This image was taken by www.photoboudreau.com

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Every day

I've wondered about continuing the blog after the bike tour.  So much has happened. Today I jogged where I have been jogging pretty much everyday for the last few weeks. I notice different things each time; like a great song you hear again and again. I went further today than I have gone so far; past Lincoln on the bike path. I started jogging instead of walking. Each cyclist and runner is an encouragement to keep going. I feel my pains leave my body. I can not believe they call this a river. A concrete basin with walls that lead down to a canal. Bet it would be good for skate boarding, when it's dry that is. 

Some days it just seems like a puddle.  But it smells of salty sea and garbage. The birds seem to quite enjoy it, and I enjoy them. The past few days there have been more baby birds than you can imagine. More hungry birds. There are seagulls and pelicans that hang out together, greatest in number.  They do a lot of sitting, sleeping, and some dancing. The mallards seem to group with each other and fly about, flashing there pretty green heads and showing off darting inches above the water.  The crows are a strong presence, and they remind me of frog hollow, where I grew up. On my way I saw them mostly around one house, and a tangerine tree in front of it. Wonder why they like it so much there? I've come under 6 or 7 over passes now, I must have gone pretty far. Past the women that feeds the birds, passed the concrete pillars that used to be another highway, past the field of ecological growth where a man lives with an army colored book bag, passed the school yard, passed the community center, passed the athletic field...a snake. It's strange to see. He/she is 3 and a half feet long. I stop, I can't believe how close I am. The body's tall from top to ground, but skinny from side to side. I admired it for a while, and then let it be.

I looked up at the sun and used my hand in relation to the horizon to realize I had one hour of day light left. I turned around. Heading back is dead east, so the sun is on your back and your eyes can open wide to view the sites. In the distance, covered by smog, there are mountains holding up this city.  I have more energy than ever as I head over my half way point. A web, a spider hard at work, I stop to observe.  It is impeccable how well built this home is. I watched the spider for a few minutes until it finished what it was working on for quite some time; a masterpiece.  I wondered what it would do next. It tinkered in the middle, a critical move I'm sure before sprawling out to show it's beauty. Unreal. I'd better continue. 

I passed the spot where there are food dishes on the other side of the fence. This time I noticed a fresh unopened can of 9 lives and water in the bowl sitting next to the top half of a plastic animal carrier. I have observed a women come and replenish the supply a few times. She is an aged lady in great shape that where's a back pack, and she does it somewhat secretly.  Everyday I pass the same group of Mexican men, waiting on a path off the path. I think it's a bus stop up there. When I first pass them on my way, there are 2 or 3 men. On my way home it must be 10. I always wave to them and smile.  They smile and talk amongst themselves and sometimes wave. They could be my angels. Getting closer to home now I pass the school yard where there is always one boy hitting the ball on the chain attached to the pole, what's that called?  

And now, my favorite group of apartments. I always see inspiration here, and laundry on lines, and bicycles in back yards, and people talking and interacting with each other. Windows are open and children are running around creating life and movement.  This time I noticed a group of teens around the back side of an apartment building smoking a joint. The eldest boy looked at me looking at him and muttered something to his friends. I smiled and waved.  Almost home...

I notice three crows on Styrofoam cups walking as the cups turn. One stops the cup from rotating and starts pecking on it roughly. Maybe he was expecting something edible to come out it. I imagine most garbage starts out with some sort of food in it; a few crumbs, a sugary liquid, something... At this particular spot there are a few shopping carts tipped in the water wearing cloaks of seaweed. The water height is much lower now. This is the last overpass, the longest. It must be a big highway, maybe an interstate. There is a concrete wall blocking the view of the traffic above. I always sing under the overpasses. I've twice observed a man up in peaks here, but both times he was reading something, and he took note of me taking note of him. And I kept singing and smiled up toward him. It's a warm spot to go this time of night when the sun's setting. The concrete keeps all the sun inside of it through the night. 

A tree with leaves, not something you see in Los Angeles. Orange and red leaves on the ground. It's fall. This is the third time I've seen fall this year; first in the woods of upstate New York, then on the rolling of hills of red clay hill, South Carolina, now on the streets of Culver City, L.A. The never ending fall of 2008.

Is this where I get off? At first when I wasn't sure I used one particular sand pile as a landmark to get off the path. It was easy to see because someone stuck a pirates flag right in the center of it. Yep, back to the road. The highway I'm staying on is getting closer and the final descent of the outing is getting across this traffic ridden machine zone . When I get my chance I pay attention to feeling a break in line of SUV's and BMW's. The hibiscus is the final indicator that I have made it. When I get inside I open the doors and windows. 

Thursday, November 20, 2008

new meaning, the Joshua Tree











old gold mine

lost horse trail


I can not begin to describe what it felt like to be in the desert.  So I will show you some images. Wks ago I was rock climbing in the Pisgah National Forest, and now I am in Southern California in the desert. Even stranger, I've spent the last 2 weeks in Los Angeles. Here' s the desert:

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

rock and roll



This move was a true challenge, after finally getting up, I had to do it again. It so great to have friends that encourage and support you through these type of endeavours.  Sometimes they are physically present, and sometimes they are not!

Wanna know where I'm performing next?


Rachel%20VanSlyke
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Rachel%20VanSlyke
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