The Human Positioning System or “Who needs a map?”

by incahootswithmuddyboots
October 13, 2015
11 comments
Blogging University, North America, Photography, Poetry

Without a map
landmarks
along this road
remind me
each summer
of what lies ahead
around the bend
on the other side of the valley
over mountain passes
each stop
familiar
the sights
and the sounds
and the smells:

Evergreen forests
gnarly oaks in meadows
scent of eucalyptus in the air
bark peeling on Madrone trees

My
Midsummer Night’s Dream
alive in Ashland
with time to explore the town
see a Shakespeare play
and on I go
the next day.

Across the Siskiyou Mountains
the sun in my eyes
California,
I am back!
Fond memories
bring a tear to my eyes.
Sounds of the Klamath rushing
music in my ear
along with bird songs,
I do love it here!

Mount Shasta
stately any time of the year
tall trees all around
caverns deep and dark
the lake,
sadly lower
each time I drive past
water levels receding very fast.

Endless blue sky
searing heat under a super bright sun
Welcome to the
Central Valley!
The race on I-5 is on
with speed limit signs
seemingly ignored
by all but a few.

Rice fields
lush and green
in sharp contrast
to cracked and parched soil.
It’s been 500 miles
the next turnoff is mine
heading west now
through
sunflower fields
orchards
dusty brown hills.

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Last stop and a look
at San Pablo Bay
down below
Only an hour more
before
I get to where I go.
A welcoming slurp
by my very favorite pup
promptly helps me wake up!

IMG_1407

Forget the paper map!
Forget GPS!
Forget its monotonous voice!
They can never replace
human ears and eyes
with its shiny one-dimensional display
no battery needed
for
my brain to store away
details of adventures
on this route.
Without doubt!

IMG_1320

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My passions in life are vegetarian cooking, gardening, photography, writing, good books, traveling and nature. Thanks for stopping by, Sabine

11 thoughts on “The Human Positioning System or “Who needs a map?””

  3. SabahBatul. says:

    Love the pictures..and your interpretation of the assignment.The poem is so visual,I could see it all!! Loved it 🙂
    And your blog tagline,that rhymes too! 😛

    Liked by 1 person

  5. christine says:

    just revisited this… pictures so familiar.. because I have driven it myself so many times. I love maps and knowing a landscape well enough to go by visual cues…. forget the gps..
    Now we have a New Year to navigate…where’s the GPS for that?

    Liked by 1 person

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