Astonished

Pinks and purples galore guided us down the highway in Alabama as we started our journey. Following behind the motorhome, seeing it bathed in colors of sunrise made me hopeful and excited.

The waning moments of sunset as I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time. It was like I could feel the thundering crashes of the waves in my core. The fading color was a perfect compliment and felt so peaceful.

Quartzsite sunsets have been somewhat scarce, both the completely cloudy days and the many cloudless days leaves little chance for the colors to shine through. The ones we have enjoyed bring so much color to the desert.

Being on the shores of Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota was the perfect setting for the spectacular reds and oranges that reflected on the water. They were better than fireworks on the Fourth of July.

With the cold winds blowing across the mountaintop my heart and soul was warm watching the hues evolve on the horizon.

Michigan City, ND displayed incredible beauty late one night. The long summer days were wonderful and it was an 11 pm before the sunset blazed across the sky, both exciting and energizing, leading me across the golf course wanting to see more.

The Montana prairie provided sunsets filled with fiery skies and glowing balls of light. It was a source of strength and calmness at the same time.

After what seemed like weeks of rain and clouds as we sat at the foot of the Grand Tetons, the skies finally broke enough for a starburst of color over the mountains. It brought everyone out of their mobile home to admire the view.

Intense winds at 4 in the morning shook us from our slumber at Flaming Gorge, Utah. They were so strong we brought the slides in to reduce our air resistance in hopes we wouldn't tip over into the lake. It was an incredible sense of relief when the winds subsided We were now wide awake, and thankfully so, since the sunrise lit up the skies in all directions, motivating us to get out and see the history and amazing views around the gorge.

It was like the mountains were on fire one evening at Soda Lake in Wyoming. It had been a contentious day and the red in the mountains above the lake felt like they were angry. It was so unusual and beautiful at the same time, setting a better mood for me.

The Montana skies can be harsh. One afternoon in Lewistown, Montana, the skies quickly darkened, and the hail began to fall. Fearing the worst, everyone huddled inside their rigs to wait out the storm, slowly emerging once it was over. It was such a relief to see that no one had any damage. The storm gave us all a reason to mingle and meet new people and we stood around quite awhile, chatting with the neighbors and sharing battle stories from our pasts.

Sunrises and sunsets are something special. One marks the beginning of the day, starting softly and growing in intensity, full of anticipation for the day ahead. The other signals the end of the day, bright and bold in the sky before fading into the darkness of night. Many aspects of them are similar: the intense colors, the clouds refracting the beams of sunlight, and the blue hour that bookends them. However, each sunrise or sunset is unique. The cloud shapes streaking across the horizon are always different. The hues are continually changing, sometimes soft and pastel, other times explosive or bold.

Both fill me with astonishment: That feeling of awe and excitement is ever present as I watch the skies unfold before me. Astonishment is defined as a feeling of great wonder or surprise. Spectacular sunrises and sunsets are examples of that definition for me. The stunning colors take hold and I can’t help myself with the camera. Like a kid in a candy shop, I probably take more photos than I should. I can watch the show until the colors are gone, whether they are absorbed by the brightness of the sun rising higher in the sky, or the twilight sets in as it falls out of view. Please enjoy some of my favorites from the last year.

The past few days have been cloudy and dreary, leaving no chance of sunrises or sunsets. The coming forecast is for sunshine, so if we can get a hint of clouds, maybe we will have more stunning skies to remember. I look forward to seeing more of them.

We walked around the Rock and Gem Show a couple more times so Lynn could have some work done on a couple things. Many of the booths were closing down or already gone, but we did see several colorful and interestingly patterned rocks and slabs. Tom has been researching and ordering the components and supplies to add solar to her van. She will then be able to camp where ever she wants, whether it is free camping in state forests or on BLM lands, or in campgrounds & RV parks.

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