Getting ready for vacation:Binghamton, NY

Even hobos get a holiday. Before I left to begin my on the road adventure, I planned to travel with my daughter and grandkids to Florida. We booked flights from Buffalo to Orlando. From there we will go to Ocala, Gainesville and the environs of Northern Florida. Having a five year old boy and an almost four year old girl on this part of the journey will likely dictate much of the direction that we take. Last year. Liam, seemed to get most enjoyment from riling up the red ants when he found one of their nests. He managed to get away without a mishap involving an attack my angry red ants. This year I will see if I can find him another activity that will both occupy him and be less obtrusive wild life colonies. If it is warm enough he does enjoy running about naked. That is preferable to disturbing the insect culture.
Ella has never been to Florida, not anywhere in the winter when she can be warm enough to shed some clothing. She was born in Toronto and last week had the experience of going to school in deep wintry weather. She like her brother enjoys the outdoors in all types of weather. This will be the first time she will get to enjoy warm outdoor weather in her birth month. Although she will not have her birthday until she returns home later in the month, she will be able to have the memory that not all Marches necessarily have to come in like a lion to exit like a lamb or vice versa. For me the rest of the day is to unload my PT-RV and find a storage place for it while I am on unpaid vacation.

Sometimes the Postman is late: Southbury, CT

My daily routine is shortly after waking, I write my journal entry using MS Works WP. Next, I seek a walk, an Internet connection and a cup of coffee. I obtain these in order of their appearance, usually coffee arrives first. This morning the Internet connection shall be tardy. I spent the night no where near a connection I can access. Coffee is close by and a walk is only steps away. So although I can scribe my journal entry, it will be late in getting posted to my blog. I hope that any of my regular readers do not get anxious because this entry did not appear in a timely fashion.

In regards to time several more items popped up. First, today is either the beginning or ending of daylight savings time. I am not sure what end is DST or EST. But the clocks had to be moved ahead one hour. So it is either 6:00 or 7:00 depending on whether or not the clocks I am seeing have been moved ahead. I will have to ask my host later about what time it really is. Next, several folks have contacted me with the question “Why do you get up and post your journal so early in the morning?” Apparently the server I post on is located in the Pacific time zone and the time of posting is recorded in PST. Since the beginning of my blog I have stayed in the Eastern Time Zone. My posting, therefore, is three hours later than the time indicated on the blogsite. So please do not worry that I am suffering from some manic state and am up regularly at extraordinarily early hours writing this journal. It looks like a bright sun is high in the sky so I shall load up my horse and head out to an internet connection in good time.

If not today--When?: Southbury, CT

The title of today’s entry is a phrase I pondered upon awakening this morning and I believe comes from Dr. King. It is an appropriate question to ask ourselves as we delay implementing our dreams. And another of Dr. King’s memorable quotes was, “I have a dream.” As I was spending the past several days visiting friends from my past I felt I was not fully engaging with the dream unfolding in my current journey. This made me feel discomfort that I suppose comes because a large part of my dream is rooted in engaging strangers. Although I enjoyed spending time renewing old acquaintances, I was not allowing space to kindle new connections. Somehow, by focusing on previous relations I was not biting on opportunities to foster new ones. I guess that keeping one hand on the old while the other hand reaches out toward something new requires an act of balance.

Balance is a concept that I often describe as, “an imaginary point I cross over while going from one extreme to the other.” The past several days give a case in point of this paradigm as I was immersed in long-standing friendships. A point of my wandering is to be an explorer of human relations. Somehow, I need to figure out how to conduct this exploration while in the presence of established acquaintances. The picture I get is of a dance where all the participants are holding hands in a circle. Another factor that likely has bearing on the depth of this pondering is that today is the one month anniversary of the embarkation of my adventure. I believe a celebratory dance is called for. Today, I will seek out such an opportunity.

It looks a lot like Spring: Cambridge, MA

I began yesterday morning with a repeat of the walk I took the evening before, but in a reverse direction. It must have been mild overnight, because although there was no rain almost all of the previous snow had melted. The streams were again rushing with the water from this melt off. Again I did not see beavers at work but walked at a pace that would make any beaver proud. Before noon I drove to Cambridge and accompanied by a friend took another lengthy hike down to the banks of the River Charles. There we enjoyed a pleasant sit on a park bench witnessing the buds that are beginning to spring from tree branches. Maybe that is why we label this approaching season Spring, since signs of growth seem to be leaping out all over the place.

By this morning it appeared that an overnight freeze did not take place although there are signs that a light frost settled in the night. But the swelling light from the sun is making short the frost’s stay. The skies are bright and clear and it looks like another fine day for my walking regime. After that I plan on heading westerly to take on a chair that needs a new rush seat. This is work I had planned when I headed to New England last week but the chair's owner was not available but she has returned from Florida and I will get this chance to ply my trade and look forward to a hike in the hills of west central Connecticut. Aha, for the life of a hiking traveling worker.

Taking a walk: Upton, MA

The thought came upon me that while spending much time in my PT-RV either moving around or working on my writing, I am not getting proper exercise. So, I visited a friend with whom I have always enjoyed brisk lengthy hikes. Usually we were exercising her dogs, Rose and Lucy. Today we were giving me a workout. Through out it was apparent that I was not in the same shape physically that I enjoyed two years ago. Aging has certainly had its way, but additionally a more sedentary lifestyle has taken over. Before beginning this adventure, I had even pretty much given up on my bicycle, having left it in care of a friend. It is obvious that an inactive routine had slowly crept into position. A decision was calling and in conversation and intent I committed to adopting an invigorating regimen. A daily hike of increasing vigor will be my goal.
The setting for our trek was on a small single lane paved road that weaved around small farms, older country homes, and abandoned storage buildings. Several small streams were running briskly and overflowing in places as they carried away the remnants of last week’s snow. In one spot there was evidence that a beaver’s dam was going to need some repairs to recover from the flood’s onslaught. I did not witness the beavers at work, but sighted a couple of trees that had been felled by beaver’s teeth. Maybe it was at the end of their work day and their project would resume in the morning. It seems they are getting enough exercise. And I will hold up the vision of them hard at work while I perform my daily exercise routine in a “busy as a beaver” mode.

I found a shadow!: Hudson, MA

Shortly after posting yesterday’s blog and making up my mind to go on a hike searching for a shadow, a few appeared. Even before I could get outside, the overcast parted and sunlight came into view in the Southeasterly sky. I hurried outside to give witness to what turned out to be shadow’s only manifestation for the day in this neck of the woods. Before I could go on the hike the overcast closed in and the rest of the day had indirect lighting. Nonetheless, it was a wonderful day for being outdoors. Even though I had a toilet repair project going on indoors, I was able to get in a walk. During the day, I ruminated over the sun’s brief casting of shadows almost at my beckon.
It certainly seemed odd, no sooner had I called for a shadow, the sun broke forth and produced a number. Surely, I have no such power to command the sun and clouds to move at my call. But, could there be some other force that lies below the surface that perhaps nudged me to seek for something shortly before it was to appear? Perhaps there is some latent talent that connects us with our environment. By virtue of being outdoors more often, possibly, we can access an ability our ancestors possessed to read the movement of winds, clouds and sunshine. This past Saturday, my friend Gary named me a Geomancer. Maybe he was detecting something I was not aware of. It may also be just an uncanny coincidence and have no import whatsoever, save maybe entertainment for an active mind. However, I will keep an open mind and humble spirit and see how it unfolds.

Taking a breath: Hudson,MA

Today feels like a good day to take off. By that I mean a day similar to a sick day, a mental health day, a floating holiday, or any of those other phrases that describe the feeling, “Today, I would rather not.” Not having a place to call and report I am not coming in, I wish to inform you that today, I will not be in my usual place either mentally or physically. The Traveling Workers Union is neither strong nor financially solvent enough to provide its members with sick pay. In fact, the Union does not even have the resources to track its members. However, your prayers and good wishes are appreciated.

So what does a hobo do on an off day? We do not even get a handbook with instructions on how to meet unforeseen circumstances. But on the bright side we also do not get volumes of clear-cut finer points explaining how to handle the ordinary. So left to my own devices, I am feeling the urge to take a long hike. The sky is overcast, the weather slightly warm and most snow around here melted. I believe I will go on a search to see if I can find a shadow. Presently they are all hidden away, but I have hope that at least briefly one may fall to the earth. Tomorrow, you may find if I had success.

Under way: Woods Hole, MA

I am writing today’s entry while underway. No, I am not composing at the same time as navigating my PT-RV. That would not only be foolish but would likely result in fiasco in both endeavors. But I am traveling nonetheless, aboard the MV (Motor Vessel) Martha’s Vineyard bound from Vineyard Haven to Woods Hole. I am enjoying the amenities of an Internet connection, a 110 Volt outlet, and a coffee bar. If I could only pilot this vehicle while on the overland portion of my trip. Maybe, I could design a trip on the river and canal systems of this country. That would certainly answer my longing for an enhanced mode of transportation. Look at what happens when I get to write while someone else is doing the driving. My daydreaming gets enhanced and outrageous. But in that type of projection could be hints at a greater reality.
So far on this journey, I have felt a greater sense of connection and at home while plying the paths of rivers. I am entertaining the notion of making this voyage along the routes of the early transportation courses of this country. That would keep me focused on the rivers, canals, and lakes up to the Great Divide. Once over that could lead to exploration of similar systems on the western slope. This idea is filling me with an increased sense of purpose and focus. I may have hit upon a directed path. After a few more days of visiting in familiar haunts on the east coast, I may well follow the trails of the earliest explorers has they headed out North and West. As soon as this boat docks, I will hop on my pony and carry this notion into the next several days and see how it settles.

If you don't like the weather: Vineyard Haven, MA

There is an old New England maxim that states, “If you don’t like the weather wait a few minutes.” When I arrived on the Vineyard on Friday the morning temperature was 15o. Snow was expected that night and by the next morning an all night rain was accompanied by clearing skies and rising temperatures. The day proceeded as sunny, bright and comfortably mild. The temperature climbed into the 40’s and only a slight breeze. These conditions provided an wonderful setting to conduct many brief cheerful reunions. Without purposelessly seeking old friends, visiting old haunts like the Post Office, a coffee house, a church hall soup supper, and a bakery provided many chance encounters. The initial greeting expressions were bold, bright, and sincere. Most contained the question, “Are you moving back here?” My answer was a strong, “I am not.”
This location is definitely a tourist spot and vacation setting. Currently, I feel as on vacation from my road trip and just visiting old friends instead of doing the work associated with building a sustainable traveling adventure. Most of the voices I hear contain the suggestion to stay for more than a while. But as I explain the nature of my adventure, I receive encouragement and good wishes and expressions of joining with my quest at least in spirit. There were a couple of opportunities that arose that were they anywhere else I would choose to stay awhile and engage in work. But since I have already booked ferry passage to leave today, will have to pass on those prospects. And that is the major downside to living insularly, by being beholden to the ferryman.

You can't go home: Vineyard Haven, MA

I am finding a truth in an old slogan. You can never return home. That is, the home you left is not the same as the location left behind. Everything here is slightly changed. I have heard plenty stories from folks who upon returning home found that the changes that occurred in their absence created a significantly different place than they remember leaving. On top of all that , this was never a home to me regardless. But, it still has significantly changed. Old locations have been supplanted by new trappings, to the tune of multi million dollar mansions. And it never ceases to amaze me the extent that our civilization constructs substantial residences on coastal flood plains, with rising ocean levels. This kind of thinking gets me labeled as depressing, but I guess it would have likewise been pessimistic to point out Mount Vesuvius was belching smoke and ash down upon the fields of Pompeii. So, I won’t say another thing about it as I head out of here and make my way to the mountains.
On the other hand, it has been a blessing to visit old friends and acquaintances and feel the welcome they extend to me. By and large, these folks take pleasure in getting the drift of my endeavor and wish me blessings on my expedition. Again many express the slight wish to be on a similar endeavor. Were it possible to construct a huge ark like vehicle, I would enjoy being a pilot and tour guide. Songs like “Yellow Submarine” and “Magic Bus” are coming to me and I think I will go search my music collection for a touring song, if the creek don’t rise.