#SoCS: Bike Tripping

Biking buddy and I have been busy planning an end-of-June trip to Missouri. The Katy Trail, at 237 miles, is the longest “rail-to-trail” recreational delight in the United States. Spanning East to West from Machens to Clinton, it follows the path of the Missouri River for most of its length. We will be biking the western half of the trail, with visits to the Clydesdale ranch, breweries, wineries, and historic buildings thrown in. In preparation, biking buddy and I madeRead more

#SoCS: I Drive to this Place

I drive to the forest I hide in the forest Breathing in cool air I know in this place It is a safe space For a grumbly soul to bare I ride past a thousand trees The blue of lake’s seas And give two legs a dare Twists and turns abound Up and down without sound In sync with a gravelly stare I drive because I must The heat at home an angry bust The heart finds its weather loveRead more

#CBWC: Using the Letters

This week’s entry for Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge (CBWC) includes photos of anything beginning with the letters “B” or “W”. Join the fun of black and white photography by clicking on the link at the beginning of the post. Details and weekly themes can be found HERE and Cee publishes the B&W post around mid to late morning CST on her main blog page HERE.Read more

#CBWC: Along the Water Trails

This week’s entry for Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge (CBWC) includes photos depicting in or on water. I’m not sure if “alongside” water counts, but it’s what I have to offer this week. When I bike or walk the local trails, I often parallel or cross water in the form of a lake, a river, a channel, or marsh. The Fox Valley area has plenty of water spaces to enjoy throughout the year. Following are a few water photosRead more

#SoCS: Satisfaction in Motion

Satisfaction. Every time I ride. Anywhere I go. Paved trail, city street, gravel, in a cathedral of green. Location is everything and nothing. Biking is distraction from all that is perplexing and unanswered. An affirmation of God’s and Mother Nature’s presence on earth. It is never old. Never wrong. Never an action that embraces boredom. Always wanting for anticipation and elation. A devotion that cannot be denied. The days are leaning into autumn and becoming cooler. Shorter. Autumn is aRead more

In Truth or Fiction

What path is this? Does it head toward truth? Or remain shaded in fiction? Spirits, desire the straight and narrow of a wooded lane of earth, atmosphere, simple truth Truth that floats with conviction over darkness below giving virtuous cover to fiction Cross the bridge in honesty In knowledge, wisdom Throwing fantasy over rail’s side Fiction through lies forges mud Sucking reality into inky muck Tempting us to sink to its depth Truth is golden It has no agenda, noRead more

The Path of Choice

  Trails of recreation paths of molten black and quarry jewels lined with viridescent birch, oak, evergreen burgundy maple, crimson sumac bodies of blue-green lake and river Lanes of wandering city paths of urban concrete and paint edged with manicured lawns, perennial color nouveau riche grandeur, facades of long ago structures of brick, mortar, steel, glass Roadways of speed racer paths of the fast and serious  hemmed with gravel and shaking grass topography careening by miles of twists, turns, incline,Read more

This Past Week…

This past week was a bit stressful. Most of it was at the hand of my employment – planning interviews, setting up Zoom links, inviting candidates, chasing after candidates for their resume and references even though I sent at least three emails asking for them, answering requests for records, and the constant search for PPE supplies for employees that still work in the office one or two or three days a week. There’s more, but I will not bore youRead more

Jell-O with an L

When I was very young, I had a hard time saying yellow. It came out as “Lell-O.” Jell-O with an L. Hello with an L. I have vague memories of the Lell-O, but the correct pronunciation eventually made its way out of my mouth and all was right in the world. Yellow was yellow again. Yellow is not my favorite color and it’s not due to the long-ago missing Y. It’s simply a matter of preferring jewel tones and blackRead more

Better Than a Food Journal

Recently, my friend Heather, or MOSY as she is known in blogging circles, wrote a wonderful piece on having Gratitude. She beat me to the punch. I had intended, ever since Mother’s Day, to write on the same subject. It was on May 12th that I started a Gratitude Journal, one in which I would write down three things I was grateful for, every day. So far, so good. Keeping a gratitude journal is easier than keeping a food journalRead more

Ride Number Three

On Sunday, I managed to get in bike ride number three. This is quite the feat considering how miserable the spring has been. Although the day was somewhat cool for June 2nd, in the mid 60’s, I put on the bike gear, filled up the water bottle, and headed out on the CB trail. Thank God it was open. Prior to Memorial Day weekend, I was driving to work one morning and passed a big electronic sign that said, “CBRead more

Another Year of Living

“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” ~Voltaire~ Today I am grateful to my parents and God for giving me life. It’s my birthday! Presents and niceties are not required, but deeply appreciated. I’m not celebrating too much today as I’ll be at work and have nothing planned for the evening hours. My birthday celebration occurred this past weekend.  Although Saturday was fall-ish cool, it was beautifullyRead more