Phil here.
Yesterday, late in the afternoon, we drove into the park to the edge of Lake McDonald for the last time. The gate to the park was unmanned (usually there is a person that greets you by saying "Welcome back!") and no one was at the lake shore. It wasn't windy for the first time since we had been there. In the distance, the mountains had a new dusting of snow and, although clouds pressed down, the sun was shining on white rock faces. I had told Vivian we should refer to the mountains as "our friends" and so we were here to say good bye to them.
It was still, very quiet, there were no crowds, I could hear the water lapping on the rocks. The feeling of cold was coming out of the trees. And I felt a wonderful sense of peace. It was like getting something unexpected and extra -- a bonus for our visit.
Of course I had to take lots of photographs hoping somehow the photo could not only show what I saw but convey what I felt at this moment.
Back in our cabin I took a late afternoon walk down the hill, across the highway and down the slope to the railroad tracks. While I stood there I heard a train coming and took this picture. It was frightening standing beside the rails as this train approached at 60 mph, the diesel engines roaring. As the cars passed they created a windy that nearly froze me.
This morning we woke up at 6 a.m. and hit the road early. It was 19 degrees and it took 10 miles for our windshield to completely clear. As we drove down a narrow wooded road we saw two black shapes run across the road: bears! At last! We also saw a pheasant and a field full of wild turkeys.
I'm in the Missoula Airport now, waiting for our jet to Denver which is delayed. I'm sad to leave but looking forward to returning to the warm land, our busy and noisy home.
No comments:
Post a Comment