Time’s river seems to be running fast this year. It feels as if we only recently arrived in Turkey, but actually we’ve been here almost five months. When we visit ancient cities, which are as common here as shopping centers … Continue reading->
We departed the Bulgarian village during one of those still midwinter nights when sounds are muffled, the lanes deserted and you listen for the cracking twig, the stealthy footstep, the jackal’s howl.
First it snowed. Then a Christmas market popped up, and the season got underway with a round of parties in both the local and the expat communities, Christmas caroling, festive lunches and dinners, friends visiting, kisses exchanged on cold red … Continue reading->
I suppose I have to start somewhere. I haven’t posted in months. I could plead overwork, had to complete two books and get a running start on a third, plus had deadlines for a flurry of zine articles. But truth … Continue reading->
Evening breeze Cherry blossoms falling Storks in pearl colored sky Straw colored wine Raindrops
Last week there were snow flurries and biting winds. This week spring exploded. Warm southerly winds came up, and tulips and daffodils pushed their way to sunlight. Alyssum, purple clover, cornflowers and bluebells line the lanes and every growing thing … Continue reading->
An Approach to Survival: There are other books, some of them good books (I list a few in the “Suggested Reading” section in the back of this book), that go deep into wilderness survival, primitive skills, disaster preparedness and other … Continue reading->
Most nomads live lightly on the earth. How lightly depends on how they earn their livelihood, their mode of transportation, and other things. We recently met a family of Yurok Nomads in Turkey, part of an extended clan. Their immediate … Continue reading->
Since it’s Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d post a love story. This is a somewhat expanded version of the one that’s in Just Passing Through. Motorcycle Memories Chapter Two France the Fair by James Morgan Ayres We rolled off the … Continue reading->
The Tao: The Way Introduction The scent of free floating fear permeates the zeitgeist like last week’s grease in a fast food joint. We live with economic catastrophe, tsunamis, tornados, earthquakes, floods, nuclear plant meltdowns, terrorist attacks, never ending wars, … Continue reading->
Gentlemen & Savages This is a true story, as best I can remember it. The years blur recollections so I can’t say it happened this way in all details. But these events were burned into my memory and became one … Continue reading->
Living Lightly In each issue of Sojourner’s Journal, in this column, Living Lightly, we will discuss simplicity and minimalism and review certain objects that have worked for us, often over many years. Some years ago we began a process intended … Continue reading->
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I’ve received many questions from readers asking why I’ve not posted to Sojourner’s Journal for the past few months. Also received some complaints, innuendos and even accusations that I’d been slacking off, and exhortations to get with it. Guilty as … Continue reading->
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On a sunny morning in early March, ML and I left Istanbul on a comfortable air- conditioned bus. We traveled to the Bulgarian border over smooth four lane freeways running through rolling hills and fields of grain, stopping at rest … Continue reading->
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Overheard conversation, woman in a tour group, ‘It’s a tourist trap. Everything’s over priced. Bargain to get the prices down. Be careful. Watch for pickpockets.’ Of course it’s a tourist trap, has been for over five hundred years. It’s also … Continue reading->
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ML has been in full Miguel Mouse mode this evening. Miguel Mouse makes do with what she has. Better than Mickey. We’re renting a village house in the hills above Kas Turkey, no screens on windows, major attack of insect … Continue reading->
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It was a long winter. Everyone agreed on that. It was dark and cold and went on and on and on and everyone was glad when it was over. Spring came fitfully and teasingly to Bulgaria. A few bright hot … Continue reading->
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First night in and I awake at 05:00, December dark, crouching facing the door of the hotel room, heart beating fast, respiration elevated, skin tingling, hair standing up, all senses on alert, carpet underfoot, cold air and scent of sea … Continue reading->
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Ibrahim chops wood with style and grace. Like a martial artist deep in practice or a dancer working his way through a choreographed routine, each movement is smooth and practiced. Ibrahim swings a straight handled ax with a long curved … Continue reading->
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Building With Stone Here men build with stone. All around us are stone walls, steps, plazas, verandas and houses. Over the past … Continue reading->
Sun, Apr 5, 2020: Killing Mr. Jones
Wed, Apr 1, 2020: On Hoarding
Mon, Mar 30, 2020: Masks Save Lives – Covid-19
Sun, Mar 29, 2020: Visions of Apocalypse
Fri, Aug 23, 2019: Hijacked Twitter
Sun, Aug 18, 2019: The Incident
Sat, Aug 10, 2019: Seas and Oceans Without End
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