Lunettes

Saturday I had Dan drop me off at a trailhead a few miles away,so I could find 2 more letterboxes in the forest. I found them both but then lost the trail and,after walking awhile, ended up in someone's backyard! I took a picture of their dog barking at me,but haven't uploaded yet.

Sadly, I had chosen the route because it would have taken me through the pines I wanted to photograph,and to the overlook. I missed the whole thing! As soon as I knew where I was, I phoned home and he came and got me,laughing. Today's hike will be more of an adventure,because if I get lost,no one is coming! I also got lost last week,I got turned around after stopping to stamp and ended up adding 20 minutes to my walk. It would've been allright if my friend wasn't coming to meet me at noon. Thoreau said if you've never been lost in the woods,you've never been in the woods,or something to that effect. I tend to agree,unless I am on a time restriction. It is a truly delicious feeling to be lost in the woods. Invigorating.


In honor of Halloween, I am focusing on finding the lunette letterboxes for the remainder of the month. Yesterday, at sunset I went to a graveyard and found one. The first in a series.I took a cemetery picture,it looks pretty spooky!

I love Halloween,I even got married on Halloween once. In 1992. It didn't work out though. In February of 1996 we gave up,and I actually filed on Valentine's day.I couldn't help it,it was my only day off,and I was in a hurry to get it done. I remember hoping it would be final on April fools day,but it went final in May instead.

Yesterday my friend and I went to the flea market,and I couldn't believe my good fortune, I got 2 good as new hiking bags(One for rocks!) and a hat(Cheesy china cowboy)all for $11.

Also last night I got anew stamp for boxing. A feather with blue ink. I have been using a camel,but decided on the feather when I went to get Dan a bear,incase I can get him to come with me sometime. I use ruby as my name and told him "Lost Johnny" would be a good one for him. I have a picture of him at the Lost Johnny sign in Hungry Horse,as he and his friends all call each other "Johnny."

Letterboxing

I have started hiking here at home, in case I never get to Montana again. It really is the perfect time of year for it. I also started letterboxing,which is actually a nice little treat out on the trail .(I had to do something to spice it up,since I probably won't be seeing any bear!)

So far, I have found 2,pretty near to home. I also came across a lovely overlook,where someone made a bench out of 2 folding chairs! It's called Orchard Overlook. I have to go back with my camera.

Monday while I was out on the trail, I was startled by a group of 12 or so schoolkids on some sort of fieldtrip. I've been here a few years,and it's never happened before. They had 2 chaperones,and they were all around 9 years old. Good to see. Most of them said hello,and one proclaimed,rather loudly "Hi lady!". It was kinda funny. I think they were as surprised to see me.

It's no Glacier Park, but we even have a nice section of tall pines on trail,which I will photograph soon. It feels really good to be out there again, I was getting pretty depressed since we've been back. Silly of me,really,considering where I come from. I should be jumping for joy every single day to live in such a lovely place!

The Fourth Dimension

I have been back almost a month,and I cannot bring myself to accept it. I mused before I left that I wouldn't be coming back the same person. I wasn't sure how that would manifest itself,but I knew it would happen.

I am sure of only one thing,and that one thing is this: I was right. It was the most beautiful place on earth,the park was so Large! The surrounding area was filled with things I'd never seen or imagined. Who goes to a bar for lunch and sees a polarbear and griz display? I assure you,you have a better chance of getting shot before your cheeseburger arrives where I come from.

Roadside stands with huckleberry pies and milkshakes. I never had a huckleberry before. They are amazing. There were even little bushes of them at the airport. The airport was like a mom and pop operation,almost. Not the looming near-metropolis airports I have always experienced.

The people smiled and joked everywhere you went. Everybody had a bear story. We put 1,200 miles on the rental car. Car hiking,we called it. When we got back to CT,as we left the airport,I looked around,it was a nice day,sunny,blue skies, trees ..hey...where's..the..mountains? I felt so sad that they were gone. It's actually hard to look at pictures of them,because I miss them.

I finally got some pictures back Wednesday,seems they had been delivered to the wrong address,the apt. next door is empty,and I found them in the door. I won't be doing that again.I have alot more ,but I'm going to do them in person.

I hate being back. I went on one hike out in the woods,and it was the best I felt all month. I need to go more,it's the only way I'm going to get over this sad feeling. It really is beautiful right now,too. I believe we are at peak foilage.We had a good storm last night and there are alot of pine needles floating on the river alongside the leaves. And the sweet perfume of the fall is everywhere.
Yet, everywhere I go,everything I do, I miss Montana. I should not have gone,because now I know what i am missing. That was the shortest week of my life,and I need to find a way to keep the dream alive,because I have all I need right here. Scenery,nature,wonderful people a good life.
But, out there is was SO INTENSE. Intoxicating, even.

The Fourth Dimension.