Now Is Heaven

Another beautiful day at Glacier, starting in the 40s temperature. Only one place has internet access, Agpar Vis Ctr, so this is short

So sad, the Battleground, Nez Perce Indians wanted to stay in their homeland but US wanted them to go elsewhere. Rangers on site very helpful, video good. Many sites maintained by NPS and MT. Drove Scenic Byway looking for Crystal Park to dig quartz crystals, but couple I met said it’s 30 miles in, it was late, so I went to hot springs at Fairmont-great soak! MT is lovely! Through the forest someone has decorated a small tree for Christmastime-funny in August! Sad that so many hot/warm mineral springs are commercialized so heavily. It’s so nice to sit in mineral springs outside. Then off to Butte to Staples to get a printout of insurance ID card which I need from eSurance website-mission accomplished! I’m really tired, as I tried to stay up all night to watch for Perseid meteor showers- saw 6 amidst napping-cool! Great day to all, and ponder this: what if love is really all there is? Not just the mushy romantic love, but the strong, creative and sustaining love that builds a better world for all-let that be our intention.

Old Faithful live yesterday to experience her amazing talent! Glorious is Yellowstone and huge-about the size of our 2 smallest states. Geysers, hot springs (but too hot to soak in), fumaroles, mud volcanos, forests, lakes, natural bridge, waterfalls galore, caldera, canyons, bison, elk, coyote, mountains, valleys, creeks, Yellowstone River, petrified tree with 20 feet of height still standing, rock formations, and more! So big it has its own post office and court; its magnitude overwhelmed me at times, but mostly “no service” on iPhone.

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See ya North Dakota-it’s been great; hello Montana! Battlefields still affect me adversely, falling into the category of, “What were we thinking?” I heard all the details and find it amazing we couldn’t find a better way than this.  The Bighorn Canyon Natl Rec Area and Yellowtail Dam are quite amazing, containing 4 climate/vegetative zones in a very short distance as would normally occur. The Crow Indian Reservation abuts the property and Fort Smith is just before it when heading South. Tomorrow: Yellowstone!

An older post just being posted: 8/3  explored voyageurs Natl Park in MN just 7 miles from Canadian border-lovely, yet remote for cell/internet use. But, from around 8 pm 8/2 night forward I’m enjoying ND with its unusual, yet stunning views. Miles of blooming sunflowers smiling at me! Sunset remarkable, and a chance at experiencing the northern Lights (I fell asleep and don’t know if I missed it or not), perhaps I’ll get another shot at it tonight even though rain forecasted. I experienced Earth Mound dwelling Indian life, as Sakakawea (known as Sacagawea  by most) may have lived at the Knife River Indian Villages Natl Historic Site, even taking a trail to the upper Missouri  River. Then off to Theodore Roosevelt Natl Park to be wowed by the painted canyon and amused by the prairie dogs, of which there are many! Hoping to view a bison tomorrow or sometime this next week while I’m staying here. A wonderful surprise is that on Friday and Saturday nights at 10 pm, the North Unit hosts their Badlands Star party, setting up telescopes at the OxbowOverlook-I’m excited about it! I forgot about the change to Mtn time, so got an extra hour to work with!

Yes, it’s bumpy! As close to the original as possible! More bison, bunnies, bird, deer, and prairie dogs. Gave myself a Little Missouri mud pack and my skin feels so smooth!

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Ah, Roosevelt NP in North Dakota, brings me pleasant new surprises daily!  I believe God through this Universe has given me early birthday presents that no money is able to purchase-Thanks be! I am filled with gratitude. There are 3 units of the park. I am staying at the South Unit at Cottonwood Campground. Yesterday I went to the North Unit after going to Fort Union Natl Historic Site. The reason to go last night was that the 32nd Annual Star Party was being held at 10 p.m. CST at the North Unit’s Oxbow Overlook. I saw, through a telescope, Jupiter and Saturn-awesome! It was quite the perfect evening for star gazing-which I did unaided and with the telescope. On the way back at 1 a.m. to the South Unit, 3 elks greeted me on the side of the dark road to the campground-they are amazing animals, too. A badger was also on the side of the road, but only got to have a rear view of him/her.  For the last 2 days, I’ve observed the mom/dad/child bison at the campground with great pleasure and for hours enjoying every second. And of course, the prairie dogs just make me laugh, they are so playful and talkative.

So excited to be a half-mile below the earth’s surface today! Yesterday boat from Portage MN to Isle Royale-beautiful day and beautiful adventure even though I didn’t see a moose! Saw shipwreck under water. Spent night at Bear Head Lake State Park within the pine and birch trees-so rested I keyed in entries to journal for 4 hours with  little red squirrel and chipmunk entertaining me. . .then off to Soudan Iron Mine, 1/2 mile below surface of Mother Earth which only took 3 minutes to get to, then small rail to get to other section; there’s a huge Physics Lab from university doing testing. Amazing to be in The earth of Mother Earth where the solid rock is, down to the lowest,the 27th layer. 

• Oh my, I am wowed by Mother Nature’s creativity and art. The 2 1/2 hour ferry ride from/return Munising MI to Pictured Rocks was worth far more than the fare; but, don’t tell them!  The  formations and mineral colored staining are amazing! I love seeing show caves like Carlsbad and Luray Caverns, and the pictured rocks rank at the top of my list! The pictures are amazing, but you can’t feel the wind or smell the air and hear the water! I am greatly blessed to have experienced It and give a shoutout to Lisa and Goffy whom added in to the pleasure. 

Lake Superior is, well, SUPERior! A swim at the end of yesterday provided proof positive, even though a bit chilly at the start. Great day yesterday but no cell coverage for a good portion of the day. Started with a stop at Hiawatha Natl Forest where anyone can pick and eat berries. Stopped at numerous roadside parks
and Seney
Natl Wildlife Refugewith a 7-mile marshland scenic drive and Video/museum at VisitorCtr. Then a beautiful drive north to Munising with trees/forests on my left and Lake Superior on my right! To Pictured Rocks around 11 with a trail walk to Munising Falls. Campgrounds are full; another way was provided. Hike to Miner’s Falls, and then around Miner’s Area to see Miner’s Castle pictured rock formation-stunning creation! I head to the ferry around 3 pm, but all trips canceled because wind was too strong. So tried the glass bottom boat which shows shipwrecks-it was also canceled. So with the help of the nice woman at Glass Bottom Boat Tours I navigate to the USPO to mail items, a pizza place with wifi,  then to the local beach where I changed and swam in Lake SUPERior, much to my delight. Chatting with a nice woman from Marquette, I floated about in the cool water with sand at my feet-hooray! I’ll get into Lake Ontario at some point, so I’ll then have been in all 5 of the Great Lakes. Slept in car at Grand Island boat launch managed by Hiawatha Natl Forest and woke up to see a beautiful sunrise. Now entering this outside the pizza place-bless them for their wifi, and great pizza. And, blessings on you in reading this!​

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