Cycle Write Blog

Life of Opening Doors to Imagination, Space and Place: Greg Pyra, Artist

The name for the beautiful area of Diamond Valley at the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, is a bit misleading. It is reference to “Black Diamond” which originally referred to coal. It was coal mining and oil drilling that fostered riches long ago, for the lucky few in this valley and for town’s development. There…

More than Mediterranean Diet: Walking Explorations from Nature to Exquisite Italian Art

Don’t kid yourself. The famous Mediterranean Diet was not the only secret bullet to good health for traditional Italians. Town of San Lazarro, Italy 2025. Photo by J. Chong Looking down on coast from San Lazarro 2025. Photo by J. Chong Healthy Tramping on Winding Coastal Hills, in Florence For centuries and for 2lst century…

Sun-kissed Almafi Coast: Of Lemons, Renaissance Art and Limoncello

Though I had read and heard dimly about the glorious Almafi Italian coast, I wasn’t prepared for its steep, jaw-dropping hillside views plunging into the Mediterranean Sea –and its lemons. Homegrown lemon vines at farm guesthouse. San Lazarro, Italy 2025. Photo by J. Chong The Almafi lemon variety can be lumpier, more fragrant and sweet…

Jagged Beauty by Lake Superior: Northern Minnesota

Last fall I spent several days with my good American friend, Mary enjoying autumn leaf glory along the jagged rocky shoreline of Lake Superior. I flew down to vacation for a few days with her, before their American 2024 Presidential election. Looking back this year, it felt like a window of Nature’s peaceful and halcyon…

Breaking Away to Kananaskis Wilderness

Albertans especially living near Calgary, Canmore and Banff National Park may refer to a large cluster of multiple wilderness parks that include Rocky Mountains, the Sheep River that snakes through, foothills and Crown (or government) land as K-country, or Kananaskis Country. Kananaskis covers 4,000 sq. km. Sheep River Falls. Sheep River Provincial Park. Kananaskis, Alberta…

Guerilla Clay Art on Trees: Okotoks, Alberta

Shortly after stepping onto the Heritage Pathway in the town of Okotoks, we spotted a sprinkling of whimsical tree art nailed to various dead trees and logs. On a cloudy spring day, the little unique ceramic face sculptures were colourful and bright small punches of colour amongst the park tree landscape. We were ambling in…

Venturing Across International Borders: Memories, Hopes Illuminate Friendship and Care

Last year I had to carefully step around in near darkness at local art gallery exhibit, organized by the Esker Foundation. There were dimly-lit paper mâché artifacts glowing in darkened corners and spaces on the floor. Edelweiss art exhibit. By Rhonda Wepper and Trevor Mahovsky. Esker Foundation 2024. Photo by J. Chong I’d like to…

Wind Swept Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia

We wanted to re-explore the Park’s varied windswept ocean beaches and old growth forests in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. My earlier blog post on Vancouver Island old growth forests doesn’t include Rainforest Walk which is also part of this national park. If you’re visiting the seaside town of Tofino on the southwestern end…

Savour Light, Warmth, Hope and Joy at Christmas

We’ve come a long way from the darker years of Christmas during covid years 2020-2022. Like splintery icicles, those years did fall away. But the world has changed a tad for some of us. Some may have lost a loved one during those years. It may have been covid or something else –a sudden sickness….

Embrace a Sanctuary: Pacific Northwest Coast Old Growth Forests

There have been times, where I have walked into Canadian woodsy embrace of an old growth forest and drunk in its timelessness. Past and future collapsed into the present amongst ferns, fallen brittle trees and well-trodden paths with fragile, exposed roots. Lighthouse Park. West Vancouver, B.C. 2022. By J .Chong Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver: Tree…

Love of Creating Art and Creativity: A Lifelong Journey

Over the years in Cycle Write blog, I’ve mused occasionally about creativity for both writing and visual arts. I have also posted some of my (pithy) art work. Yes, some featured art work, lies about at home in piles or leaning against home walls. Other works no longer exist. Reboot My Painting Muse After not…

Baby Soft Prairie Crocuses Awakens for Spring

I wondered about the first prairie crocus I saw in a public Calgary garden –its fuzzy under petals that cup-folded gently towards its centre. Odd and downy like a baby flower waking and rising up in our warming spring sun. Prairie Crocus. Silver Spring Gardens, Calgary AB 2016. Photo by J. Chong Manitoba’s Official Provincial…

AI, Artificial Intelligence: Butterfly or Strait Jacket for Human Creative Writing

Last year, company for WordPress.com, the blogging software for Cyclewrite and for millions of other WordPress blogs, rolled out its AI – Artificial Intelligence assistant feature. WordPress’ marketing mantra for its new AI feature, is to brighten the future of blog writing. And the future is now. I feel a bit squeamish over this crazed…

Elk, Sagebrush, Chaco Ancient Greatness- New Mexico

Last fall, I joined up with two American friends, Mary and Susan after I got off the plane in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We headed off to northwest of Sante Fe, on our planned trip to see Chaco Canyon National Park. Chaco Canyon is an archaeological and preserved ancient village ruins and sacred site for the…

Pulsing Spirit of Bow River Along Its Journey

I’ve been wanting to write about a neighbour that lives close to home for a long time. Centuries. That’s the Bow River, a major river with many stories. Its pulsing water feeds several towns — Banff, Canmore, Cochrane and the heart of Alberta’s biggest city, Calgary. This 673 km. long river which originates from…

Landing in Unexpected Places and Times

When I paused at a tight bike path bend by the river, I was surrounded by chatty, curious black-capped chickadee birds. It was a fun moment of darting bird twitterers, all wanting attention and food. A few chickadees made startling close flight landings near me and then lit off swiftly in a twinkle. Bow River,…

Baby Steps for Adventures Far-Flung and Close

I did not travel outside of my home province, Ontario Canada where I was born, until when I was 25 years old. It was a train trip to Quebec City with a sister. I can’t even remember if we stopped in Montreal on our way into la belle province, Quebec. So, no de rigeur European…

Learning Journey — Where A Career Wanders

If I had known at the beginning where my jobs would have led, I might have scared myself. I never knew my work journey would take me to 3 different Canadian provinces and cities. I can’t claim I’m the person that often dashes out on a journey without a map or a vague idea of…

Historic Neighbourhood of Stories

Who would ever tell their 10 year-old child, how much their house costed? My father did. It was $19,000 back in 1968. It was a throwaway fact he told me after our whole family moved there . Nothing more said. Home for Growth.. and Repair It was a bargain price because this 1883 house (year…