A section of the Erie Canal In the field where everything has dried out, my footsteps -HÅsai Ozaki Low bridge, everybody down It rained overnight and when I arose it was fully overcast with clouds threatening to rain again. This was another day spent mostly on the Towpath though I reached the end of the path by mid afternoon. The first couple dozen miles of the day were as they were yesterday: crushed gravel,…
Lock 34/35 on the Erie Canal A vague shape from behind – Into the drizzle, Disappearing. -Santoka Back in the U.S.S.A. It rained again overnight and was cool, overcast and quite humid as I left the hostel. The ride up along the gorge from Niagara Falls has many an interesting sight from whirlpools to dams to fascinating layers of rock. The crossing back into the states wasn’t quite as enjoyable: there was construction going on…
Your browser does not support the video tag Niagara Falls STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND The hiss and flashing lights of a jet Pass near Jupiter in Virgo. He asks, how many satellites in the sky? Does anyone know where they all are? What are they doing, who watches them? Frost settles on the sleeping bags, The last embers of the fire, One more cup of tea, At the edge of a high lake rimmed…
Canada! (said like “Benway!” in this clip, but with an extra syllable) MAPS AND MOUNTAINS California topo maps all rolled up (“Roll up the sky like a hide”) Shall I ever be in those bright mountains, ever again? -Philip Whalen A brief sojourn into Canada After a quite pleasant night at Evangola State Park I was back on the road heading north. But not for long before the route turned inland in order…
Now I’m really in the NE SAYING FAREWELL AT THE MONASTERY AFTER HEARING THE OLD MASTER LECTURE ON “RETURN TO THE SOURCE” At the last turn in the path “goodbye–” –bending, bowing, (moss and a bit of wild …
State number twelve HOW POETRY COMES TO ME It comes blundering over the Boulders at night, it stays Frightened outside the Range of my campfire I go to meet it at the Edge of the light -Gary Snyder A change in the air This morning dawned overcast and later began to drizzle – reminded me a bit of the Pacific Northwest especially with the endless grey lake stretching out like the ocean. It…
Lake Erie IS Here’s a dragonfly (T OTA L LY) Where it was, that place no longer exists. -Philip Whalen This summer I hear the drumming This was the third long day in a row, driven primarily by the spacing of the campgrounds. Today was much improved though, with the addition of a decent tailwind most of the day. The route…
The Backatcha Bandit strikes again Develop a mind which rests on no thing whatever. -The Diamond Sutra Should have been done long ago The wind continued to be against me on this day but instead of the ~18mph it was instead a sedate ~6mph. There was however none of the morning clouds so it got pretty warm as the day wore on. The route was a mix of riverside, farmland and cities. Ohio is…
Ohio NEVER AGAIN Hot this morning, long before sunrise All my bones ache and Rilke’s ghost Titters in the closet, Frailing His clanky lyre. The summer grasshopper plague May now be over. -Philip Whalen We’re finally on our own This day dawned drizzly, grey and cool – it was like the PNW in later October. Though of course already warmer at 8 am then those days would ever get. However I found this…
George Rickey, Twenty-Four Lines, 1968 How Zen Masters Are Like Mature Herring So few become full grown And how necessary all the others; Gifts to the food chain feeding another universe. These big ones feed sharks. -Gary Snyder Fast moves in Fort Wayne This was the second of the short days that I partially spent with my parents in Fort Wayne. We did a combo of resupplying for the tour and activities…