Tim and I randomly purchased an auction item at Dude's school event last year that forced us to plan a trip to Big Sky Montana for a 2 night stay and 2 rounds of golf. It might have been the alcohol talking at the event, but we figured it would give us an excuse to get away this summer. It worked. In an effort to save money we decided to drive and then realized just what an excellent decision that was.
We drove 8 hours from Denver to Jackson, WY, which is where Tim spends a substantial amount of time for work. They have an office there with a beautiful condo atop. Check. It was fun to experience a town I hear about so often. We took a 4 mile walk, ate, stopped in at a co-worker's house for drinks and comrade re and called it a night. Sweet little town. The next morning we drove another 5 hours through the one and only Yellowstone National Park, passing the IN YOUR FACE, magnificent Teton Mountain range. Neither of us had been through Yellowstone since we were kids, so this was an absolute treat. It's remarkable just how much beauty is encompassed in one national park. Waterfalls, mountain peaks, valleys, ravines, buffalo, bears, bubbling brooks, angry geysers, towering elk, moose, green pastures, boiling hot sulfur ponds...unbelievable.
We ended that day in Big Sky, Montana, which is also crazy scenic and breathtaking. Our rad cousin, Dan, hooked us up with an upgraded condo unit with fantastic views and lunch at a private golf course...not too shabby my friends. We took the same trek back to Jackson the following day to eliminate that 4-5 hour stretch on our drive home. That took us through Yellowstone at dusk, the perfect time to mosey on through. We made it home in time to pick our sweet Squirt up from saint of the year, Dara, before dinner time hit. Yes, she took our child for 5 days without so much as a frown. Dude was in Chicago at Camp Nana and Papa, another reason this trip was feasible. Special shout out to Emily and the Kroms for loving on our teddy bear Enzo.
I went a bit camera crazy, but when it comes to the magnificence of creation, I can't help myself. I was hanging out the passenger window much of the time. I hope you can get just a glimpse of the beauty we were blessed to be surrounded by for five days.
The drive from Jackson to Yellowstone takes you along an open field with THIS on your left for a good 30 minutes. Bam.
"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." Henry David Thoreau
Psalm 95:4-5: In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.
"There's no app for this." Some random guy on Pinterest
Psalms 19:1
The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
So...it's hard to avoid thoughts of Yellowstone blowing up under your feet as you walk around acre after acre of angry, spewing, boiling hot gassy lakes, geysers and other freakishly random oddities. It really is mind boggling and disturbing, especially when you're walking on wooden walkways, directly over stinking sulfur fields you KNOW could erupt at any second.
Psalm 98:8: "Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing together for joy."
"You can't find wifi in nature, but you're guaranteed to find an amazing connection." Another Pinterest random.
The angry little friend below announced himself out of nowhere. He started as a calm, bubbling lake and BAM, he decided to erupt. Reminded us of our sweet daughter.
"Don't worry about perfection. Nature doesn't grow in straight lines." Liza Lubell
The chairlift outside our resort in Big Sky. Not bad.
A chairlift-side tree with beads and bras. Didn't realize this was a thing. I also had no idea selfie-sticks existed. The Asian tourists have supplied success for selfie stick manufacturers.
I rode along for 9 of the 18 holes in Big Sky with my Tim and another random man named Tim. It was beautiful and, as much as I love watching my sexy golfer husband swing a club, the flies were breeding on every inch of my body. I said goodbye to the Tims and the flies on the back nine and read my book in the clubhouse.
"The earth has music for those who listen." Shakespeare
"Take vacations. Go as many places as you can. You can always make money. You can't always make memories." Tim's work computer screen saver.
These guys forced us (and 20 other cars) to pull over and just gaze at their large, head butting selves.
We're so grateful to my parents and to our Dara for loving our littles and offering us piece of mind to get outta dodge and re-connect with nature as it was intended to be. The fresh air was just what we needed. Uninterrupted sleep certainly added to the experience as well. That's a trip we'll repeat. Some day.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment