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?
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.
packing to backpack:
more effort than backpacking
as puppy attests
a new world view:
a high school stage set with love
inclusive of all
a sunny Sunday
is made for panting puppies
searching for blue skies
a cloud beneath us–
powder day brings heaven home
as flakes float our love
from desert to sea
in a day’s drive through one state
(miracles exist)
rainforests between
to prove heaven lives on earth
(nature is my god)
we found our daddy
after cherry shopping; lake;
beyond evergreens
a driftwood dinner
no one could have predicted
in another life
yet here we’ll find sleep
all together in one room
at earth’s clouded edge
Step Write Up 