, "I always thought it was the lab technicians that were crazy, not the rats."

By 8 dinner was done and it was time for a gentle sunset ride home. Daylight faded to a gloaming in the west and my beautiful moon was at my side.

She stayed with me all the way home. Thank you Moon for being there for me.

LIFE IS FOR LIVING

2007-06-24T20:38:00.001-04:00

table for 2
Originally uploaded by Pete the painter.

Night and day repeat as if an endless dance of time and light. But they are not endless. We know that.

Each sunset caps an amazing day that soon melds to night. Each night brings sleep and dreams that prepare us for the dawn. All is as it should be.

Yet we so often fail to appreciate each day's gift.

It may be that we are distracted by work or poor health. It may be that we are forgetful of our bounty through the jealousy of comparison with others' bounties. Whatever the distraction we are the poorer for it.

Let it go!

Look at the rain and embrace it. Ride in the rain and embrace it. Sure enough a rainbow will appear and we will be reminded of how life is like Sangria: a swirling mix of fruit and wine, of sweet and bitter, of light and dark, of sharp and smooth.

Life is for living. Drink it up.

Misty Mountain Roads

2007-06-23T22:14:00.001-04:00

Misty Road
Originally uploaded by CaptPiper.

The morning rainstorm ended as abruptly as it began the other day. I was cruising in The Adirondacks. The air warmed as soon as the rains departed.

The road was warmer still. The damp macadam brewed an earie mist that rose into the air in swirls. The entire scene became dreamlike in a sense.

I slowed appreciably as visibility decreased: deer were about, so a more patient pace was wise.

There is magic in mysty roads. There are hearts hidden there. There is beauty clouded by mystery. I shall ride such mysts again I hope.

SERENE Stillness

2007-06-16T22:14:00.001-04:00

Bolsena
Originally uploaded by Roarsthelion.

Daylight awakens upon quiet lake waters. The coolness of the air refreshes our souls.

The serenity of softly diffused light upon the smooth, glasslike watery canvass reminds us why we are called to such places.

We are called from deep within our souls. Much as a wild Loon beckons its lover and chicks home with tender callings, the peaceful lakes whisper sweetly to us in our dreams until we journey back to their shores.

Sometimes You Just Have to Go

2007-06-11T16:46:00.001-04:00

R399
Originally uploaded by Will Design Works.

Sometimes the best way to figure out where you're going in life is to step off the train you're on and take a good long motorcycle ride. It's amazing how a few tankfulls of gas and a clear mountain road can clear the mind.

IN THE MIST

2007-06-03T20:00:00.001-04:00

No One Sees You
Originally uploaded by _marmota.

The morning flowered slowly, softly, damply.

A sea fog had rolled onshore. The birds, but for two romanticly inclined morning doves, were unusually silent.

My duties today required that I ride away from the coast. Rain was coming soon so I hurried a bit more than usual for an otherwise still Sunday morn.

I soon found the rain.

A quick stop allowed me to don the rain suit. The rest of the ride moved from rain to fog and back again. Yet a feeling of total peace engulfed my soul as I zoomed along atop the motorcycle. It was just quintessentially peaceful.

I do not mind riding in the rain --high winds, yes, but not simple rain. In rain we find ourselves deeply sure that we know most things important.

There is always, however, that one special dream, that one particular harbor, our one fantastic goal that remains elusively just beyond our grasp. I want to embrace that dream and make it no longer a dream but a reality. I shall ride until it happens.

Perspective is Everything...No?

2007-05-31T22:21:00.001-04:00

farsistradalentamente..
Originally uploaded by laperegina.

Some days begin with a feeling of "Good Morning Heartache": others commence with an exclamation ... "Good Morning Lovely World."

I suppose our feelings are inseparable from what goes on around us. Some folks have the Monday Blues. Others embrace Monday as a new chance for success.

The sun rises and sets each day. Each event is either magical or sad.

If we're in a blue mood we might ask the sun and moon to stop haunting us: if we're feeling loved and cared for, we might shout out, Hello Moon.

Either way everyone needs to be cared for. Everyone needs to be cared for: how simple is that?

DOWN TO THE BLUE SEA

2007-05-30T12:26:00.001-04:00

Blue boat
Originally uploaded by kostas.v.

Come with me down to the blue sea where we will run in the sand and ride beside hidden coves of crashing waves and crusted stone.

Come with me down to the blue sea where we will arise before dawn to watch the sun rise up out of the water. Like the sun, we will glide into a brightening sky.

FIGAWI RACING AND BACK

2007-05-28T22:46:00.001-04:00

I am back from an amazing long weekend of sailing, racing, singing, and sharing the joys of Nantucket with friends who were kind enough to invite me to race in Figawi 2007. This annual event includes hundreds of vessels all trying to sail as quickly as possible on a course set between Hyannis Harbour and Nantucket Harbour.

The weather for the race was perfect in every way.

I was a bit scruffy from having been at sea for three days.

All hands enjoyed the thrill of the competition.

GRAND MARNIER SUNSETS

2007-05-20T20:32:00.001-04:00

May Sunset Above Manchester
Originally uploaded by MontaukRider.

This eve I found an amazing urban sunset invading my third-floor downtown balcony. Thankfully my camera and tripod were nearby. Oh how fabulous the sky became as it fired into the last blast of the aft.

There are so many sunrises and sunsets awaiting all of us. We need only to go out and find them. And then the magic just seems to happen. So neat indeed.

Fire on the Water

2007-05-19T20:32:00.001-04:00

Fire on the Water
Originally uploaded by night86mare.

Orange sorbet atop a silken sea -- a sunset to ponder from start to finish and then remember a lifetime. We should all be so lucky.

Sweet Riding

2007-05-17T00:07:00.001-04:00

k 11 Utxarroz
Originally uploaded by Dálmata.

I prepare for a long cruise. In my mind are thoughts of mountains, rivers, valleys, and twisting roads winding throughout.

Then I see this photo and I am humbled. Dalmata has captured the spirit of the ride in a single moment when I , more tied to the saddle and miles, see it as a continuim of dance. His photo portrays both, movement and stillness. Perfect.

When next I ride long and hard I shall think of this photo and smile.

Water Zen

2007-05-14T23:04:00.001-04:00

Water Zen
Originally uploaded by MontaukRider.

Gently falling waters hidden within this urban garden's womb gifts soothing tranquility to those lucky enough to discover it. This particular pond is home to a mated pair of cardinals, gangs of smaller birds, black squirrels, and of course, several little fishes of differing colors.

The Garden of Eden could not have been nicer than this spot.

spring cleaning

2007-05-08T21:04:00.001-04:00

spring cleaning
Originally uploaded by sharply_done.

How do we all accumulate so much "stuff"?

Clean it and the blue sky shines right on through.

Garden Zen

2007-05-07T23:08:00.001-04:00

Hidden house - Taormina
Originally uploaded by fede_gen88.

We ride to find perfect balance and that singular moment of "the zone." We garden for much the same reason, though with different pace and different medium.

The garden, once planted and tended, creates beauty and focus. It becomes a nowness to itself.

PERSPECTIVE

2007-05-06T21:59:00.001-04:00

....
Originally uploaded by ~charlie~.

Look what happens when you look more closely at what is really in front of you. A whole new perspective, yes?

Patience...

2007-05-06T14:17:00.001-04:00

Patience...
Originally uploaded by Maggiet96.

I rode my motorcycle a lot over the past few days -- I was hoping to free my mind of troubled thought.

As hoped for, the riding, coupled with wise advice from dear friends, brought forth renewed insight.

Patience is the key to life fulfilled. I have tried to be patient in most matters yet I' ve not always succeeded. There is no need for us to wish for instant this or overnight that. The best things in life are worth waiting for.

Time must be given the chance to allow all things possible.

FOG?

2007-05-02T23:00:00.001-04:00

Pinnacle
Originally uploaded by vonvonvon.

Karl Sandberg wrote that fog creeps in on cat's paws. I think he was right.

Especially do I feel so when I think of our frequent blunders in life, those where we've thought one thing only to later find out that another thing was in fact the reality.

It's not the "fog of war," it's the "fog of life" that I'm talking of.

If I had but one wish it would be this: May all of us lose the fog for just one day. For that one day may we see and understand what is really important to us, and may we act accordingly. That would be a nice world indeed.

No fog allowed -- Think Clearly. We should all strive to do so.

Life Renews Perfectly

2007-04-30T23:30:00.001-04:00

The Summer has Beginning.......
Originally uploaded by rogilde.

The moon tonight is waxing 99% full. The sun, tomorrow, will be brilliant. Spring is here and Summer is soon to follow. Alas, another cosmic circle commences again.

Now: Ride the rides you dreamt of all Winter. Seize each day and make it perfect. Work hard -- play hard. Settle for nothing less than the best.

Everything else will take care of itself.

Figawi Race

2007-04-29T21:17:00.001-04:00

Figawi Start
Originally uploaded by wmmumford.

I'm quite excited about the upcoming Figawi Race from Cape Cod to Nantucket. The legend of Figawi is huge, so this year I was elated to be invited by friends to attend on their gorgeous Little Harbor sailing yacht.

When I joined them a few years ago in Bermuda for Race Week it was certainly educational and, well, downright fun. I expect Nantucket to be no less so. Herman Melville aside, Nantucket is one of my favorite salty haunts.

Montaukrider is up to the task: The pirate in me says "Arrrrrrrr."

Adirondack Spring

2007-04-29T16:53:00.001-04:00

spring sunset, tupper lake,ny2
Originally uploaded by GroovyIslandGirl.

Spring sneaks in slowly in the Adirondacks. By mid April the air warms and the ice disappears. Birds chirp louder -- flowers poke up from the forest floor.

Like a migratory bird I hope to return to The Park as soon as I can. The ride through the Green Mountains and on into the Adirondack Park is simply breathtaking.

The Montauk and its rider are ready.

FLOW RIVER FLOW ....

2007-04-26T22:19:00.001-04:00

Where peaceful waters flow…
Originally uploaded by Vol-au-Vent.

No more peaceful place exists than the riparian shore of a languid canal. We can search far and ever without finding more tranquility.

To the rivers and canals of the world Montauk Rider salutes you. Thank you for bringing such balance and calm to an otherwise hectic world.

Turquoise Zen

2007-04-25T15:16:00.001-04:00

Originally uploaded by BlueDjinn.

Were I a painter I'd want turquoise on my brush day and night.

Were I a poet I'd craft an ode to the finest Hue of Blue.

Were I a mountaintop lake I'd wish to be as blue as blue and as deep as deep can be.

Alas I am none of these, but I am one who adores happening upon mountain lakes and tropical coves where sunlight and aquatic realm zenify into my favorite blue, the color Turquoise.

CURVACIOUS CRUISING

2007-04-24T22:43:00.001-04:00

Originally uploaded by Cloe007.

Life undulates around us; friends circle about our realities. No matter how you analyze it life moves, curves, slides all about our otherwise planned activities.

I enjoy seeing symmetries in all this motion. A road bends, a Puffin dives for fish. Everything is in balance.

Beyond each turn is an experience we've not yet encountered.

Reflection Zen

2007-04-23T22:07:00.001-04:00

On the country
Originally uploaded by Hans van Reenen.

Still waters, blue skies and shapely trees -- a perfect mirror of life's perfection. Like friends who know each other's thoughts, these elements complete one another.

This is living; this is reflection. This is perfection.

Woods Riding in Maine

2007-04-22T22:50:00.001-04:00

Dirt Road Woods Riding in Maine
Originally uploaded by MontaukRider.

With warm weather returned I was able to ride this weekend. Maine drew much of my attention.

On one particular ride I found myself beyond paved roads and in the midst of a what appeared a managed forest. A vernal pool caught my attention, so it was off the bike and into the woods for exploration.

Sometimes dirt roads offer attractions beyond those we find on the highways and byways of our land. The woods are full of life and blessed with an abundance of stories.

A tree falls and dies. Its decaying wood suddenly hosts an army of plant and insect life that feed on its banquet of carbon and nitrogen. The circle is complete and ready to begin again.

Yes, riding into the woods is well worth the trip. Just remember to park the bike and walk a bit. We see more when we slow down.

Bluebells of Spring

2007-04-20T16:25:00.001-04:00

Gamlingay bluebells
Originally uploaded by . Andrew Dunn ..

Finally the sun is shining bright in the Northeast. Spring Fever is upon us.

The byways find motorcyclists appearing faster than the soon-to-be abundant spring flowers. Ahh, their scent and colors will be spectacular.

It's a joyous time of year for all. Happy Spring everyone. May the next Full Moon find flowers sprouting from every nook.

ELATION

2007-04-18T22:39:00.001-04:00

Leo running
Originally uploaded by Leo-Avalon.

We witness moments when all time is suspended; magic is in the air. A child's smile, a dog's wag, a man's pause.

There are times when we simply feel alive and well. Our feet seem inches off the ground. We are in a state of elation. Perfection is at hand.

Sail Away

2007-04-17T23:24:00.001-04:00

Atardecer
Originally uploaded by : metamorfosis :.

"I'm thinking about when I was a sailor"...ahh, Loggins & Messina sang that in their song Vahevala. And like them, I'm thikning about nights in Jamaica.

How we all love peaceful days and evenings. That is all I crave tonight; peace amongst all people. It is quite simply the way it should be.

No more violence - no more hurting one and other. No more should we allow evil to dominate our days.

Just say no to evil.

The Cruiser's Attitude

2007-04-16T22:13:00.001-04:00

Loosdrecht
Originally uploaded by Dear Harry.

What a ride! Life offers twists and turns galore.

I attended a nice fundraiser for hunger charities tonight. Local restaurants offered a huge array of goodies for all to enjoy free of charge (other than the entrance fee of course). All proceeds went to the charities.

Stopping by one booth I met a friendly man and woman dressed in traditional German/Austrian garb and touting their Inn at Danbury, a fine country Inn set amidst the hills of New Hampshire and featuring German, Austrian and Swiss cuisine in the "Alphorn Bistro." (See them at www.innatdanbury.com) I made a mental note to someday spend a weekend there.

I returned home and discovered a recently released album from one of my fav Jazz guitarists, Jeff Golub, called "Grand Central." Fabulous music indeed.

Then I happened upon this moving photo from Dear Henry on Flickr. Well, the night is complete: great music, food, wine, and a photo that takes my breath away.

It may be raining outside but in my little home all is well.

Twilight Dreaming

2007-04-10T22:17:00.001-04:00

Twilight at Lorne
Originally uploaded by aumbody images.

Twilight, the gloaming: a time whence dreams meld with reality and diffusing light brings peaceful tranquility.

The advance of Spring, the approach of Summer bring a building anticipation of twilight walks, sails, and rides. Such are moments to treasure forever. I shall.

Frankfurt am Main

2007-04-10T11:37:00.001-04:00

Frankfurt am Main
Originally uploaded by Batram.

I'm thinking of European cruising and that, as always, brings me back to memories of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Those countries host some of the most scenic ride possibilities one could imagine.

Frankfurt is a city I only cruised through. If I could visit again I would actually slow down and visit. I was only 20 then, and slowing down at age 20 is not such a high priority.

I must go again. I want to meet the people and feel the place for what it is and for what it has been. One must stop to feel the true sense of a place.

Wisdom is finally sinking into me.

Peace Be With You

2007-04-08T13:56:00.001-04:00

Ermita de Idoia
Originally uploaded by zubillaga61.

It's Easter, and people around the world celebrate Spring, renewal and faith in all manners of practice.

Peace be with all.

Perspective is Everything

2007-04-07T17:05:00.001-04:00

winedark sea
Originally uploaded by Micah A. Ponce.

There are those who see clouds and forget that a fine moon is shining brightly down. Clouds are just puffs of vapor; they move on as quickly as they came. The moon, however, is immutably omnipresent.

Our perspective is important to living well. When rain falls upon the ride, don raingear. When snow falls, go skiing. When Spring returns, get on that bike again and ride again.

That's a healthy perspective on life, no?

Uber Biking

2007-04-06T16:21:00.001-04:00

Reflektionen – reflections
Originally uploaded by komla.

This is an outstanding photo of one rider, one desert, and the reflection of light so bright.

Life Renewed

2007-04-05T22:33:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite places
Originally uploaded by kelsana.

Waves crash upon rock and sand is born.
Rains drop upon soil and green growth is caressed.

Sunshine falls upon us and a smile is seen.
Adventure comes upon us and life is renewed.

Cruising in Tandem

2007-04-04T23:05:00.001-04:00

Der Schwarm
Originally uploaded by monster ®.

There was a time I reveled in solo travel. Continents slid beneath the wheels of my motorcycle; miles melted into other miles and all was well.

Lately I've realized that experiences unshared are experiences unperfected.

Even jellyfish know enough to share a current and live well.

It's time we learn this too. Find your perfect soulmate and float around the currents.

TREES OF KNOWLEDGE

2007-04-04T18:40:00.001-04:00

tangerine tream
Originally uploaded by Trans-itions.

Our human lives are so very short. Mother Earth , however, hosts other species, like trees, that live very long lives.

"Methuselah," a Bristlecomb Pine in California, for example, is over 4,700 years old. She was alive and growing when the pyramids were built in Egypt.

Trees have witnessed so much of life. They've hosted families of birds, insects and mosses. They've endured childrens' hatchets, lovers' carvings, earth's storms, and every extreme of temperature one can imagine. Yet they thrive; they grow ever upward toward the sun.

We can learn a lot from these wooden pillars of knowledge. Perseverance in the face of adversity might be lesson #1. Improvement in the face of threatened failure might be lesson #2.

I like trees.

Art in Life

2007-04-01T20:40:00.001-04:00

Originally uploaded by BlueDjinn.

There truly is art in life. Birds on the wing, wind in one's hair, a tree poised on a mount: all are art in action, art in life.

Truly gifted photographers, like BlueDjinn, have an eye that see such moments in just the right time and frame to capture them for us. What talent!

Fly bird, fly with the gusts that rise from the water and lift our souls high into the heavens above.

A GREAT DAY

2007-04-01T09:12:00.001-04:00

Sunrise
Originally uploaded by pilz8.

Yesterday was just about perfect for a first day-long cruise. Sunshine was abundant, and though the air never warmed above "chilly," the riding gear (full leathers) kept the riders quite comfortable. I was so pleased that my old friend Bill had agreed to make this run wiith me.

Our route to the ocean took us through sweeping farmlands, still-snow filled woods, and even past iced over ponds. Passing through the historic town of Exeter, we rumbled amidst row after row of Phillip Exeter's ivy-covered brick facades.

Sculls were on the Exeter River, rowing down toward the River's convdergence with Great Bay. Colorful birds jarted about in the gloriously blue sky.

On reaching the ocean, we stopped to watch the waves gently crash along the shore. The air took on acooler feel: the seabreeze was building.

We drove north toward Maine, stopping for more panoramic ocean and island views in North Hampton and Rye. A song bird flew into a bush only feet away. He sang and sang happily, even as I approached quite closely to snap a photo.

Later, as we crossed the Marshes of Rye, we saw several pairs of Swans resting, preening, and eating in the still waters. (I've never seen swans in Rye before.) They were likely in a migratory manner, stopping only for a bit. My they were lovely.

Rounding the twisting southern Maine coast, we rode the fabulous routes 103 and 236 up around Kittery Point into York, Maine. From there we moved north to Ogunquit to visit another friend.

Late in the day, we rode south for the return home. Yet an entirely different route was choosen, this Route 91 through the Berwicks and down into Dover, New Hampshire.

From Dover to Durham, where we stopped briefly to say hello to my sons at University.

Our final leg brought us through farm and field again, and finally back to the City around 6 pm.

Sun and wind burned from our 150 mile March Road Run, Bill and I smiled broadly. "That was a great day," he confirmed.

"Yes, a great day indeed," said I.

Springing Into Sangria

2007-03-30T22:30:00.001-04:00

Sangria
Originally uploaded by Gibna Kebira.

I enjoyed the most lovely ride today, the first of the season. Every sinuous muscle remembered each part of the symphonic dance or the road ride.

By the third sweep my motorcycle and I were again in complete sync. It was peaceful; mind-clearing.

As the afternoon sun burned bright I rode through tiny New Hampshire villages. Birds were soaring. My spirits were soaring.

I rode and thought of happy times when friends and strangers gathered to celebrate life. People of all backgrounds melded together oblivious to social divisions that cause only distance and misunderstandings.

Is that not the Sangria of life? Are we not all the better for mixing together? I think so.

It's Mud Season

2007-03-29T23:01:00.001-04:00

muddling along
Originally uploaded by Neil67.

Spring brings mud. Try to stay above the fray.

LIBERTY BEGINS WITH A DREAM

2007-03-28T20:46:00.001-04:00

libertad
Originally uploaded by luiszaf.

Somewhere this evening someone is dreaming of liberty. If they keep dreaming and work to make their dreams true they will find it.

That knowledge itself is liberating.

Tó tó tó vrummmmmmmmm

2007-03-28T20:16:00.001-04:00

Tó tó tó vrummmmmmmmm
Originally uploaded by Oclinhos (Thiago Araujo).

The weather has cleared and it's time to ride. Finally the northern Winter has ended.

Tonight I've taken out my maps. I'm planning rides to places I've not yet been. As the photographer states, vrummmmmmm vrummmmmm.

Happy Trails!

RENEWAL

2007-03-25T22:50:00.001-04:00

Moonrise at Wicken Fen
Originally uploaded by . Andrew Dunn ..

Ducks and geese know to follow their instincts, to follow the light. Why do we forget such simple things?

The snow is melting: the air is warming. Days grow long and nights wane short.

Spring is wonderful. I am renewed.

RIPPLE ON THE WATER

2007-03-24T18:39:00.001-04:00

light ripples
Originally uploaded by Joits.

Great things often begin as just a ripple of thought; maybe a ripple of emotion.

From ripples grow waves. From waves grow change.

Springtime brings ripples in my day. I long to see the waves.

BELLA NOTE

2007-03-22T19:22:00.001-04:00

moonlight I.Bela
Originally uploaded by lucy10.

No matter where we are, cloud cover allowing, we get to see the same moon each night. There is comfort in that. There is knowledge that none of us are that far apart after all.

My sisters may be in Florida this eve, my sons away at University, other friends spread out across North America and beyond. When I gaze at the moon I know that they can see it too. The moon is a bond that holds hearts near.

Today Say Yes

2007-03-19T20:19:00.001-04:00

Say Yes
Originally uploaded by familybmx.

I am thinking of a marvelous quote from Wallace Stevens:

"After the final no there comes a yes and on that yes the future of the world hangs."

Every life traveler encounters decisions of great and not-so-great import each day. So many times we must say "no."

Yet comes a day when we find ourselves saying "yes." And on that "yes" our future may indeed hang.

NEW BEGINNINGS

2007-03-18T16:23:00.001-04:00

Nature´s flag
Originally uploaded by alonsodr.

The glorious arrival of each new day amazes me. Each offers opportunities of greatness.

Whether the day will be one of travel or one of work matters not. If travel, the new day offers new adventures. If work, the new day offers new challenges.

The duality of work and play keeps balance in our lives. And after all, isn't that what "living well" is all about?

EVERYTHING CHANGES

2007-03-17T00:50:00.001-04:00

Praia de Arrifana
Originally uploaded by Jason's Travel Photography.

Like the ocean 's waves, life shifts constantly. I had one of those days today.

Everything changed.

A Moment in Time

2007-03-15T21:26:00.001-04:00

HPIM2104
Originally uploaded by amrides.

Moments are fleeting. Now becomes then in an instant. Time is dynamic, never stationary.

Morning's first light is a precious moment. When our eyes capture it we are blessed.

I would ride into this moment any time I was invited to do so.

Moonlight without Hecticity

2007-03-15T21:00:00.001-04:00

WalpurgisNight
Originally uploaded by ericutxo / Rosa Cobos.

The night is perfect. Clouds move in above a darkened sky: weathermen tell us we will see a foot of snow by night next.

It matters not to me. My moon is still in the sky, my future is still secure (in a thrillingly random sort of way). The moon tonight wanes, soon it shall wax.

Cosmic movment, cosmic meter, cosmic pace. We are ready to ride it all. And we shall embrace every single drop of life.

Caravan

2007-03-14T20:33:00.001-04:00

The magic of the desert
Originally uploaded by dhahi alsaeedi.

The orange-red sky of a desert sunset makes even the harsh reality of nomadic life appear idyllic.

I've seen such caravans in the deserts of Afghanastan. They bring to mind a simpler time when travel, traded goods and storytelling were the principal weave of a community's life.

Are we motorcycle travelers that different? Probably not -- though we ride faster, pay tolls, and feed our motorized camels gasoline rather than wheat.

Like the nomads of old, as well, we enjoy an occassional watering hole.

The Orchard

2007-03-13T18:33:00.001-04:00

Gate to the orchard
Originally uploaded by Thomas Frejek.

Much of my youth was spent wandering the apple orchards of New England. Such abundance of life inhabits these fields of bounty.

On motorcycle tours, orchards and vineyards are my favorite waypoints of rest. Their verdency and aroma are seductive to say the least. And their bounty, whether fruit or wine, bring natural sweetness to each and every visitor.

We are blessed to live on this blue planet.

Evening Stag

2007-03-12T22:17:00.001-04:00

Evening Stag
Originally uploaded by Osdog.

He waits knowing that his future will arrive at sunrise. He is the traveler.

He is at peace with the world. Yet he waits knowing that he needs something more.

A NEW DAY

2007-03-12T21:55:00.001-04:00

Sunrise, March 10, 2007 Everglades National Park
Originally uploaded by nal from miami.

Imagine how each new day begins and ends. Is it different from the ebb and flow of the tides? Not really.

Imagine how we plan our todays and tomorrows. Is it different from the hope and need of the now? Not really.

For the brave, for the true believers, tomorrow is quite real. It is a dream seen and chased. Make it so.

SPRINGTIME COMETH

2007-03-11T10:17:00.001-04:00

Colorful Creation
Originally uploaded by | HD |.

The snow is melting. The birds are singing. The signs of change are everywhere.

We will be riding soon!

NIGHT ROADS

2007-03-10T17:53:00.001-05:00

Night road 3
Originally uploaded by Tony X.Q.

Night riding is always interesting. Vision is limited to that which is either artificially illuminated or moonlit. The air is slightly dewey -- perhaps cool.

In the country there is an evening's sense of quiet. In the city there is a syncopated sense of excitement.

Neon colors beam from the nightclub windows. Music pours into the air from a Blues Bar. Further on electronic dance music spills into the night from another doorway.

Yes, the nighttime brings an entirely different if not sensuous world to its riders.

Atoll Comfort Inn

2007-03-09T15:22:00.001-05:00

Sleeping
Originally uploaded by hpizka.

If the Moon Motel doesn't fit the bill, perhaps an Atoll Comfort Inn will.

Moon Motel

2007-03-09T15:16:00.001-05:00

Moon Motel
Originally uploaded by FotoEdge.

Here is a place we could expect to find during a road trip along Route 66, or better yet, in Cocoa Beach, Florida (original haunt of the early party-animal NASA astronauts).

Either way, a visit to the "Moon Motel," if for nothing more than a coffee and burger, seems worth the trip.

As Jackie Gleason would say, "To the Moon, Alice."

LONG INTO THE NIGHT

2007-03-08T21:10:00.001-05:00

Blue Night
Originally uploaded by DCCXLIX.

Could I but ride all day and all night to find this moment, I would. Could I but open my eyes and be not where I am (buried in snow and covered in single digit temperatures) but where this light shines, I would.

Alas such travels are for another day, another night. Today has its own demands. They shall be met.

Adventure comes only after deadlines and everyone's needs are met. And then its ride time.

WHITE ON BLUE

2007-03-08T18:48:00.001-05:00

Arequipa Sky
Originally uploaded by DCCXLIX.

Whether in Santorini, Rome, Nice, Hamilton Harbour, or Arequipa one finds true appeal in the beauty of white structures beneath a blue, blue sky. Add a spash of flora and the effect is deeply rich.

One wants to slowly stroll through such courtyards. Peace resides in such places. Beauty and peace. White on Blue.

MAY THE ROAD RISE TO MEET YOU

2007-03-07T19:07:00.001-05:00

// and the moon has turned red over one tree hill //
Originally uploaded by -bwr-.

The Irish Blessings are known to bring laughter and friendship to those we meet on the way.

And when the moon rises to meet your road, well, I guess you've found your happy place.

As Victor Borge said, "Laughter is the closest distance between two people."

Traveling Friends

2007-03-07T18:25:00.001-05:00

Mans best friend
Originally uploaded by suzukik22002.

Got Doggles?

Be A Beacon

2007-03-06T21:00:00.001-05:00

Light of Fire
Originally uploaded by P10NERO.

LIght the way for others and you are a beacon.

Given them hope and you are a beacon.

Give them laughter and you are a beacon.

Give them a chance to dream and you are a savior.

CHANCES WE TAKE

2007-03-06T19:56:00.001-05:00

Untitled
Originally uploaded by Lightchaser.

We rush toward light, we ride into mountains and towards the sea.

There are chances we take. We dare to chance life.

Ride life as if it were a storm and you a storm rider. Run ahead of the rain, laugh when it catches up to you, and thrill to each and every sunset.

That, to me, is living real. That, to me, is where the fun is. Are your ready to ride?

DOWN TO THE SEA

2007-03-05T19:44:00.001-05:00

A few minutes after the sea swalloped the sun
Originally uploaded by alonsodr.

I long to ride to the sea, to witness surf pound upon sand, to smell briney air mixed in fog, to hear the ancient sound of a pulsing tide rushing through rock and stone.

Down to the sea we should ride.

Action Dancing

2007-03-04T22:37:00.001-05:00

liquid action
Originally uploaded by antiguan.

Just as waves curl and crash over the shallows, we riders countersteer and lean deeply into turns of the road. It's simple physics actually.

In the case of the wave the shoreline bottom exerts drag and friction upon the water rushing over it. The water at the bottom slows, yet the water at the surface continues to move at a faster pace. Voila, a crashing wave.

On the road, we see the turn: We see the line, and we commence the countersteer to put us into the perfect combination of lean and angle.

The inside of the tar narrows at the curve's apex. We accelerate through the turn, find a moment of absolute balance, and the inertia propels the motorcycle past the apex into an upright position for the next dance.

It is absolute magic when performed correctly.

A MOMENT AGO

2007-03-03T21:56:00.001-05:00

A MOMENT AGO
Originally uploaded by .Luca - Italy.

So full, so beautiful, my Moon.

Riding to Orange

2007-03-03T16:41:00.001-05:00

Towards Erg Chebbi
Originally uploaded by komla.

Towerering dunes shaped by wind and sand call the traveler to abandon road and ride untethered from pavement. As we say in Bimmer Land, that's a GS Adventure.

This is Morocco -- destination Erg Chebbi.

Note to self: worth a visit for certain.

STORM RUNNING

2007-03-03T08:14:00.001-05:00

No Guts No Glory...
Originally uploaded by Rkival.

Here are signs that bring mixed emotions to the motorcyclist. The bright yellow sign brings a smile, for curves are what we crave.

The fast blackening sky, however, brings a more somber decision: it's time to stop and don the raingear.

It's also time to find proper shelter as soon as possible, as this sky suggests the potential for lightning. Perhaps a U-turn to that Restaurant you saw back a few miles is the wisest option.

Or, if there's more storm behind than ahead, get going and enjoy a spirited Storm Run. I do so like those.

You Can't See Me

2007-03-02T21:55:00.001-05:00

Show Off
Originally uploaded by nal from miami.

There are times when we think "oh, that person is a show off." Admit it, we've all thought it at one time or another.

Humans typically call for attention by adorning themselves with "accessories." It might be a diamond, or perhaps a shiny new car or, gulp, motorcycle.

In nature, however, creatures show off by disappearing.

In motorcycling we know that conspicuity saves lives. In the wild inconspicuity saves lives.

The Hawk flying above this fellow thinks he is part of a plant. How neat is that!

Road to blue

2007-03-02T07:09:00.001-05:00

Road to blue
Originally uploaded by alonsodr.

It's snowing this March morn in New Hampshire. My return to road running is once again slowed by the power of climate. No problem.

Thank goodness we can dream and plan for better cruising weather just around the bend. Surely alonsodr's fab photo of Camino al Cerro del Hierro is helping me do just that.

MYTHIC MILEPOSTS

2007-03-01T20:44:00.001-05:00

unacittàchesispecchia o lospecchiodiunacittà?
Originally uploaded by laperegina.

First light and the morning is upon us. Our motorcycles hum as the road passes behind and leads ahead.

Do we know where we are headed? Not really. Do we care? Not really.

The Ride is the Reason. The people we meet along the way will be our Presents.

The rivers we cross will be our mileposts. The villages we cruise will be our museums. The routes we take will be our history.

Have Spirit, Will Travel!

THE NIGHT SKY

2007-03-01T18:34:00.001-05:00

One Night in Anza Borrego
Originally uploaded by wmchu.

Beyond the city, beyond the glare, beyond the noise, one finds The Sky. Whether on a northern mountain or in a western desert the night sky is really big.

Drink it in.

There are a million stars shining upon you. They've been there all along: you just couldn't see them till you expanded your own personal universe.

WHERE DO I GO?

2007-02-27T21:33:00.001-05:00

lost highway
Originally uploaded by iso-50.

I am the highway; the thread of pavement linking mountain to dale, city to city, ocean to ocean.

But where do I go?

Only those who ride my tar know. Only those few know the mystery of the road.

Travel well, live well.

Urban Living

2007-02-27T21:18:00.001-05:00

Strategy of chaos
Originally uploaded by zyber.

As much as rural fields and far away mountains call, so too do little cities of culture and art draw our attention. How charming to adopt a brick walled flat near museum and cafe.

How sweet to walk amongst architectural marvels and peoples who adore music, theatre and wine. Life is fabulous and we must embrace it all.

Now, if the snow would just melt away please -- my motorcycle and I would like to ride again. I need to visit the "chaos" of the world.