Along highways and back roads I travel moving like the wind from one state to another, feeding my gypsy soul…
Finally moving out of the state of flat plains of Illinois and crossing over the Mighty Mississippi into Missouri! Entering my eighth state on this crazy adventure I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself when I was excited to see rock formations! Of all things to be excited about…rocks. I had a flashback moment to the road trips my mom used to take us kids on always pointing out interesting geology facts as we traveled the country. Remembering that moment I thought how proud my mom would have been to hear my excitement over rocks. But when you spend weeks looking at nothing but flat lands for miles…and miles…and miles you get excited to see something different for a change.
I think that it is so crazy to think that a few weeks ago we were close to Chicago with snow and ice hailing down on us any chance mother nature could and now it is nearly 70 degrees out, blue sky, green grass with the cherry blossoms blooming bringing light and color to a sea of green.
One thing I love most about this trip is when taking the back roads, is you can see America’s heartland is one of the most simplistic and beautiful areas of the country. Driving by you can see everyday life happening, kids playing in the driveway, a father and son working on an old beat up pickup truck in the garage with the door open, an old man trimming the trees sipping a cold glass of lemonade.
Continuing to roll through the hills, banking every corner and curve, stumbled upon a roadside treasure. A pull off park that had an area for a campfire, old stone wall that was built into the hillside. Let me tell you though, the view! I could have gotten lost in the rolling hills that disappeared into the horizon for hours and only would know how much time passed while I was lost in the view when the sun began to set. Oh and the night sky, oh the beautiful night sky! The air was crisp, the night was clear and the stars were shining brightly. I felt like today I had buried myself in work and I finally told myself that I needed to stop for two seconds or ten minutes…which ever to…to just pause and take a second to take everything in around me.
After watching the sun set over the mountain peaks enjoying a nice cup of red wine, the next order of business was to get the fire built. Thankfully the wood was super dry so it didn’t take any time to ignite into flame. Sitting listening to the fire whistle, crack, pop and sizzle. Sitting enjoying the night air roasting marshmallows for s’mores I had a moment where I knew I couldn’t ask for much more then what I had right then and there. God was smiling on me today giving me a day that I could truly appreciate and have time to appreciate what is around me…stop and smell the roses.
Traveling Photographer Out!
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