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David Cale (ImagesOfTheJourney) > Sailing The Tectonic Seas

It might take a few million years to get anywhere but you can imagine what this amazing mountain has "seen" in its time...

SAILING THE TECTONIC SEAS by David Cale

The mountain rears magnificent 
like a titanic ship’s prow 
it cuts through countless dawns 
sun warmed or storm wracked 
mute testimony 
to the tectonic brooding 
of the planet below our feet 

I am tempted to feel small 

But a mountain is just a mountain 
not a comment on me
David Cale (ImagesOfTheJourney) > D-Day +65 Normandy: A Personal Journey photo
David Cale (ImagesOfTheJourney) > This German pillbox is actually in St. Malo but it so demonstrates the violence of the invasion.  These are the results of American Tanks taking on a German machine gun pillbox. It is close to 25 cm thick steel. It is interesting to note that there is only one hole which penetrated the metal.
David Cale (ImagesOfTheJourney) > Vimy Ridge Memorial

Canadians fought and captured this ridge 92 years ago.
David Cale (ImagesOfTheJourney) > D-Day +65 Normandy: A Personal Journey photo
David Cale (ImagesOfTheJourney) > I was haunted by the question.
Their stones stand silent in the setting sun, 
why is it that I can leave and they can not?
David Cale (ImagesOfTheJourney) > D-Day +65 Normandy: A Personal Journey photo
David Cale (ImagesOfTheJourney) > Dieppe's Chert (flint) Stone Beach
David Cale (ImagesOfTheJourney) > The Grange tunnel. Part of a vast maze of tunnels built to protect the soldiers from the "toxic" open fields. Eighty two years ago on this ridge, on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917 there was no peace, no leaves, no
grass, no memorial, only ceaseless noise, unending mud (tilled by countless artillery shells) swallowing
the bodies of thousands of nameless men.  Four divisions -one hundred thousand Canadians- men and
boys, many as young as sixteen, fought together for the first time as a distinct army corps.  Here 20,000
soldiers, marching behind a "creeping artillery barrage" from 1079 guns rose out of their tunnels and
trenches and launched into the north-west wind that swept the devastated countryside with sleet, snow
and machine gun fire.  Three days later they emerged, having accomplished what the French, with one
hundred and fifty thousand casualties over three years had failed, to achieve.  They had taken Vimy
Ridge.  Of the 10,602 casualties, 3,598 were young Canadians.  They would never in the words of John
McCrae, "feel dawn or see sunset glow" again.  

Many claim that this battle marked the end of our country's adolescence. This was the place where we earned the right to play at war with the bigger, older boys.  In recognition, the French government gave the land to Canada and has recognised it as Canadian soil.  When I read this I thought: so now we own a piece of  French real estate, the price, only sixty six thousand Canadian lives, a bargain at the time.  I put my hand on some of the  names engraved on the monument, the ones whose bodies disappeared in the mud without a trace, and felt chagrin replace my earlier feelings of pride.  Pride would have meant I had a right to glory in the suffering, pain, the fear and death of these Canadians who willingly or not, lost
their lives defending their King and his British empire.
Sailing The Tectonic Seas

It might take a few million years to get anywhere but you can imagine what this amazing mountain has "seen" in its time...

SAILING THE TECTONIC SEAS by David Cale

The mountain rears magnificent
like a titanic ship’s prow
it cuts through countless dawns
sun warmed or storm wracked
mute testimony
to the tectonic brooding
of the planet below our feet

I am tempted to feel small

But a mountain is just a mountain
not a comment on me
David Cale (ImagesOfTheJourney) > Sailing The Tectonic Seas

It might take a few million years to get anywhere but you can imagine what this amazing mountain has "seen" in its time...

SAILING THE TECTONIC SEAS by David Cale

The mountain rears magnificent 
like a titanic ship’s prow 
it cuts through countless dawns 
sun warmed or storm wracked 
mute testimony 
to the tectonic brooding 
of the planet below our feet 

I am tempted to feel small 

But a mountain is just a mountain 
not a comment on me
Sailing The Tectonic Seas

It might take a few million years to get anywhere but you can imagine what this amazing mountain has "seen" in its time...

SAILING THE TECTONIC SEAS by David Cale

The mountain rears magnificent
like a titanic ship’s prow
it cuts through countless dawns
sun warmed or storm wracked
mute testimony
to the tectonic brooding
of the planet below our feet

I am tempted to feel small

But a mountain is just a mountain
not a comment on me
See photo in original gallery.

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This site and my photography business have developed from a passion for wonder, for wandering and for story telling. In the past few years I have traveled to more than 700 cities and places in pursuit of wonders from which come my stories and photographs.

IMAGES OF THE JOURNEY PHOTOGRAPHY


High quality photographs that capture the essence of exotic travel which will bring that blank wall in your office or home to life. Photo gifts, calendars, clothing, are also available.
We are located about 20km (12mi) NW of the Toronto International Airport in the city of Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
My services include travel photojournalism, political or commercial event photography (no weddings).If you are in the home decorating business then call for wholesale pricing. Images or stories on this site may not be used for personal or commercial use without written permission or purchase from this site.
NOTE Many charitable or non profit organizations (NGOs) will be eligible to use these photos, or my services for NO FEE (expenses only) Contact me at david@imagesofthejourney.com or 416-890-0740.

copyright 1996-2009 David Cale [Images Of The Journey Photography] All Rights Reserved