Road Trip 2026, Day Four

hiking to high tea

(a different version of high)

altitude wins sips

perfect alpine lakes

to start and finish the day

as we drink in views

glacially made mirrors

waterfall motivation

for the long walk down

Road Trip 2026, Day Three

a glass reflection

to start Canada travels

cold, bright, beautiful

Banff captures the crowds

who come to see Lake Louise

with its glacial blue

pup’s living the life

that most dogs only dream of

lake dips and air licks

Road Trip 2026, Day Two

sighting a grizzly

second day of forty-two:

not bad for this drive

but the paddle board?

early morning peace moment

to make Montana

views look like postcards

a photo could never catch

how perfect, Glacier

Road Trip 2026, Day One

ten thousand miles

begins before the sunrise

red, ready for us

two and a half states

bring us mountains, skies, and lakes

blue, gold, crimson calm

life isn’t parking—

adapting to site unseen

from a computer

but look at this lake

and this brown-eyed, sleepy pup

Montana, my heart

Road Trip 2026, Day One

ten thousand miles

begins before the sunrise

red, ready for us

two and a half states

bring us mountains, skies, and lakes

blue, gold, crimson calm

life isn’t parking—

adapting to site unseen

from a computer

bug look at this lake

and this brown-eyed, sleepy pup

Montana, my heart

It All Falls Down

we can’t have autumn 
without the vibrant colors
of all that is lost
trees casting shadows 
that can’t be hidden by cats
seasonal comfort

Afternoon Aspen Delight

bluebird mountain day
catching the golden aspens
before they burn bare

Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Twenty-one

a calming cycle
on a rails-to-trails flat path:
way to start the day
more history learned 
at a medieval castle
built, burned, lost, rebuilt
my man boating us
back down the river, towards home
our heritage left

Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Twenty

riding up river
in a boat we drive ourselves
weathering windstorms
the river’s flooded
even for Irish standards
yet we navigate
monastery stop
seventh century ruins
Irish faith runs deep
a long drive’s reward:
stellar food, oldest pub
and Guinness to drink
sleeping on a boat
knowing Athlone’s lights alight
can be quite calming

Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Nineteen

a castle day trip
cycling on sketchy roads
yet worth the visit
hidden Irish gems:
four hundred years of earls
residing in stone
science surprises:
this telescope discovered
distant galaxies
and Bruce got to stand
in the largest redwood grove
outside the U.S.
night ends with laughter
in a 1500s pub
kindness in their blood