Indolent Saturdays poking things with sticks.
We ran the back hills of our home.
Three soldier foray, we flanked…pretending.
Skinned knees and eye pokes, no bother,
as we’d rather dare and tell more lies.
Tag: fun
Two Legs and a Heartbeat.
Hello my loyal readers,
So after a 17k bike ride last Saturday, I was bound again on Sunday…only this time it was for a 12k walk. The sky had a hue of overcast but it was warm, perfect conditions actually, so I suited up, gave the bike a rest and headed out on foot. Again, I was blindly setting out to wherever my instincts lead me and as usual it wasn’t long before I had my phone out taking pictures.
You know, there’s something about a good walk, breathing in the fresh air with nothing but your own thoughts to keep you company. Just like the bike, walking was a huge part of my youth, we didn’t have a vehicle so if I needed to get anywhere I would have to get there using two legs and a heartbeat. Probably has a lot to do with how I am today, I would choose walking somewhere 9 chances out 10 if I could. Living in the city I kind of “have to” take the vehicle to get to certain places, but if its walk-able, I’m doing it.
At the foot of the hill I started to see civilization again, there wasn’t a lot of traffic, only Sunday drivers really and the odd dog walker. By the way, this hill was the same hill that I had to be careful with on Saturday, and trust me, it was a lot easier walking down that thing then biking it. Oh, I like to take a moment for this guy too, who looks like he was “shrewed” right from the start.
Sorry, the pun was right there….k….moving on. I paid my respects and made my way off down the trail which was nicely tucked away, relaxing, it was beautiful. I could hear the nearby river as it kept me company with its constant free-flowing, I decided to take out the headphones and take it all in, best playlist ever.
I could smell the harbor long before I could see it, the tinge of salty water reminded me of my days growing up. The gulls were squawking, flying low-level as they scoured the shore for anything that resembled food. Random fishing boats steamed through the harbor bidding adieu to the city, their engines putter-patter rhythmic, (insert homesickness here). It was a serene moment, picturesque as the city was once again settling down for cozy Sunday evening.
A little further down was my point of interest, probably should mention where I was planning to go, it was Fort Amherst. I went there by bike not long ago, promised myself I’d return but this time for a stroll. The views were unreal, bouts of nostalgia hit me as I eyeballed each little houses one by one, tucked away along the hillside full of character.
I also had to somehow pulled myself from the backdrop below, crazy how all this stuff is free, just got to get outside and discovery it for yourself.
Behold, in all its glory the lighthouse, finally I had made it. The walk that I had pictured that day on the bike proved to be quite the aesthetically pleasing amble, only at that very moment, looking our at the beautiful open ocean before me, I realized….now I have to walk back…lol.
Thanks for tagging along for my brisk Sunday walk, hope you enjoyed the pictures and you’re all welcomed back again for another glimpse of Earth to Ash.
Happy trails!!!!
Bike Rider Rides Again
Bike rider rides again, the air was fresh, I had a few hours before sunset and I was completely under-dressed, brrr it was cold at first. No excuses, I’ve neglected my bike for far too long lately, I couldn’t take it anymore, I was going no matter what. My sights were set on downtown, I felt like it was far enough for a good ride and close enough to pull the plug at any point. My first obstacle was going down this huge hill, I was not a fan, seeing loose gravel and the fact that I love my skin, I had to be extra careful. Alright, made it down the hill intact, off I go…first stop.
There were people everywhere, Saturday night meant everybody was slowly congregating to their local watering hole for a fun night out, there was so much energy, loads of activity.
The pic above is of a portion of a street by the name of George Street, this street holds the record for the most bars per capita in Canada. Spent many a night a patron of this multitudinous strip of firewater and ale, this street has loads of character, good times.
I all too soon realized that not only was I getting a good workout in, my trek was also proving to be a mental detox, I took a extra second to take a look at things, it replenishes the soul, I was glad I embraced my impulses.
I’ve said this all before but I will say it again, we need to slow things down and take it all in, don’t let life pass you by, get out there and reward yourself with the beauty of what’s around you. Scour the neighborhood and you’ll be surprise what you find.
I continued on, weaving from sidewalk to sidewalk, thinking about my next move. There was a destination that I had in mind, it was just right there, Signal Hill. Really Ash? What stood before me was a long and winding slope that would take everything I had left to bike my way to my own personal Everest(exaggeration but still). Fact is, I’ve actually never ridden up there before, I didn’t know what to expect, but I had come too far to turn around now…..gulp.
Well, the juice was worth the squeeze, no doubt, when half way to the top and I am blessed with the view pictured above. It was beautiful, could have stayed there all night but the end was nigh, I could taste it, no wait, that was a fly.
Victory I tells ya, ah, sweet victory, I made it to the top, look at me now mom! Lol, no but really, it really paid off pushing myself at the the very end. It was a tough run but behold some of the views that awaited me, doesn’t this made it all worth it, and it was all free.
Oh, I even had the opportunity to meet this guy, there were a bunch of people around so I didn’t catch his name but he was quite photogenic.
It was great way to spend a Saturday evening and I hope you like the pictures, figured I’d share them so you can enjoy things through my eyes.
Until the next Bike Rider adventure….lol, maybe I should get a cape!!….I should.
The Black Cat Blue Sea Award
Hey there readers,
You know what’s great? Getting feedback on how your writing is doing, how my written word is being received by the inter-world. I love feedback, the more the merrier in my opinion. The Ink Owl has been one of my top supporters, one of my most frequent readers and was awesome enough to nominate me and my blog for this wonderful award. I’ve been blessed with so much support by the people I’m fortunate enough to have read my blog on a consistent basis, can’t pitch in with my two cents without you-Thank you.
The Mystery Blogger Award X 2
What’s the mystery blogger award?
a la the creator…
“Mystery Blogger Award is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging. And they do it with so much love and passion.”
-Okoto Enigma
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The Rain Made Me Do It
I surveil the abstract of raindrops as they slither the outside pane
its journey, merely a moment in time
each tiny drop…
they dazzle like fireworks synchronizing with my deluge of thoughts now cached from a once juvenile me
I beam with the sound of the pitter-patter
the torrent tone lulls me to a reminiscent state as I recall the stories of my olden
Sunshine Blogger Award
Here we go again, The Ink Owl was awesome enough to give me this shout out the other day and I wanted to share this post to thank him. My last blog entry was about an award and I need to work on another right after this. What can I say, my head is starting to swell, lol, but really I am floored that these acknowledgments keep coming my way. You truly don’t know whose out there reading your work on a daily basis and when you get confirmation in the way of these little virtual kudos then that got to make you smile.
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Bike Rider
What a day!!!, and I took full advantage of it. Today was another holiday Monday so I was eager to hit the trails early and see where two tires could take me. I had a quick breakfast, greased up the bike and boom, out the door, nothing but the warm sun and dusty trails in my future. A few ideas on where I wanted to go were popping up in my head but with the beauty of a bike, all that would change as quick as walk and don’t walk. Taking off from the house, zipping down the sidewalk, as long as I have two legs and a heart beat, anywhere is possible.
It was very hot, so I made sure to bring extra water which is vital on a day like today. You have to remember to hydrate, and oh yeah, make sure to wear sunblock, I was one for one and now I have a print where my backpack was. Anyway, there I was, riding through the park and taking it all in when the above caught my eye. I had to take a picture, I guess it was the way the red was contrasting the green. This brings me to a side-note, my photography, which I hardly call it that, is another benefit of getting out on the bike. I find that I absorb more of my surroundings, I see things that make me circle back and take another look. It’s poetic, I can take a simple moment like the above and interpret it any way I see fit, it’s natures way of giving back because I’ve finally slowed down to take notice. There’s something calming about my bike rides, it’s like i’m a boy again with the adventure, silly I know, but get on a bike and see how you feel.
I took it up a notch and went downtown, took the trail way all the way down to the south side point, and made good time too I might add. One bike bucket list for me was Fort Amherst, which is a historical site within the city that’s easily accessible and provided the perfect backdrop to a already awesome day. All of these pictures are from there, it was too gorgeous not too capture a few shots to share. I grew up in a very small rural community, so seeing the water, the boats, and the wharves brought back some really cool memories…ah the ocean.
Crazy happy to get out for a ride today, 36k for a couple hours wasn’t too bad. Have to say though, I’m pretty tired from the trip and along with the sweltering sun, it kind of zzzzzzzzzzz, oops sorry, it kind of kicked my butt to be honest. It’s a good butt-kicking though, you know?, after you go one on one with mother nature. To challenge yourself to keep moving forward with everything you got, trust me, I had some moments but I dug deep and got through it. There’s a fitness perk with this bike riding too which is another reason I feel in love with it all over again. Yup, since I started biking I have discovered a whole new world right under my nose. Places in this city I never knew existed and it’s still keeping me on my toes, even today was another road less traveled for me. My bike, much like writing, have become passions of mine, and today I got to do both…life is good?
Your turn…
Mystery Blogger Award
Once again I have been surprised by another acknowledgement award, completely from left field. There’s no bigger compliment to my writing and to my bog then a compliment from my peers. Thanks again Avid Observer, I really appreciate the kind gesture.
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Nick of Time
I’ve made it to tibbs eve, the shopping is done, it’s snowing outside and I just poured a drink-Merry Christmas everybody. People were hustling and bustling at the malls,traffic created some white knuckled moments, and there’s a turkey keeping my fridge door from shutting all the way, all sure signs that Santa is soon coming to town. Everyone I saw tonight looked relatively happy as they buzzed around putting final touches on the last of their holiday lists. Sales at every turn, “excuse me” was the phrase of choice and I even passed a lineup of cheerful kids waiting for a photo op with the man in red himself all just in the “nick”of time.
There’s so much that needs to be done before the big day and it’s only now that I got the opportunity to make a blog post and ironically also in the nick of time. I had to make some sort of post for the conditions are all there. There’s a blizzard outside, the tree is beautiful with all those lights, gifts are being wrapped and christmas music has created the perfect atmosphere for me to write. An atmosphere that makes me think back on old times trying to recall some of the things that I did as a kid to celebrate the day before the eve of Christmas. Memories of happy times and how for that one time of year family was first, food was plentiful and the world seems to stop, even if for a few short days.
People are winding down their workloads, shutting off their lights and punching out for some well deserved quality time with family and friends. Gathering together and enjoying each other as much as possible, eating, drinking and just creating special moments with the people we love, I love this time of year. Life throws so much at us, it allows us to become distracted from what matters the most. To get time like this to forget all that and just focus on our closest bff’s and the kinfolk are times to be celebrated-embrace it. My grandmother loved Christmas, she loved people and with her, there was no such thing as too many, everybody was welcomed no matter what. She was in her glee when there was a constant roar in of conversation in the kitchen and drink of whiskey in her hand, that smirk on her face when you questioned what was in her glass would guarantee to make your heart smile.
Miss somebody? Christmas is famous for that as well unfortunately, this time of year can remind us of that void in our lives but that’s ok because we need that too. Sure it sucks reminiscing about a time that no longer includes a certain someone, but for the time that they were around I bet there are some unforgettable Christmases that were spent together. I miss my grandparents, my uncles and friends a lot at Christmas time but thinking about them also makes me feel at peace with the fact that are gone but am reassured that they will never be forgotten. They will be forever a part of me and this time of the year brings that out the most.
Like I said, it’s the day before Christmas eve and I’m sure there are traditions that you’re recreating right now with the people you love and spend time with. Card games, marathon gift wrapping, and shed parties are only examples of all that tends to happen on a day like today. One example I guess is the last minute shopping tradition, the one that I was a part of earlier, well, at least I know that I am not the only one, it’s not on purpose I promise. Any traditions you keep? Anything that has to happen for you or Christmas just don’t seem the same?
The weather is horrible too, Santa’s sleigh would have come in handy on night like tonight. That said, now that I’m inside looking at the snowfall, it does give me a very festive feeling inside. I have always wanted to have snow on Christmas, it just doesn’t have that same feel to it without a slight dusting of the white stuff. I went for a walk a few nights ago and the snow had just fallen and you know, with the Christmas lights it completely made me feel all nostalgic. I couldn’t help but think about what it was like for me as a kid when I too was going to bed early and hoping I was good enough to make the nice list and Santa was going to bring me that GT Snowracer I wanted so badly this one year. Last week my little nephew was visiting us (he’s three) and I got the chance to see a glimpse of what Christmas means to a kid whose enchanted by the spirit of the holidays and it showed me once again that is truly all about the kids.
So I leave you with a wish of a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I thank you all for reading my blog, I appreciate every view, like and follow. I started this blog not knowing if I would be this far invested but I am starting to realize that I enjoy sharing with you my thoughts and feelings about the world around me. Have a safe holiday and all the best in the 2017.
Merry Christmas
Ash
Earth To Ash 