A Riverside View

It had been a long day already. I'd been on a plane since six that morning and it was now nearing three o'clock. My mission, West Yellowstone, Montana. I'd flown into Idaho Falls and was now driving north, nearing the Idaho-Montana border. The drive started with leaving the small city of Idaho Falls and making my way onto the high plains, which really are anything but plain. Beautiful is another word I'd use to describe the space. The ground began to rise and fall gently as I made my way north, gaps in the ground and little bridges indicating rivers became more frequent as I traveled. I desperately wanted to capture the views of the rivers, the plains, and the distant mountains that were now slowly getting nearer but speeding down a two lane highway was not exactly conducive to photo ops. Suddenly there was an opening, a small road just off the right of the highway. Seeing no one was behind be I slowed the car and pulled off.

The view was amazing! Just hidden off to the side of the highway was a river, gorgeous and blue flanked with green blankets of grass. I couldn't believe it, I was there beside this wonderful view and cars just zipped by, never noting this little treasure right off the road. I climbed out of the car to get a better look and of course get some of those pictures I'd been desiring. The moment I stepped out of the car, the cold wind whipped across my face and lifted my hair. Despite the wind I could hear the river as it flowed past, a soft gentle sound coming from the blue.

Even now, as I write this, I feel as if I were back. The cold wind blowing on me, the gentle river flowing, the trees behind me, their sound mimicking the river as the wind rushed through the leaves. Although the rest of my trip through Montana was amazing, it was this little gem of a moment that has stuck with me. It always amazes me how it's the little moments of a trip, just a couple minutes of time in the space of a week, that have the largest impact. On this trip of high mountains, and extreme geothermic exploration, this one peaceful moment standing by a river was the one that grabbed me by the heart.