Image: Mementos of a great tour. Batmobile form Harlingen Colegiate High, Candy from Valley View South Elementary, other items little awards from poetry workshops in Austin

29.04.24 – 147:115) Kept wakin’ most of the night

Only to find the time wasn’t right

Back to sleep but all in vain, soon I’m awake again

At last it’s time for me to start my day.

Let the motel sta...

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Image: Participants of the 16th Annual Central Texas Poetry & Prose Festival on stage at Tablerock Apmphitheater, Salado. The theme was aninals and saled of the anthoogy have helped spay feral cats.         

26.04.24 – 136:104) Piped music playin’

In the corridor of the motel I’m stayin’

Makin’ my way to the communal shower, it’s an early hour

Only me there, no more I ain’t got n...

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Image: Arriving at my motel early afternoon, it wasn't that bad, clean enough but prone to loud music at times from a nearby complex. Journey back went well small hold up for another vehicle, but good detour so no great worries.

25.04.24 – 131:99) Departure day both gladness and sadness

Gladness at what I’ve done, seen an’ where I’ve been

Memories abound of new friend...

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Image: Nianna or Her Most Gracious Majesty, enjoing a meal with her Most Loyal Prince Consort, she missed my farewell meal so we went out togter on my last night in Edinburg. I stayed at her house again and as usual enjoyed looking after the cats 

17.04.24 – 110:78) Nianna’s at school she’ll be ringin’ round

To see if a walk-in vet can be found

I’m at the house ready to go...

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Image: On the way to Nianna's in Edinburg after meeting up with Clark in McAllen, couldn't resist taking this pic of the two bikers while we were at the traffic lights which seem to last a while on red, compared to UK traffic lights

16.04.24 – 107:76) Departure day, for The Valley I’m away

Dressed, car stowed, I’m on the road

Low speed limits than 75 I think “Yay” now let t...

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Image: Working replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theater in Odessa West Texas, used for open mic community events as well as Shakespeare plays and is situated on the campus of Odessa College. Thanks to the diligence and determination of two friends Kat and Bonnie, I was invited to perform there at short notice, I did and the accoustics were great. As well as the theater, the complex also has a replic...

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Image: Little Llano River where it runs into Llano River, a series of creeks before it joins the Colorado River

11.04.24 – 83:51) Leanne’s on reception goodbye said before I head

West once more on the second leg of this year’s tour

Tell her how grateful I feel about her gettin’ me a good deal

An’ as usual it’s dark as I leave th...

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Image: Me and Jojo at Pease Park Austin with Malin a female troll holding a bowl. She reminds us that we should share the water and resources with the animals that live here with us. More than 80% of Malin’s Fountain is made from recycled, repurposed, or found materials.

01.04.24 33:1) Yesterday I landed, suitcase collected, through customs

Car collected things...

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Image: View from the plane window over mainland USA

31.03.24 – 21) Up and ready in time to see

Taxi arrive at half past three

Departure day we’re om our way

Motorway clear, Manchester airport I’m here

Book in and customs soon through, no todo

Breakfast, Full English not much to brag about

Better to use KFC or Costa that’s no doubt

But now it’s done, it’s coffee a...

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Image: The flags of West Yorkshire depicting the white rose, replacing the St Georges flags that had worn out. They were fitted to the car for short journeys to open mics, lets poeple konw where I'm from. 

22.12.23 – 1) It’s now December, time to remember this year almost gone

What went on what went right and what went wrong

In July it seemed right to go and book ...

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Image: Reciting at 1 in 12 Club Bradford on the last day of National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo), a creative writing project held every April, where particpants attempt to write a poem a  day for one month. NaPoWriMo coincides with National Poetry Month in America and Canada.  There is no limit to the poems write as many as you want, and a subject of your choice. 

29.04.23 -194:1...

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Image: Departing at Austin, a fellow passenger, we struck up conversation when an arrogant first class passenger walked throug the crowd and under the lane marking tape to get on the plane. He walked straight to the desk, but he was sent to join the queue. I laughted aloud and said to the guy in the pic "Don't you just love it when that happens? he said "Yes" and the conversation flowed.  

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Image: Bob "Mud" McMahon, Me, Thom. I  called at Thom's to see Bob we met in 2011. Bob is an ecological poet and musiciamn he recycles recyclable items to make musical instuments. he also scuplts in mud and paper pulp.  When the three of us are together we are known as the Commonwealth Poets, two Aussies and a Limey Guy 

26.04.23 – 177:129) Goodbye’s said, away I head,

Break of Day, Au...

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Image: Contestants at the annual Slam Competition, I didn't win but got some good comennts for my impromptu style 

18.04.23 – 134:86) Last night Nianna came home from her meeting

How wonderful her hugs and greeting

Hugged with a smile chatted a while before the day ends

Cuddlin’ her cats an’ hopin’ we’ll be friends

She shows me round an’ where things can be found

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Image: Clark's with Ivy, it's always great to get there and give her a hug, later I'll be taking her for walks

17.04.23 – 131:83) I wake it’s early. I look at the clock and think

I can stay in bed no longer, the call of the road the stronger

I rise, shower, dress, pack, load and away, another travelling day

Just one more for a road poet on tour

As usual it’s dark as I lea...

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Image: Me and Kat Copelad at Louies Place with owner Luis his son Ben and Ben's fiance Mercedes. The place is named in honour of Luis's son Louie who died in tragic circumstances. As such Luis gives a percentage of the profits to charity and also councells  people with PTSD, as a military verteran he also offers councelling to other military vets. 

14.04.23 – 112:64) A good ...

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Image: Tarja and Laurel at KCKM Radio my first port of call after breakfast. 

13.04.23 – 107:69) Time to depart with heavy heart

But smile when I think about yesterday

When I found out, I’d been wearing my socks inside out

GPS seems to work without a hitch, by passin’ the on/off switch

Roads is quiet soon I’m in Midland but one thing makes me sore

Gas here is mor...

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Image: Forest Park where many past event of teh Forest Fest took place, it holds some happy memories

12.04.23 – 104:56) Things went right I got my washing done last night

A comfy bed almost slept like the dead

Day began dawning I looked out to a sunny morning

Shorts the order of the day but before I’m away

I been lookin’ round, no iron to be found

Got some...

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Image: A nice clear road, it was like that most of the way once I got past Liberty Hill. 

11.04.23 – 103:55) I’m up packed and away,

For some reason the gps doesn’t want to play

No joke, it seems the on/off switch is broke

Looks like I’m gonna be, drivin’ from memory

Eventually it comes on an’ says calculatin’ for it to kick in I’m waitin’

An’ it keeps sayin’ calcula...

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Image: Thom and me sharing a slot on Koop Radio for the return of a programme called writing on air, it went well, one of many events for National Poetry Month. Thom was equally determind to do 30 open mics in 30 days whether zoom or live.

30.03.23 – 30) Sure was a delight, meetin’ up with Thom again last night

An event not to be missed, he said “get your name on the List...

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Image: Part of the in flight entertaimnet system, in addition to music films and games there is an interactive map which show wher eyou areat any given time also says how far you have gone, how far to go, time, height and speed.

Departure Day

29.03.23 – 19) Rise, dress, coffee, taxi arrives then I’m away

Another poetry tour departure day

Motorways clear, it feels good to be ...

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So called because both events run together and I come home on April 28 which leaves two days of NaPoWriMo, so  there willl be extra poetry after The Journey Home.

Image: A look to the future, some of the events planned for West Texas, they went well last year in November, here's hoping they go well this April.

The Run Up

26.12.22 – 1) The year got colder as it got older

I booked m...

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Image: My suitcase just off the carousel at Manchester Airport, as it came towards me I said "Come to daddy" it felt great knowing that it had been with at both start and  finnish. Three previous tours it had been left behind either going out or coming back and all of them were at Heathrow, that's why Schipol seemed a better idea.   

03.12.22 – 115) Sky’s grey, not to worried it’s departur...

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Image: The Beast loaded ready fot the journey to Austin, I really enjoyed driving it once I got use to the size, plenty of power for the longer journeys, and comfortable.

02.12.22 – 111) I woke in the mornin’gloom,

Hearin’ someone in the other room

Mario gettin ready for work, not for me to lurk

Because, I need to say “Adios”

We hug, a moment to treasure, this trips ...

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Image: A local comic book store, we were due to go to Mexico but it rained so we visited a comic book store instead. My first ever visit, was impressed, and there werre free video games in te back room. Later we visited The Musuem of South Texas History 

24.11.22 – 91) Woke once more to a sky of grey, it’s Thanksgiving Day

It’s quiet an’ I’m remembering yesterday

On th...

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Image: "The Beast" outside Clarks on arrival, I'd made really good time mainly due to the roads being surprisingly clear, and The Beast having plenty of power. In the background is The Royal Standard Clark flew to celebrate my arrival and let others know I was there. He is pictured in the backgound with his friend Blanca

23.11.22 – 90) Alarm rings I wake to find last nights events sti...

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Image: Early morning in Midland shortly after sunup, outside the motel whjere I was staying, it was cold and would be for most of the time I was stayng there.

18.11.22 - 70) Last night went alright, for me an’ Chris it was a delight

I shared my rhyme, in Midland for the first time

This morning it’s clear with a chill in the air. The cold winds still there

So breakfa...

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Image: Chris relaxing at the motel prior to goingto the gig at Destination that evening, we only dedcide to make it a twosome the afternoon before setting off. We had a great night at Destination and a free meal.

17.11.22 – 68) Rise, shower, dress pack and away

Pick up Chris along the way, decision was made yesterday

He thought it would be hip joinin’ me on my poetry road trip

T...

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Saw this mural when I had parked up for a poetry workshop, reminded me of when I first came and there were novelty items saying "Keep Austin Weird".

04.11.22 – 15) We landed last night it was still light

But it seemed a pain, waiting to get off the plane

Then it was go, to the carousel but it was slow

It wasn’t a gaffe, they were short on staff

One man unloading on his own at l...

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So called, because at times it seemed like it would never happen. Image: Yorkshire items pictured at Schipol Airport Amsterdam bought for 2020 at last they were going too. The cup is a veteran, the other three were making their Texas debut  

03.11.22 – 1) Alarm sounds, twenty past one, Departure Day has begun

Wash dress, final packing, make sure nothings lacking

Coff...

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NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month) is a creative writing project held annually in April in which participants attempt to write a poem each day for one month. It coincides with the National Poetry Month in the United States of America and Canada. Usually it would form part of my Texas Tour, but this year, unlike 2020, & 2021 being cancelled, due to the pandemic,  I did them as a standalone p...

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The poems are about us coming out of lockdown what we did as we came out of it, and my hopes to get a tour of Texas in before the end of the year. Things looked promising, we were hoping the ban on flights to the USA from the UK would soon be lifted there were various festivals coming off in September and October, I had been booked to appear at an event in West Texas, should this have happened. Ev...

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NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month) is a creative writing project held annually in April in which participants attempt to write a poem each day for one month. It coincides with the National Poetry Month in the United States of America and Canada. Usually it would form part of my Texas Tour, but this year, as with 2020, due to it being cancelled, I did it as a standalone project, using my tim...

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So called because my 2020 tour had been cancelled and I hoped for 2021 to be back to normal if there is such a thing, I began writing poems as in previous tours as to what was going on this part ended so I could take part in 2021 NaPoWriMo (A Poem a Day for April) with the intention to carry on in May with The Run Up Pt 2 Coming out of Lockdown, which I did after NaPoWriMo 2021. Things were going ...

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A series of Haiku's written on a daily basis in the form of an advent calendar, leading up tpo Christmas Eve. All relevant to the current situation on a daily basis.

1/12/20 First of December

Twenty four days to go 

Then it's Christmas Day 

2/12/20 Morning backoned

It was December second

Lockdown was over

3/12/20 The newspapers said 

There's a vaccine on the ...

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NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month) is a creative writing project held annually in April in which participants attempt to write a poem each day for one month. It coincides with the National Poetry Month in the United States of America and Canada. Usually it would form part of my Texas Tour, but this year due to it being cancelled, I did it as a standalone project, using my time and experienc...

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So called because of the Coronavirus my trip was called off as country after country shut down as it swept across the world. Everything started out as usual, plans were made, put into action, events recorded in rhyme. Reaching 1500 travel poems would be easy, by the time I'd finished it could  have been well over 1600 but it was not to be. I decided to carry on writing and make 1500, it did turn o...

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Image: Circuit of the Americas, home of the U.S. Grand Prix, besides which this 3.4-mile racetrack hosts concerts in its Austin 360 Amphitheater. I always wondered where it was. As it turns out it is South of the airport, this is the first time I have seen it.

30.4.19 - 192) Rose to face departure day, sad heart, sky of grey

To reception bound, coffee to bring me round

Hopi...

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Image: Back in Austin, flowers on the roadside verge opposite my motel, photographed on the way to supper.

29.4.19 189) Great night last night, what a delight

Supper in Mexico, potions just right

Didn’t feel alone, welcomed as one of their own

Treated well, interacted and found friendship as well

Sadly had to bid farewell,

US Border, bit of a queue, that’s it we’re through

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Image: My friend Clark Von Heller encouraging an up and coming young pianist called Kevin (see poem 158). Clark is showing him the chords for his variation of Pachalbels Canon

23.4.19 – 158) Breakfast an’ I’m reflectin’ on last night

It seemed things for Clark weren’t goin’ right

At his evenin’ class no one came,

Then his amplifier gave up the game

So another was bought at a mu...

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Image: Clark's Colonial Flag, always flown on my visit to depict English Poet in residence, we have even devised a ceromony for the flying and striking of it.

22.4.19 – 154) Once again it’s dark like yesterday,

Once again I’m on my way travellin’ some more,

The road Poet on tour

I leave the motel turn left an’ then I’m once more on Interstate 10

An’ offer a short prayer to driv...

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Image: Statue of the Guadalupe Bass, in a park at the side of the Guadalupe River, it is the state fish of Texas, and found only in the Hill County streams of  Texas, some of the tiles have been crafted by Kerrville citizens as a testament to the natural resources of Texas.

21.4.19 – 145) Once again it’s dark,

I’m leavin’ another motel car park

East horizon hue, tells me sun up ain’t...

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Image:  Early morning in Lamesa and the moon setting I was surprised the picture came out so clear.

17.4.19 - 127) Yesterday had gone alright,

All sorted an’ a bed for the night

But this mornin’ a surprise, couldn’t believe my eyes

My car keys weren’t seen,

Not in my pocket where they should have been

Not in my bags or anywhere, couldn’t find them nowhere

Searchin, high a...

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Image: The Panhandle Plain, arid and flat compared to the roadside views on the first part of the journey from Austin.

16.4.19 - 124) Kick Butt last night as usual a blast

Some thought it was a shame it was my last

Fewer than last week but we weren’t dull,

Recitin’ like the room was full

We had a ball then it was time to say “goodnight y’awl

Cos’ today’s the day I head out W...

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Image: Performing at Kick Butt a coffee house where open mics are held and they never like to turn anyone away. It is also a place where anything goes and does (within reason), not for the faint hearted. Note my Yorkshire tee shirt 

31.03.19 – 32) Woke to face the day, cool an’ sky of grey

Then away, breakfast stop, task number 1

The to AWR to see what needs to be done

Welcome mad...

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Image:  My suitcase at Austin Airport this year it arrived at the same time.

30.03.19 – 20) Departure day, taxi arrives I’m on my way along the M62

The day after we should have left the EU

Nothing more to be written or said as to Manchester I head

Look to the day ahead and more, as I begin my 9th poetry tour

Into a fog bank nothing to worry about

A few minutes later and I’m ...

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Image: Don Sitton legally blind for his entire life was a presenter at KPET Radio in Lamesa West Texas for 29 years, beginning in 1989. A familiar voice on the morning show he used to interview attendees at the Lamesa Forrest Fest. We met in 2011 when I first performed ther and struck up a friendship that lasted till he passed away on October 13 2018. I always looked forward to our intreviews I sh...

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Image: Shane Cooley singing at Ray Benson Stage, on Austin Airport departure concourse, we first met two years ago in the same concourse at a different bar. His singing inspired me to write a poem, he goy a copy he like it, and kept in touch, this year he invited me to recite it. So the poem that was written two years ago was recited in the location that it was written. The audience loved it.

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Image: Ivy, having to say goodbye to her after we had got on so well, I felt really sad hence the first poem, which captures my thoughts so well.

30.04.18-148) Ivy asleep in the other room,

I wake to the mornings gloom

Tried to move through the house

With the stealth of a mouse

Pack the car quietly but to no avail,

When I saw a little figure with a wagging tail

Our last w...

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Image: Receiving awards for services to The Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival from Jesse G Herrara. L to r Daniel Garcia Ordaz, Trev (me), Jesse G, Edward Vidaurre. We each received a belt buckle with our initial on. I was almost in tears with pride.

24.04.18-119) Yesterday priority 1 as usual get my laundry done

In the machine an’ that’s that, time to chat

Over coffee ...

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