• landscape,  lifestyles,  Transportation,  Travel

    Some Options

    July 31, 2020
    My ride in 2004 was a BMW R1150RT Sport Touring bike. From a trip to Washington

    My dream for quite some time has been to have a Class B van, one I could spend several weeks on the road with, even living in it and have that feeling like I’m right at home. I had the Class A on the Radar for a short period of time but quickly realized that was more than I wanted to deal with.

    I have also dreamed of getting a roof top tent for my Forester and traveling a bit more on the rustic side without a toilet, shower or running water on board. The romantic in me whispers life would be perfect with either of these, right? But I’m wise enough to know that external stuff and dreams will not bring me lasting joy or happiness. It would not make life perfect. However, I do believe it would be an adventure. So, these ideas and dreams have been stewing for quite some time. There is a financial price that will need to be made for either a van or roof top camping. Nothings cheap while there is a major price difference between the two options.

    I’ve been looking at two options for Class B vans. One  would be nice setup with on board water, shower, and toilet such as the Roadtrek SS Agile or even a step up to the Class C  Leisure Travel Vans Unity. The other option would be an adventure style van which really appeals to me. It is a Class B but setup more for dispersed camping without a toilet and shower such as the Winnebago Revel. And there are also some very nice custom shops that will convert a van for you.

    The other option is the roof top tent which has interested me for several years. One option that appeals to me the Autohome Columbus Variant. This idea was spawned by David duChemin and Jesse which he wrote about back in 2011.  Another option would be the Thule Tepui. These are slick to setup and take down which really appeals to me. 

    I’m throwing these out there because these options and their marketing teams have perked my interest enough to keep me awake at night and brought up thoughts of selling off my kids, grandkids, my home or even your home. In a later post I’ll talk more to the reality of what I want with travel, is it feasible for me at this stage of my life and what fits my budget.

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  • coffee shops,  fountain pens,  journal,  lifestyles,  writing/reading

    A Restless Soul

    July 29, 2020
    First mocha at the Bean Cycle in about 5 months

    A few years ago I found myself with my camera bag over my shoulder, my hand on my doorknob, heading out the door, realizing I had no clue where I was headed. My mind was blank and a recurring experience. I can’t even count how many times I’ve laughed at myself. I’ve wondered if I was crazy. Of course there are times I had a clear indication of where I was heading but not always. Should I be making a therapy appointment?

    Over the years I’ve come to the awareness that I am not a homebody but a restless soul of some sort. Home for me is not just a manmade structure with a mortgage payment of 30 years, which is how much of our culture defines home. For me, a home is where we lay our head to sleep, find shelter from harsh weather, a place of safety, and a sanctuary, a place of quiet and solitude. So home can be anywhere and everywhere. Some will disagree.

    I feel at home when I’m at one of the local natural areas, camping trip, a road trip, a nearby park, in a bookstore or library, at a coffee shop, in a sacred place, or a bicycle ride, my Adirondack chair on my porch, anywhere and everywhere. I am a restless soul. I suppose this could indicate some psychological problems but we’ll dismiss that for now because I do not want to spend money on therapy sessions.

    A closing thought as I want to keep this short. I have daydreamed of traveling most of my life. Play time was always outside, bicycling, sports, fishing, camping. As a young teenager I thought I wanted to be a truck driver. I’ve constantly dreamed of living an RV lifestyle for the past 15 years. Which I write about next. I’m a restless soul.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  Travel

    The Wanderer

    July 27, 2020
    Clouds are nature’s way of asking us to pay attention to the art it creates

    “The wanderer is one who gives priority to the duties of longing over belonging. No abode is fixed. No one place is allowed finally to corner or claim the wanderer. A new horizon always calls. The wanderer is committed to the adventure of seeing new places and discovering new things.”

    John O’Donohue, Eternal Echoes

    I’ve had the bug to travel for many years. I’ve shared stories about my travels before on this blog and talked about some of the travel I still want to do. I would like to write more about it, maybe finding some clarity, sorta like talking it through. I’m not sure I’ll be able express my desires and dreams about travel or if I even have enough understanding  on what those are. There is a part of me that relates to the wanderer John O’Donohue writes about in the above quote.

    Some of my travel history includes touring on a motorcycle and  road trips in my car while camping along the road. I’ve also spent seven years living in hotels working and living a nomadic life as flight attendant. And, photography has been a integral part of each of those adventures. I’ve very much enjoyed each of those adventures. But there’s still a yearning for more.

    So over the next few days or weeks I want to share some ideas and questions I have that run through my head. I know some of you have traveled or are traveling so there is experience among my readers. I welcome any and all comments, even if you think I’m insane.

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  • landscape,  natural areas

    It’ll be fun…

    July 2, 2020
    My new writing studio at Pineridge Natural Area

    This morning I sat at this picnic table, now calling it my new writing studio, since they are allowing people to use them, again. A meadowlark sat on a nearby bush to sing for me while I journaled. I wonder sometimes if the meadowlarks are playing a game with me, as they sing from different places, begging me to find them, this bush, that fence post.  With no wind the reservoir is smooth as glass. One spot on the water was roiling as fish were feasting on the surface. While at the south end a mother goose leads her train of goslings for a swim, sending out small ripples on the still waters. I am fully awake and alive, enjoying the gift of nature.

    I fly out this afternoon for a five day trip to Seattle, coming back on Tuesday. My sister, Sheree and I, are going to spend time with my sister Marcee and brother-in-law, John, who are staying at a VRBO in Lake Forest Park. I am not taking my computer and do not plan on blogging but I do have the new camera, charged batteries, SD cards and a $20 bill in my pocket. I’m packed and ready to go! Most likely will self quarantine when I get back. It’ll be fun! See ya!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  sunsets

    Chasing the Sun

    September 27, 2019

    Chasing the Light

    I met up with Tom and Kathy Dills, who are visiting from North Carolina, yesterday morning for coffee at the Old Town Mugs. We solved a few of the world problems in the morning over coffee then yesterday afternoon we drove north of Fort Collins to chase the sun and look for a few trees. We found both.

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  • fall season,  leaves,  Plants

    Back Home

    October 25, 2016
    Fallen Leaves
    Fallen Leaves

    It’s good to be back home. I left on Saturday morning from Surprise, AZ and drove to Las Vegas, NM. It was a longer day so my drive on Sunday was shorter. I woke early and left early which allowed me to arrive about 12:30 pm.  The drive north is almost a constant climb in elevation, even going over a couple of passes. The elevation change allowed for a scenic drive as I saw the colors changing as I moved through different elevations.

    I missed the slow gradual changing of colors and the dropping of leaves here at home. Many of the trees have lost leaves or are at the end of the color changing, leaving brown leaves awaiting the next wind to blow them off. But, if you’ve followed me you will know I love leaves as does fellow photographer Mark Graf. I found these while on me walk over to the coffee shop. Nature has a way of creating an infinite number of patterns and colors. I love it.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  sunrises

    Dust Spots

    September 12, 2016
    Sunrise on Peralta Trail
    Sunrise on Peralta Trail

    I arrived at my parents home yesterday afternoon about 12:15. I have had some wonderful weather for this trip. But, let me tell you the heat difference driving into Phoenix was a major shift for my body. It was a 100 degrees when I arrived.

    I awoke early and could see lightening north of the Superstition Mountains so I jumped in the car and drove out to Peralta Trail. I had to spend extra time on this image due to dust spots on the sensor. Frustrating.

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  • bicycles,  Cityscapes/Urban,  Transportation,  Travel,  winter scenes

    Drifting and Blowing

    February 5, 2016
    Blowing Drifting Snow
    Blowing Drifting Snow
    Bicycling in the Cold
    Bicycling in the Cold

    As I mentioned I was off line for a few days as I traveled with my sister to the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle area for a funeral. We knew there would a storm moving through Colorado on Monday but felt it would be okay to travel.  We headed home on Tuesday morning thinking we would be just fine. As you can see we discovered some very high winds and blowing, drifting snow once we entered into the southeast corner of Colorado. These conditions lasted for about a hundred miles then we had much better roads and sunny weather to travel in. We just followed two semi trucks, figuring they knew what was ahead. The Fort Collins area receive 12 inches of snow. And, of course along with that comes the colder temperatures.

    Yesterday morning on my walk to coffee I noticed this man riding his bicycle. That’s not anything unusual especially in a college town. What was unusual is the temperature was 1 degree. I’m layered and shivering while he pedals away. I prefer warmer riding weather. Different strokes for different folks. Stay warm.

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