Served purpose, now kicked away.
Maybe lost, surely forgotten.
I catch my breath in thought,
thinking about your story.
How long will you lay there?
Facing the sun,
full of hope that someone comes searching.
’til then…you’ll wait.
Tag: photography
Journal Entry # 10 – Pick a Moment
Today…
this was the one I picked!
Journal Entry # 4 – Take it in!
Today…
‘Stop what you’re doing, and just take it in’
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.
Versatile Blogger Award
There is no bigger compliment than receiving acknowledgment from fellow writers. The Ink Owl has nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award which I am so appreciative of and I hold this nomination in the highest regard-Thanks. Please head on over and check out The Ink Owl to discover his contributions of fiction, fantasy, and real life.
Continue reading “Versatile Blogger Award”
The Streets are Paved in Cold
I watched a movie earlier tonight, “Cardboard Boxer”, not bad of a film. It starred Thomas Hayden Church and Terrance Howard, and it focused on the homeless. Watching the main character Thomas Hayden Church fight adversity and survive his way through day to day life on the streets got me thinking. A few nights ago I went for a walk and later wrote about it, I blogged about how cold it was and how much I hated winter. It’s true, I was just “vent writing” and emoting my true frustration with how I felt about the dark days of winter. No question about it, that night was cold, sooo cold, it was bitter and there was snow everywhere I looked. As I walked along my body was in a full contraction from the brisk night air, I couldn’t help but think about how people who live on the streets do it. Imagine having no place to go and having to try to find somewhere warm to sleep every night of your life, not only that you have to feed yourself too.
We witness this all the time, we pass by the usual suspects every day on our lunch breaks that give us their best pitch Monday through Friday to score just a little bit of change. As soon as that interaction of just a quick yes or no is over, you move on with your life. We go back to discussing what plans we have for the weekend or how good our workout was that day, the question of where you were sleeping tonight never entered your thoughts. That night as I walked I thought about it a lot, I was freezing, yes I was wimping out a bit too but I was content knowing I had a warm home to return to. I asked myself what I would do, what would be my gut instinct, could I be capable of the lasting a night like that on the street? Probably not, but it humbled me knowing how fortunate I was and how my problems just don’t seem as important anymore. I look out the window and I see a driveway that needs to be shoveled or I see a hinderance to my morning commute, I can’t appreciate the challenges they must endure each and every day battling mother nature.
The next time you pass by someone who could use some help, do so, give them a chance. Yes, I know, how can you be sure where the money is going? So many questions rush through your mind during that microtransaction, it’s milliseconds, we are quick to judge. We can stand there all day morally debating if we should but we already know the answer to that question. How much do we waste each day on the simplest of pleasures that we enjoy, ask yourself again, can you afford to give? I bet the answer is yes, we just try to find answers for saying no, like we have something to prove. We honestly don’t know where we will find ourselves in life, there are peaks and valleys in every dynamic.
That night made me realize that sometimes I do take life for granted and I do have it good but sometimes I think otherwise. I have a roof over my head, a job that I go to from week to week and a family that love and care for me. Appreciate the fact that you have cable and that the internet exists, a trip to the store takes 5 minutes by car, we got it pretty good. Give of yourself, help out at a soup kitchen, donate your used clothing, do whatever you can because at the end of the day if you give back to the people that need it the most it can slowly become the only change they might need.
Weather or not?
I went for a walk last night and boy was it cold, the air was crisp, the snow made crunchy noises under my feet and my face kept seizing up on me, ah winter. Didn’t matter what the temperature was, I determined to get a walk in, it was a beautiful night so I threw on a few layers and took off. I kind of fast walked at first which warmed me a little, then when I passed the point of no return I had no choice but to see it through. As I paced along kicking the scatter chunk of ice I thought, we are nowhere near the end of the winter season and it is really starting to get to me. I’ve lived here on this island for my entire life and you would think by now I would be used to the cold Atlantic Canadian winters but that is by far the polar opposite (pun intended).
Yesterday morning we had 30+ centimeters dumped on us which we all had to wake up to and to add to that, had to do so on Monday morning-gross. Yeah the 5:30 wake-up call from the neighbor’s idling snowblower is always an indication that there was shoveling in my future, it was about to be a “morning”. Feeling robbed already of my weekend I turned over and made a cave with my pillows complete with a tiny hole with a perfect view of the alarm clock. Lying there defeated by mother nature along with a severe case of the Mondays, I started doing the math in my head of the steps between getting out of bed and sitting at my desk. On the verge of facing the harsh reality that I had to move my lazy butt and very close to leaving the sanctuary of bed when all of the sudden, my face started buzzing. It was a call from my co-worker, she was calling to tell me that work had a delayed opening, yes…there is a god. There’s no better feeling than looking outside at winter punching everything in the face and then being told that there’s no work, how old am I again? With the anxiety of white-knuckle traffic and snow drifts lifted off my shoulders I returned to the blanketed abyss because it’s a snow day. Well, it was more like a snow morning but like I said, after losing the weekend and on top of that a Monday morning, I’ll take it. (Ash 1 Winter 0)
Oh yeah, I hate not having sidewalks. (Ash 1 Winter 1)
A ride through the neighborhood
Went for a ride today, after work and as soon as I got home. I was looking forward to it and couldn’t wait to get on the bike, but I needed a change, I had to take a new route to keep me motivated. First I started off relatively the same and was treating the ride as more leisure than trying to get a workout too. The weather was great, it was super warm, so everything was in place for a nice ride.
Once I was well on my way I decided that I would maybe bike a little within the neighborhood, maybe the streets would provide a change that I needed and provide some new perspectives. So off I went no route in mind, just wherever the road took me and if I saw something that I liked I would take it as it came.
Right away I was enjoying the ride, I’m not really a fan of the traffic so I opted to take the sidewalks which provided lots of room and allowed me to focus on my pace rather than the traffic that was screaming pass me as people were commuting about. To be honest I am getting more accustomed to riding the bike than driving my car, it’s a lot less stressful and you get to see more than you would in a vehicle.
Peddling for a bit I came upon this spot where it looked like a path was leading into the inner park that weaves itself throughout my neighborhood so I was curious as to where that would take me so in a heartbeat I veered left and had no idea what I was in store for. The trail was much like the one that shoulders my street, lots of playgrounds, foot paths and small bridges that interconnected everything and at the same time gave me more ideas of routes for another time that I am in the area.
I’m maybe fifty minutes in by now so I start to ask myself if I wanted to keep going or shall I call it and make my way back home, but of course I kept going. After taking the urban trail way for another short ways I then found myself on the street again but now I had a direction in mind so I took the roadway a short stint until I made it to another park entrance and I was bound for Bowring Park , a very beautiful park that is nestled in the St. John’s, Newfoundland downtown area, it’s rich in history and provides for some of the most tranquil and scenic walks.
I had made it to the park and it was teaming with activity, kids were using the skate park, there were people playing catch and I was surprised of how many people were playing this new mobile phone app game called Pokemon Go, they were everywhere but eh, at least they were outside. The park was so beautiful and there was so much that I wanted to photograph but I new my time was getting short and had to start to think about returning home, it was a long way back.
I had a look around and took some more photos but soon started my journey back to home base, the gas tank was getting empty and by now I was pushing a couple hours. The way back was and is a bit more of a challenge as there is a slight incline the whole way, I had to really focus to get back to a rhythm after my leisurely passage through the park.
On the way back I happened to pass this little Syrian child that was walking with his mother, he was so intrigued by me and my bike, almost cheering me on, I gave him a quick thumbs up as I passed him and he smiled back at me surprised by my acknowledgement. I have to say that he was one of the highlights of my trip, his little face was so interested in what I was doing, my own personal little fan club, awesome.
I was gone for over two hours and it was a route that was pretty much on the fly but those are the best sometimes, never knowing where you will wind up, I enjoyed it. It was a great workout, got to see some new stuff and stored a bunch of the trails in the whole memory bank for another bike adventure to who knows where.
Until then
Earth To Ash 