Pilgrimage Statistics
Consecutive Days Riding: 45 Consecutive Days Blogging: 46
Today’s Mileage: 10 Total Trip Mileage: 386
Holidays and Holy Days on November 24 :
Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom (Sikh) a time of remembering the execution of Teg Bahadur by the Moghul Emperor in India.
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Marco beach!
As I ride the bike today I review the various internet photos and scenes I uncovered about Marco Island, the city on the west coast of Florida. It is a beautiful place and brings back many fond memories of the tourist beaches along the Georgia and Carolina coast and Southern California. As a nature lover I prefer the more undeveloped coastline, but when one has a family to entertain or does not want to sleep in a tent, resort towns such as these are a joy. Many families I know return to the same beach each season, the familiarity is comforting, and adds layers of a family’s “growing up” memories to a place.
Simple Rewards
If I walk long enough I will reach it.
Small squat building with greasy windows.
Odor of breakfast meats and tobacco smoke.
Offers steaming java and folded papers bearing today’s news.
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Shellers on Marco Island Beach.
I’m one of those people who appreciates daily routines at the beach, whether it be a sunrise walk in search of shells or a stroll to a small coffee shop for my morning “fix” of caffeine and news. One aspect of the beach I love the most is the sand, that fascinating ribbon of reality stretched between two totally different worlds. It’s a surface constantly changing, yielding new mysteries and a reality not unlike our own moment-to-moment existence.
Each wave
Pulls at the beach’s fabric,
Returning sand to the sea
Streaking the smooth gray surface.
Sweeps the beach clean,
Leaving only a line of foam
As testimony to its presence.
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Stationarypilgrim as a young man inspecting his Indian Ocean shell collection.
Walking along the beach always bring out the collector and scientist in me! I think about how people differ with respect to the collecting mementos and memories. Some people just walk by the beach litter as it is not relevant to their conversation or plans. Perhaps they already have too many souvenirs from previous visits, or will argue that they have no place to keep or store them. Others beach travelers carry their pails, baskets or shopping bags to fill with treasures as the stroll along. These travelers are now faced with the question: “What do I do with this new stuff?” They may show it to loved ones and then discard it, their purpose has been served. They might find space in the family car or van for the return trip home. Yet once there, the mementos will be stashed in the garage or attic to be revisited as treasured memories in the dead of winter. Others display them in a bowl, on a window sill, or under glass in a display case. Such displays can be placed in a kitchen or near the bath so that every morning as one sips their coffee or steps out of a warm invigorating shower, they will be reminded of the mysteries and treasures that awaits in our exploration of life as it unfolds before us.
Shell Mementos: Reminders of Island memories.
Their Loss My Gain
Sand still damp from the last big wave.
Streaks like fingers reach towards the ocean.
Others came before me, I see signs of their passage.
One barefoot, one with heavy treads, one who treaded lightly.
What did they seek on their journey?
For they walked right past the “perfect shell.”
Cone shaped, pink with brown markings, glistening and polished.
It called out too me like ripe fruit, I picked it.
Maybe they weren’t watching.
Maybe they didn’t care.
Maybe they walked together deep in conversation
Ignoring the treasure at their feet.
Whatever, their loss is my gain!
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I hope you have enjoyed my poems and photos today. In the morning we head towards Naples and then on to our next Pilgrimage Site, a place that stirs up controversy!
A special thanks to the photographers associated with Panramio for the beautiful scenes from along the roadside. The information on holy days and sacred holidays comes from http://www.interfaithcalendar.org.
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