...In the late afternoon, I took my book and sat on top of the low
rise just behind the apartments. Just to read, with no camera, and
watch the changing light on the pinnacles, was a good thing to do.
It refreshed me; reconnected me with the landscape.
Sometimes the camera gear is a burden - with it I feel like I should
always be shooting something, or at least be actively searching
for the next 'great shot.' By having such a singular purpose, it's
easy to lose 'sight' of the landscape itself. I can get so tied
up in the work (however enjoyable on some levels) that I miss the
simple experience of 'being' outside, of immersing myself in the
environment, of being open to what it offers. While reading, I was
surrounded by the chorus of meadowlarks, coming in from all directions,
in stereo as the music bounced off the buttes. Two rabbits hopped
along in the short grass. Playful, they squared off against each
other, almost nose to nose. One would jump forward, the other springing
backwards to stay just out of reach. Amazing what comes to life
when you sit, quietly, rather than noisily tromping across the landscape...
...lovely wisps of cirrus lighting up in
the southwest - yellow, pink, lavender...
April 2
Up at 6:30. No alarm, because I wanted to be rested for my talk
this morning. A beautiful start to the day here so far. Blue sky,
scattered cirrus.
...the slide show went well - everyone seemed
to enjoy it. After lunch went for a walk east of the housing area.
Still some muck, and I went down on my wrist once. The sky has hazed
up with high cirrus...
April 3
Great day. Nice sunrise with bright pink
clouds. The meadowlarks are singing. As for the magpies - a throaty
single note spewed forth in staccato bursts. They should sound better,
given how beautiful they look.
...Greg, Casey, Mark, and I went to Jewel
Cave. Really spectacular. A two hour tour, walking through huge
rooms, narrow passages, feeling like we were in a giant fish bowl,
with walls of different colored coral all around us. Flowstone,
geodes, soda straws, a wild 20 ft ribbon deposit coming off of a
wall, some stalactites, stalagmites - all very cool.
...saw more bison as we returned through
Custer State Park. Incredible warm light driving in through Cedar
Pass at sunset.
...Shared some beers with Greg and Casey
for my last night here. A nice way to end my stay. Tomorrow, the
drive home.
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