I write (blog) on a wide range of topics and personal interests. Here are my last 100 or so posts of poems, photographs, travels, and history. If you want to go back further, then you will need to consult the Blog Archives. Additionally, you can navigate via the Post Categories or Post Archives menus in the right hand column of each page (bottom of the page if viewing on mobile device).
- Life Before the Timewise Speedometer
The Great Race originally published this article on Feb 18, 2026 I’ve witnessed numerous changes to the Great Race over the years: vehicle vintages,… Read more: Life Before the Timewise Speedometer - 2025 Great Race: Team 2, Graf & Rowland
The 2025 Great Race covered more than 2300 miles as the 9-day event traversed a route from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Irmo, South Carolina.… Read more: 2025 Great Race: Team 2, Graf & Rowland - 2025 Great Race Stage 8: Voted Best Stage Ever
Voted the Best Stage Ever, day 8 of the 2025 Great Race was a unique and exhilarating experience. The 2025 Hemmings Great Race presented… Read more: 2025 Great Race Stage 8: Voted Best Stage Ever - Rally Rule #14: Sanity Check Your Charts
You’ve spent hours creating your performance charts, but have you given them a sanity check? A simple graph can help identify potential errors and… Read more: Rally Rule #14: Sanity Check Your Charts - 2025 Spring Rally — Owensboro, KY
The 2025 Coker Tire Great Race Spring Rally presented by Stahls Automotive Collection is now in the history book. As usual, it was a highly anticipated, highly… Read more: 2025 Spring Rally — Owensboro, KY - It’s Rally Season — Time To Change Your Batteries
Springtime is rally season time, which means it is also battery changing time. Here’s the rundown on Great Race rally batteries, including some you may have overlooked or forgotten about. - This Rally Clock Has Everything
Well, maybe not everything, but everything you desire in a rally clock while remaining compliant with the rules. Its features include a large, easy-to-read… Read more: This Rally Clock Has Everything - 2024 Great Race: Team SuperNova
Team SuperNova consisting of driver Erin Liberty, navigator Ron Rowland, and a 1962 Chevrolet Nova competed in the 2024 Great Race. One hundred thirty-seven… Read more: 2024 Great Race: Team SuperNova - Analog Stopwatch With Countdown Bezel: Application Notes
Here are some tips and suggestions for using an analog stopwatch with a rotating countdown bezel in the Great Race. Historically, rotating bezels have… Read more: Analog Stopwatch With Countdown Bezel: Application Notes - Rally Clock With Rotating Bezel: Application Notes
Here are some tips and suggestions for using a rally clock with a rotating bezel in the Great Race. Historically, rotating bezels have been… Read more: Rally Clock With Rotating Bezel: Application Notes - 2024 Great Race Spring Rally, Chesterfield, Michigan
The 2024 Great Race Spring Rally, presented by Stahls Automotive Collection, took place May 3-5, 2024 out of Chesterfield, Michigan. The 3-day time-speed-distance-endurance event… Read more: 2024 Great Race Spring Rally, Chesterfield, Michigan - Facebook-Meta Found Guilty of Enabling Scammers
Facebook’s policies and actions have spawned an industry of scammers preying on individuals unable to get the attention of Facebook Support. Facebook, a division… Read more: Facebook-Meta Found Guilty of Enabling Scammers - Facebook Murdered and Erased Me
Facebook murdered me and then erased all traces of my existence. The actions were much more than just a case of the company being… Read more: Facebook Murdered and Erased Me - 2023 Great Race: Team Windup Key
The continuing adventures of Team Windup Key and the 2023 Great Race. This year’s event is now in the rearview mirror, providing a chance… Read more: 2023 Great Race: Team Windup Key - Great Race Preparation
The following “true story” about the Great Race preparation makes liberal use of the concept, rhyme scheme, meter, and some lines from “Hotel California”… Read more: Great Race Preparation - Auburn 2023 Great Race Spring Rally
The Great Race 2023 Spring Rally took place last month in Auburn, Indiana. I was fortunate to navigate for Erin Stahl-Liberty in her 1962… Read more: Auburn 2023 Great Race Spring Rally - 2023 Great Race Route
Event organizers have released additional details on the 2023 Great Race route. The green flag drops at 8:00 am, June 24, in St, Augustine,… Read more: 2023 Great Race Route - Legacy of the Rowlands
Legacy of the Rowlands In ages past, a name was born,A lineage rich, of which we are sworn,The Rowlands, a clan of noble grace,Whose… Read more: Legacy of the Rowlands - Detroit Tigers ’63
Detroit Tigers ’63 is a tribute to my interest in baseball and my favorite player of the time — Al Kaline. It is also… Read more: Detroit Tigers ’63 - Fortune Cookies
Fortune Cookies Using chopsticks will make you appear wise As long as you don’t stick them in your eyes When eating the sweet ‘n’… Read more: Fortune Cookies - Mesmerized
Mesmerized That night upon the Lady Kate Snug in the harbor of Kinsale We toasted another adventurous day And regaled ourselves with tales Mesmerized… Read more: Mesmerized - Browsing The Corridors Of My Mind
Browsing The Corridors Of My Mind The path is long with many doors peering within triggering prior scenes Some surprisingly vivid others fading away… Read more: Browsing The Corridors Of My Mind - I Ride The Thunder
I Ride The Thunder Way up here, the view quite clear Atop the mount of Thunder Black as night, I hold on tight Each… Read more: I Ride The Thunder - Lost Lyrics: A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Lost Lyrics is about adding verses to existing works from various musical artists. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” was the debut record of Procol… Read more: Lost Lyrics: A Whiter Shade Of Pale - Ode To Zippy Chippy
Ode To Zippy Chippy Zippy Chippy passed away today why he never chalked a win no mortal can say 100 outings he did partake… Read more: Ode To Zippy Chippy - A Snorkel Tunnel
A Snorkel Tunnel I feel lost, forlorn, sometimes hopeless and in need of care the world’s destructive path often gives me quite a scare… Read more: A Snorkel Tunnel - The Season of Incredulousness
The Season of Incredulousness It was the season of incredulousness belief systems summarily abandoned all reality placed on hold as skeptics hogged the limelight… Read more: The Season of Incredulousness - NaShiHaiKuMo2022 for April 01
It’s National Shit Haiku Month. Here is my April 01 NaShiHaiKuMo. - Romantic Warrior
Romantic Warrior Romantic warrior arrives with hope vowing to protect your heart his quest is not one of science it’s the expression of his… Read more: Romantic Warrior - Austrian Alps (a haibun)
Austrian Alps (a haibun) Destination: Lienz, Austria. The drive from Bled, Slovenia to Lienz, Austria is a beautiful one, even when traveling the major… Read more: Austrian Alps (a haibun) - Nominated for Author of The Month
I am honored to have been nominated for ‘Author of The Month’ of January & February 2022 at SpillWords Press. “Air Pollution and the… Read more: Nominated for Author of The Month - Facing the Storm
Facing the Storm To face the storm, it’s here we standwind blowing strong, in full commandas if on cue, huge waves performsurf crashing hard,… Read more: Facing the Storm - Expiring Salt
Expiring Salt Why is there an expiration date on my 250 million year old salt? Will it really expire seven months from now unless… Read more: Expiring Salt - The Drunkard’s Daughter
While browsing old newspapers, I came across a poem called The Drunkard’s Daughter on the front page of the Shepherdstown Register (Shepherdstown, West Virginia)… Read more: The Drunkard’s Daughter - Driving the Duoro Valley
Driving the Duoro Valley We start the day before nature’s full sun Another adventure, we’re on the run Some call it work but to… Read more: Driving the Duoro Valley - Feeding Frenzy
Feeding Frenzy Birds swoop in and start to nibble More arrive and begin to quibble Chasing each other round and round To see who… Read more: Feeding Frenzy - Not A Fan of Winter
Not A Fan of Winter (a haibun) Destination: Warmth. I was never a fan of winter. Don’t get me wrong, I often enjoyed it… Read more: Not A Fan of Winter - Shiver Me Timbers
Shiver Me Timbers Shiver me timbers the captain said an utterance of words that accompany dread If enemy cannonballs continue hitting this ship down… Read more: Shiver Me Timbers - Meteoric Devastation
Meteoric Devastation The meteor came from parts unknown Hitting its target with a force of stone Earth would never be the same again Sadly,… Read more: Meteoric Devastation - Did Someone Say Food?
Did Someone Say Food? It’s no ordinary food court I’ll have you know be sure you’re quite hungry before you go More than two… Read more: Did Someone Say Food? - Credit The Muse
Credit The Muse A muse is but an abstract being helping transcribe what our mind is seeing Or just an object of blame when… Read more: Credit The Muse - Time Has No Concept of Time
Time Has No Concept of Time Time has no beginning Time has no end Time is infinity Humans have yesterday Humans have tomorrow Humans… Read more: Time Has No Concept of Time - Smiling Sheep
Smiling Sheep High up the mountain above the fray where sheep are kings and graciously smile for you when taking a snappy By car… Read more: Smiling Sheep - Married On The Winter Solstice
Married On The Winter Solstice (a haibun) Destination: Happiness. We were married on the winter solstice, the “shortest day” of the year, a day… Read more: Married On The Winter Solstice - Kwansaba Praise
Kwansaba Praise Our family unity helps us stand strong Each of us drives our own destiny Group efforts benefit each one in time Share… Read more: Kwansaba Praise - Hollywood Encounter
Hollywood Encounter Eight years ago today I remember it quite well I met my true love in Tinsel Town Against the back wall our… Read more: Hollywood Encounter - Lost Lyrics: What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
“What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” is a song written by lyricist James Dean, along with composers William Weatherspoon and Paul Riser. Jimmy Ruffin was the performing artist on the initial 1966 Motown Records release. - Lost Lyrics: Cortez the Killer
“Cortez the Killer” by Neil Young was released in 1975 on his album Zuma. The song was ranked 27 on Guitar World’s 50 Greatest Guitar Solos and 329 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. - O Trebuchet
O Trebuchet (sung to the tune of O Tannenbaum / O Christmas Tree) O Trebuchet O Trebuchet How graceful is your swing arm Your… Read more: O Trebuchet - Fragmented Fragments
Fragmented Fragments December air heavy with exasperation escaping from a trapezoidal tomb magenta granules ascend the sycamores stationary peaks envious of moving clouds salty… Read more: Fragmented Fragments - Half An Inkblot
Half An Inkblot It is just half an inkblot so I am told Because the paper I forgot to fold But what if instead… Read more: Half An Inkblot - Market On The Rambles
Market On The Rambles (a haibun) Destination: Mercado de la Boqueria, Barcelona. Rambling down ‘The Rambles’ of Barcelona, Spain has long been a must-do… Read more: Market On The Rambles - Sharp Edge Of Night
Sharp Edge Of Night (with audio) Sharp edge of night eviscerates the day spewing dark o’er the land keeping light at bay Night exerts… Read more: Sharp Edge Of Night - Mudlark – When Worlds Collide
Mudlark – When Worlds Collide Mudshark is legend at the Edgewater Inn steeped within Zappa mythology slightly weird but no sin Meadowlark Lemon you… Read more: Mudlark – When Worlds Collide - Glass City River Wall Haibun
Image: Glass City River Wall, courtesy of Urban Sight, Inc. Glass City River Wall (a haibun) Destination: Toledo, Ohio, USA. Many cities have an… Read more: Glass City River Wall Haibun - Eroded Coast, Windswept Man
Image: Eroded Coast, Ireland, Fay Collins, oil on board Eroded Coast, Windswept Man I’ve been down this rutted path countless times before always providing… Read more: Eroded Coast, Windswept Man - Bells of Giralda
Bells of Giralda seen and heard for miles perched high up in the belfry waiting strikes with bated breath clang clang felt to the… Read more: Bells of Giralda - I Find Myself
I Find Myself It’s early morning and I find myself alone on empty sidewalks outside a grand cathedral as an open door beckons me… Read more: I Find Myself - Light Pillar
Light Pillar Volcanic magma emitting fiery glow shaped and filtered by Mount Etna’s caldera reflecting off ice crystals high above the night air This… Read more: Light Pillar - My First Chicken
My First Chicken I remember the day I caught my first chicken or is it only the photograph that I fondly remember I remember… Read more: My First Chicken - Tilting at the Windmills of My Mind
Tilting at the Windmills of My Mind Another day that I must fight the enemy within It’s not real I’m told – no need… Read more: Tilting at the Windmills of My Mind - 42 Days On The Iberian Peninsula
42 Days On The Iberian Peninsula A picture a day from our 2021 self-guided tour of the Iberian Peninsula. The image featured above was… Read more: 42 Days On The Iberian Peninsula - The Surf of Praia do Norte, Nazaré
The Surf of Praia do Norte, Nazaré They say that Nazaré is the ocean’s Everest with waves so tall us humans, cannot comprehend When… Read more: The Surf of Praia do Norte, Nazaré - Sunset of My Life
The Sunset of My Life Day begins with heavy fog preventing use of many senses cannot see beyond the pale cannot see life’s governing… Read more: Sunset of My Life - Clouds of Montserrat
Clouds of Montserrat No one goes to Montserrat just to see the clouds the mountains there extend beyond the misty shroud The rugged peaks… Read more: Clouds of Montserrat - Maggie May of Barcelona
Maggie May of Barcelona Entranced I was by Maggie May Educating me the Mediterranean way How many before me I cannot say Belonging to… Read more: Maggie May of Barcelona - The Burning of Detroit
The Burning of Detroit – a Halloween Sonnet Starting somewhat harmless, some time ago Soaping, egging, other mischievous pranks These acts then morphed into… Read more: The Burning of Detroit - Puente Nuevo Shines At Night
Puente Nuevo shines at night Beauty revealed by grace of light Entrancing all within its sight Thirty-four years in the making With Andalusia sun… Read more: Puente Nuevo Shines At Night - What is Showing?
What is Showing? The theater is empty now, although the show goes on Who hears the gentle clicking of the film in the projector?… Read more: What is Showing? - Alabama Nights
Alabama Nights Moonrise through the pines immediately reunites me with a former place and time Vision deeply etched in memory like the well-worn groove… Read more: Alabama Nights - Song of Roland’s Oral Tradition
Song of Roland’s Oral Tradition Song of Roland is an epic poem About a noble warrior a knight so bold 291 stanzas and 4002… Read more: Song of Roland’s Oral Tradition - The Coolest Job I Ever Had
The Coolest Job I Ever Had “Every time I’ve gone scuba diving, I’ve found a sunken ship – a sunken spaceship.”– Ron Rowland This… Read more: The Coolest Job I Ever Had - My Black Hole Soliloquy
My Black Hole Soliloquy Why can’t I keep my thoughts in focus? They briefly flash then vanish before I lock on None can escape… Read more: My Black Hole Soliloquy - Echo of My Heart
Echo of My Heart moving outward from its source drifting westward like the sun soaring skyward beyond the clouds bouncing downward reversing course never… Read more: Echo of My Heart - The Legend of Tan‘gun — The Bear-Woman’s Son
The Legend of Tan‘gun — The Bear-Woman’s Son Hwanung came down from heavena son of the Creator, this was his thinghe brought along three… Read more: The Legend of Tan‘gun — The Bear-Woman’s Son - Is This Heaven? – No, it’s Iowa
Is This Heaven? – No, It’s Iowa I watched a baseball game last night played on the Field of Dreams it reminded all those… Read more: Is This Heaven? – No, it’s Iowa - The House Where I Grew Up
The House Where I Grew Up I wasn’t born in this house but I got there as fast as I could arriving when just… Read more: The House Where I Grew Up - Becoming Cheyenne (a true story)
Becoming Cheyenne (a true story) William Rowland loved the land and the Cheyenne woman Sis Frog. He married her west they went searching for… Read more: Becoming Cheyenne (a true story) - Back Streets of Tokyo
Back Streets of Tokyo Leave the neon behind it’s here you want to go off the beaten path to the back streets of Tokyo… Read more: Back Streets of Tokyo - Bath, England
Bath, Somerset, England was originally dubbed ‘Aquae Sulis’ by the Romans in the first century. Bath was named a World Heritage site in 1987.… Read more: Bath, England - Pulteney Bridge Haibun
Pulteney Bridge (a haibun) Destination: Bath, England. With a good night’s sleep, a hearty English breakfast, and the adrenalin that accompanies the start of… Read more: Pulteney Bridge Haibun - A Love So Strong
A Love So Strong Quietly she enters the room I catch a scent of her perfume I’m quite lucky to be her groom Our… Read more: A Love So Strong - Fractured Proverbs
Fractured Proverbs (rejected by the editor) You can lead a horse to water, but it would be easier to ride him there You can’t… Read more: Fractured Proverbs - Tranquility
Tranquility tranquility is the state I seekthat gratifying level of consciousnesswhere all fear and doubts vanishcalmness propagatesalong mesmerizing streamssoothing the bumps of my beingflowing… Read more: Tranquility - I Am Not A Poet
I Am Not A Poet I am not a poet Although I often write in rhyme I have not reached that perch, at least… Read more: I Am Not A Poet - Her Eyes
Her Eyes First thing I noticed________my muse of happiness Decades later still shining _______ my center of gravity Deep well of inspiration _______ my… Read more: Her Eyes - Garden Haikus
Garden Haikus Wound tight like coiled springawaiting the morning lightdew on daylilies Hostas landing padbees extract nectar all daysoon will be honey Vibrant reds… Read more: Garden Haikus - Blues Hall Juke Joint
Blues Hall Juke Joint Down there on Beale Streetis a joint you need to knowwhere they play the Delta Blues‘til you hurt down to… Read more: Blues Hall Juke Joint - Where Are The Romantics?
Where Are The Romantics? (an ubi sunt) Where are the romantics? Those who cheer the common man embracing the curiosity of childhood to better… Read more: Where Are The Romantics? - Bonus Points Whirlpool
Bonus Points Whirlpool (a terza rima) I started out with a blank canvas My quest was bonus points galore Scribbling an epic tale as big… Read more: Bonus Points Whirlpool - 2021 Great Race: San Antonio to Greenville
2021 Great Race: San Antonio, TX to Greenville, SC The green flag dropped on the 2021 Great Race in San Antonio, Texas on June… Read more: 2021 Great Race: San Antonio to Greenville - Stonehenge: Inside The Circle
Stonehenge: Inside The Circle Ever since I first heard about Stonehenge as a child, I have wanted to see it in person. It took… Read more: Stonehenge: Inside The Circle - Going To The Farm When I Was Little
Going To The Farm When I Was Little Years ago, when I was little (today it seems so long ago) my annual trip to… Read more: Going To The Farm When I Was Little - Stonehenge Summer Solstice Sunset
Stonehenge Summer Solstice Sunset We enter the Stonehenge grounds by walking up “the Avenue” in the same manner of the ancients, as they partook… Read more: Stonehenge Summer Solstice Sunset - Cabin In The Woods
Cabin In The Woods endless rainstorm won’t let me out, won’t let me roam endless rainstorm relentless barrage lacking form safe within the place… Read more: Cabin In The Woods - Faded Chevrolet
Faded Chevrolet Chrome still shining luster long gone hood clamp operational its necessity vanished blue paint visible originality shows through attempted rust removal abandoned… Read more: Faded Chevrolet - To Our Loving Parents
To Our Loving Parents The air is filled with love today it helps us hide our sorrow We only wish we had the chance… Read more: To Our Loving Parents - Low Risk Predictions
Low Risk Predictions I predict an abundant harvest from the rich soilthe kind that rewards us for our immense toil I predict the children… Read more: Low Risk Predictions - Let’s Put An End To This
Let’s Put An End To This It starts faintly, barely a whisperquietly expressing our displeasurewhy can’t we put an end to this? Self interested… Read more: Let’s Put An End To This - White Peaches
White Peaches Driving to a Kansas orchard three times a weekMy grandpa’s annual quest for perfect white peachesMaking sure to arrive when their ripeness… Read more: White Peaches