When I finally dropped into Jackson Hole last week I had to pause for a bit. It was a little unsettling. I was confounded by conflicting feelings of anticipation and anxiety. This is the place that I have chosen to leave—friends, connections, and history. It felt awkward to be back here. I fixed that though—when I got into town I promptly picked up my mail and headed to Abuelitos!
I have spent the last four months with a date, September 23, as the only guidepost for my planning, my figuring out what I do next, or how long I will be here or there, which route I take and what do I need to do before that single, specific day. This summer’s focus on traveling through Montana, northern Idaho and eastern Washington ended last week. Phase I. I drove 5,000 miles, spent the night at 93 places, visited libraries and museums in almost every town, read of the geology for all of the areas I drove through, saw some incredible landscapes, and met some great people. I have spent the last 4 months adjusting—to a new me, a major change in the way I live, adjusting to meeting a whole realm of different people and challenges and new ideas. I didn’t plan on a Phase I. And I only call it that because it did not fit into what I thought that I would be doing for the next few years. I’m supposed to be carefully, conscientiously traveling around, delving into towns and people and ideas of various communities, so that I can determine where I want to live next. And I knew, belatedly, after I embarked on this journey, that what I was doing was not fulfilling those goals. So, PHASE I! And now I shift.
Phase I has been, and I say this with all sincerity, great. And now it is over. I ended the summer travels with time in Yellowstone, meeting my friend Mary and going up Beartooth Pass, down Chief Joseph Scenic Highway, visiting the Heart Mountain Confinement camp, and several days in Cody finally exploring the Buffalo Bill Museum. After a couple of months visiting friends and family I will REALLY begin my search for a new home-begin the voyage of discovery that I had envisioned. But meanwhile I have a couple of weeks in Jackson, a couple more in Palisade, Colorado, and Thanksgiving with family; a reasonable period of adjustment to spending more time in one spot, of not packing things up and moving every morning. I actually got used to that and fear that it will be hard to not just keep moving; it was an easy lifestyle to sink into.
Here are some photos that show bits and pieces of my summer:
Beautiful photos – simply beautiful.
One day, I will follow in your footsteps – in more ways than one.
Hi Louise! Your pictures are lovely and your writing thoughtful. I have so enjoyed following your travels, thank you for sharing! Hugs, Mary