you haven’t ridden
over the Rockies; not yet.
Superior wins.
with a pup and girls
(unread itinerary)
we biked thirty clicks
Minnesota wins
for elevation record
on these little legs
and to end it all:
waterfall, campfire, cheese.
who would ask for s’more?
a frontier village
with world-record bison
thank you, Dakota
a cider dog fest
on a random Fargo night?
(mead is delicious)
the northern midwest
is a reality show
of kindness at play
i never listen
when someone says it’s boring
i always find fun
North Dakota wins
kindness, camping, paddling
and late-night sunsets
Earth lodge history
and indigenous genius
round out this cycle
with Art Deco touch
to capitalize the north
and give us this view
all in a day’s work:
this “boring” state makes dreams bright
campfires and all
from flat Dakota
emerges a river trail
hard on legs and kids
but water wins views
however it meanders
giving life to all
just one hour out
you can shed your city life
for backpacking dreams
my oldest happy?
so hard for me to earn now.
worth every penny.
snow-plagued summer shift:
find a free spot for camping
everything in tow
campfires and views
make the sketchy drive worth it
(even for the dog)
memories made here:
in cold, wind-blown sleeping bags
after microbrews
Colorado love:
my adaptable children
raised by tent setups
weekday hiking joys:
mostly-empty trails with dogs
who love each other
uncompromised views
of our blue-sky perfect peaks
and wildflowers
best of all? no work
to big down miles of fun,
of escapism
life lived in moments
from crises to remedies
(one day’s event course)
broken cars and drains
cannot break twenty-one years
of kept promises
so let’s build fires
to burn the losses of life
and collars of hope
because even pup
knows how to tolerate pain
as peonies pop
between this sunrise
painted so perfectly pink
and this steak dinner
lay a fasting day
of walking, planting, napping
fifteen days, hours
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