I started vlogging – video blogging – shortly after I retired in 2006. It gave me an opportunity to connect with people across the country and around the world. Traveling around the country, I went on to meet more than 50 of those vloggers in person, between 2009 and 2014.
Talking to the camera about things that were important to me was a way to sort through my thoughts, but it became a sort of hobby, and my vlogs included video poems and collaborations with other vloggers on videos about recent events in the news, as well as creative projects. Many of my vlogs were recorded as I sat, walked, biked and kayaked along the Niagara River, which led to a change of my screen name to rivrvlogr in 2008. At the height of my obsession with vlogging, 2010-2011, I made more than 540 videos in 24 months.
My production of videos diminished gradually, until I was making just two vlogs per month, and then tapered right off, so that I usually upload one a month. Those are my kayak vlogs. I share them with a small community, but the main reason I make them is to share with my family on Facebook.
My name is Ken, and I’m a (recovered) vlogger.
Kayak Moment
Floating against the bank,
out of the current
Paddle resting
on shaded water
Kingfisher cocks his head,
peers at me, then darts away
Heron on opposite shore
steps forward, takes flight
Calls of both birds
ring for a brief moment
Stillness of the morning air
returns, another reward
This poem first appeared her in April 2014.
rivrvlogr 
Totally charming…and the poem is a nice echo. Thanks for sharing! (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Any excuse to talk to myself. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful poem and video blogging sounds very interesting. Must try some time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
Beautiful poem. I enjoyed learning about your vlogging and the origins of your blog name…it makes sense now 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Janice. I’m sure that name has a lot of people scratching their heads.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to canoe when I was young. Your poem reminded me of that. Good memories. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, and thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is actually pretty cool!! You should share some of the photos you take along the way at some point. That was quite a variety of natives you came across on your journey. Sounds like fun:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. And, thank you for the idea. I’ll look through my photos and find some for a blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I finally got around to posting that photo blog!
https://rivrvlogr.wordpress.com/2018/05/01/kayaking-sights/
LikeLike
I checked it out. Nicely done. The sights and sounds must be amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yeah!
LikeLike
It sounds like a good life-
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 I’m certainly happy with it!
LikeLike
This is wonderful, Ken! And I’ve always wondered about the origin of your screen name, so I’m tickled to hear the explanation. Kayaking is so much fun, I love it, but don’t get to do it nearly enough. Great video, thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It was my pleasure. (Both the kayaking and the sharing.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Kayaking Sights | rivrvlogr
Pingback: Kayaking Sights – Ken Gierke | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo