When I was young, I believed the world was a place to explore and have adventures. I believed that people were like dogs. Some were good and would come and run to travel with you. Some were shy and with coaxing would come and travel with you. Some were mean and were best avoided. Some would just travel to the end of their known world, and then head home. Others would travel for miles by your side.  Unlike dogs people could talk and had whole worlds inside them that they may or may not choose to reveal. I believed that with the right friend by your side the treasures that life had hidden, were easier to find. That the road was shorter, the miles easier.  That a frozen log, could be broken free and become a boat to travel near and far. That sunrises were worth viewing.  Now that I am older, I still believe all of that, except for three things. Coffee, Chocolate, and a good bed. They make life warmer, life taste sweeter and the nights more restful, so you are better able to get out adventuring early. 

Picture 3/18/17

© picture by Dan DeMarle 2017

“The roads of life are paved wide and skirt the mountains. And these very roads are choked with a steady stream of pathetically pedantic travelers who in reality have no intent of traveling. And if we are to discover the real travelers, much less join them, we will find them out on precarious paths that defy the roads and scale the mountains.”
― Craig D. Lounsbrough

1/1/17

© words and pictures by Dan DeMarle 2017

Cars heading east out of Rochester speed by the homeless camp.

4/6/17

© words and pictures by Dan DeMarle 2017

There is a joy to riding in Spring rain.

Most of us have forgotten that joy.

The joy we felt jumping with our boots in puddles of water,

of watching the water splash,

of getting wet.

Riding watching the water sprays.

Riding on a path,

I plan my way through the shallowest parts of puddles.

My coat keeps my core dry,

but my legs are soaked.

On roads, try to time the puddles with the cars,

to avoid the worst drenchings from tires and puddles.

Familiar landscapes, change in the rain.

I avoid regular routes to ride on routes less traveled.

Later, home, long after the ride,

I take the sweat shirt worn under the coat during the ride,

from the warm radiator, where it sat to dry,

putting it back on, the sleeves are still wet.

And I remember puddles and rains

from thousands of rains.

And I know I am alive,

and that a good days work is done.

When I was young, we did not have the internet. The only net we had was for actual fishing, and not for phishing.  The only mobile phone, was the one with a cord long enough so that maybe you could talk around the corner, while all you siblings were purposely “NOT” listening.  A speed date, was one were her father took one look at you and said “No” and closed the door on your face.  Of course, once you got home, you were free to wander the woods, fields, and streams, and you internal clock told you when to get back for dinner.  Hanging out with friends, may indeed mean climbing and hanging from trees, swing sets, or any other thing worth playing on.  We did not go on “play dates” although we did play with playdough.  It wasn’t as bad as It may make it seem.  We did after all play rock, papers, and scissors.  I know because I still have the scars to prove it.

“Peter”, Alice asked, “Where are we?”  Peter looked around they clearly were not in Never Land.  “I don’t know” he answered.  Alice looked around more, “I don’t know either.”  Peter said “The fog makes it hard to see where we are.”  “And”, Alice added “to see where we are not.”

It can be difficult to believe that this was taken in the heart of a good size American city.

1/22/17

© words and pictures by Dan DeMarle 2017

What makes art? Is it the light that shines on the art, or is it the light itself?

12/4/16

© words and pictures by Dan DeMarle 2016

The Edgerton Model Train Room  has been a Rochester Institution for over 50 years. Open rarely, when it is open bring the kids or grand kids and go visit it.  Click here to see a one minute video of this section of the track. Listen carefully and you can hear chickens in the background.

12/30/16

© words and pictures by Dan DeMarle 2016

Joelle was rushing to make the bus to take her to work. She had a major presentation today, and had worked all night on it. She was tired but had packed up her laptop and was running. She hated her job, but needed it to pay the bills.  When was the last time she had a day off, when’s the last time she had been on a date.  As she rushed by she saw the flowers blooming over the sidewalk.  She stopped and bent down.  They reminded her of the flowers on the beachfront when she was 8. All those summers ago.

© words and picture by Dan DeMarle 2017

Jack knew the water sprite was somewhere near.  He had once thought he had seen her in the distance in the stream in the lower field.  He had heard from some of the villagers that if you could hunt her down, she would grant you a wish.  He wasn’t sure if that was true, but he was a young man and the idea of seeing a naked female sprite was too much for him to not go try and find her.   After walking up the stream he came to some old ruins he had not known were there. He thought he should turn around, naked sprite or not. He was just turning, to head back, when he heard a definite giggle.   He turned and …..

3/25/17 – Early spring along the Genesee Valley Canal Trail  near Nunda NY

© words and pictures by Dan DeMarle 2017