#SoCS: Trails are the Easy Part

For this week’s Stream of Consciousness, Linda G. Hill has made it easy for me to post: “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “trail/trial.” Use one, use both, use them any way you’d like. Bonus points if you use both. Have fun!” First and foremost, I will not be responding to trial. There’s a celebrity trial going on right now (haven’t watched a second of it) that is much in the media and seemingly never-ending. I think thisRead more

#CBWC: The Bridges of Wiouwash Trail

This week’s entry for Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge (CBWC) includes photos of bridges. A warning to all who go past Perhaps you should not pedal so fast Stop and enjoy the scenic view The Wiouwash Trail gently beckons you Its bridges take you to the other side Or bars you from a former divide. (The Wiouwash Trail is almost 28 miles long, from Oshkosh to Hortonville, WI. The photos you see here are from a nine mile stretchRead 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: An Addition to the Menu

This past week was a glorious addition to a fall biking menu. Rather than normal high temperatures in the upper 40’s to low 50’s F, we have been basking in the warmth of the 60’s and low 70’s. It is the weather I had hoped for in October. It’s been a blessing as the loveliness of the outdoors has kept my mind off the national election and on to more important matters: time on the nearby state bike trails. IRead more

Trails of Black and White

This week’s black and white photo challenge from Cee’s Photography calls for patterns in nature. Click HERE to join in this outdoor challenge. I find incredible beauty when I’m on a walking/bike trail; therefore, the photos are reflective of three local trails – the Wiouwash, Mountain Bay and Heckrodt Wetland Reserve. I hope you enjoy!Read more

When I Stop

When I stop in the middle of God I am present in the silence of the wind whispering an angel’s breath swirling in and out of crimson and golden maple I hear His creatures Whistling, chirping, rustling across branches on earth’s floor I feel His blessing Peace, tranquility I understand the grandeur of His beautiful, magnificent creation When I stop here in the middle two eyes well with gratitude for breath, life and two legs I give thanks stay silentRead more

SoCS: An Acceptable Medium

This past week has fallen in the middle. Somewhere between a sad low and peaceful, playful highs. In the medium category. This past Monday, my beloved fur baby and Queen of the castle, Ziva, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. She had kidney failure of the kind that could not be fixed and I was not going to let her suffer. So, I let her go, sobbed my heart out, and began to fill the hole with pieces of fond memoriesRead more

365 Revolutions

Traveling in a straight line giving way to curve Savoring smoothness of sail avoiding potholes and poop Feeling warmth of golden sol or bony dampness of drizzle Suffering under pressure, distress overcome by retreat, security A year has gone by 365 revolutions Winter, spring, summer, autumn snow, tulips, bike trails, red maple A year of never before a year of heart’s desire, emotions, expectations Gone once around the fiery blaze to a day of cake and candles Existence subjective, evolvingRead more

A One-Liner from Mr. Road Racer

My brother likes to text me after a bike ride and share his mileage. I always say, “That’s nice,” or “Awesome!” But, really, I’m thinking show-off! He knows I could never keep up with Mr. Road Racer. He taunts me with his biking prowess. In the end, though, I don’t really care. I prefer non-competition and enjoy bike rides as fast or slow, as long or short as I deem necessary. I prefer to enjoy the landscape, breathe in theRead more

When it’s this nice…

When it’s this blue… I must. When it’s this green… I shall. When the tunnels beckon… I go forth. When water brings peace… I breathe. When life tries to throw me… I stop and rest. When it’s this nice… See you later, alligator. (Wiouwash State Trail and Black Otter Lake – July 7, 2018)Read more

Nope, nothing does…

Absolutely correct! The dedicated bench in this photo is at the southern end of the Wiouwash State Trail, which runs from Oshkosh to Hortonville, WI. I couldn’t find any information about Michael McCoy, what kind of person he was, but obviously he loved biking for much of his life. This past Mother’s Day, after spending some time with mom, I took the bike and myself to the trail and spent a couple of hours with a blue sky, sun, andRead more

Opposites by Trail’s Edge

Weekly Photo Challenge: “This week, make two opposing elements come together (or clash in dissonance) in one photo.” The weather this week has been beautiful, save for one rain event. Blue skies, sunshine, a few clouds here and there… Being on vacation made it easy to get Kona in the car on Wednesday and take a bike ride on the nearby Wiouwash trail. This trail is named for the counties of its existence: Winnebago, Outagamie, Waupaca and Shawano. I bikedRead more