Solitude of Being - Road Trip Report #1

on the road today
(day three of my solo road trip)
from Missoula
to Billings
both in Montana

not so far really
but add a 5 hour detour
to Yellowstone National Park
and you have a 13 hour day
mostly behind the wheel

had lunch in Livingston
(yum
no problem with overeating
while on this solo trip
at least not so far
yay)

noticed signs to Yellowstone
how could I resist
the north entrance
just 52 miles south of
my main west-east route

went there as a kid
don't remember much
just Old Faithful

arrived at the park at 5 pm
and took the north loop
which took me past
thermal hot springs
boil and bubble
meadows
yellow leaves everywhere
buffalo
big horn sheep
a herd of elk
one black bear
a fumarole
(am I spelling that correctly)
a tumbling waterfall
towering rock formations
geologist's and naturalist's paradise
photographer's too
heck
everyman's paradise

frustrating a little
not enough time
or daylight
to take pictures
every 10 feet
like I wanted to

feeling giddy about this day
a day full with
solitude of being

a little sad not to be
sharing it with my husband
who would love Yellowstone
as much as I
yet at the same time
grateful for this day full with
solitude of being