Day 4: Green River/Flaming Gorge Recreation Area

Thursday

August 5
Journal Entry from Green River, Wyoming

(Drawing to Right from Journal that morning)

"

Silence but for the wind, the water and the birds. And all those are so soft.

We woke up in time for a breathtaking sunrise. Well, I guess technically the sun's not even up yet. But we watched the sky brighten and the clouds color above the sharp plateaus. And we biked down to the bathrooms by the river.

This is such a change in scenery from yesterday morning when we woke in the forest surrounded by trees and lush grass and flowers. After a long drive yesterday, trying to outrun the rain, we found a campground on the map in southwestern Wyoming, and figured it was worth a try. How amazing to find this! Like a scene from the southwest, withthe plateaus jutting up into the skyand the desert setting. Small shrubs and bushes crawling with jack rabbits, and tiny rodents that look like miniature squirrels with chipmunk markings.

This is beauty.

It all feels so right. The daily driving. The outdoors as our home. Camping. Cooking out. Biking around the paths, finding more beauty at every turn. Neither of us has bathed or showered since we've been on the trip, but that's not too bothersome. I've been wearing a bandana a lot anyway. Any makeup that may have been on my face is gone. I'm enjoying not having to make myself up. . . I think the very first, and maybe only step to not being so judgemental towards everyone else is to stop being judgemental of yourself. It feels great to find the beauty in myself au naturale. Not put on makeup and see that even without it, I am my own distinct, beautiful person.
"

Author's Current Note: I didn't wear makeup for at least a year after this, including for our wedding. It saddens me to report that I don't even camp without makeup these days. Maybe I need to learn from my younger self.