Someone once told me that there were either “water people” or “mountain people.” I’ve always considered myself a “water” person because most of my vacation memories are built around vacations at small Diamond lake in Michigan, post-proms at Lake Michigan Dunes, walking along Lake Shore Drive on our pilgrimages to Chicago, or visits with family along the Atlantic coast from Portland, Maine to the Florida Keys.
Sure, I love the Smokies – and the Blue Ridge Parkway with it’s serpentine drives through wild, untamed mountains. One of my all-time favorite vacation is to the green, lush mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee.
Nothing prepared me for the Rockies.
With the base elevations at almost 1,000 feet above the highest Smokey Mountain peak and tundra mountaintops above levels incapable of sustaining even sturdy pine trees, it was breathtaking.
Big horn sheep on the tundra areas of the upper altitudes – (12,000 ft.)
Calypso Cascades in Rocky Mountain National Park – 6 mile round trip hike, ascending 1,400 ft. to the Cascades and Ozuel Falls.
This is the small start of the Colorado river – a hike back into the west side of the National Park. See the snow?
Aspens on the descending trail from Twin Owls rock formation – on the route back from Gem Lake on the east side of the park.
Lots of inspiration and fun staying in a lovely B&B to boot! It was just the type of vacation we needed.
Most importantly, I feel like my mind had a chance to open and expand out of my tunnel-vision M.O. for a few days. I spent some time sketching and rethinking my plans for the Eastman Angel.
It is still not coming together easily. Getting away allowed me some time to step back and figure out why. This really shouldn’t be that hard.
I think I’m letting too many expectations influence my ideas. I feel like the fraud and pretender – I’m not good enough, I don’t have original ideas, I’m really don’t HAVE to participate so why am I doing this to myself – you get the drift.
Most daunting – there will be “real” artists there with what I imagine to be lots of truly creative pieces. The pressure is on to make something EXTRAORDINARY! FABULOUS! Ah yes. The Inner Critic who is never really satisfied.
So now I change my direction again. I am going to meditate, yes, pray, and lean more on my heart of hearts to discern how this should go. I am not going to bail, but I am going to take control back from the Inner Critic and those angry hamsters running on the treadmill between my ears.
It’s not like the frustrations disappeared – oh yeah, they’re still there – but maybe it’s easier to put things back into perspective for a short time.
All the best – Chris
Following grad school 25 years ago, a buddy and I spent 6 weeks living out of his van while visiting every national park we could fit in. Lots of pretty stuff out there… lots of “WOW” moments. Your pictures brought back some nice memories!
Robert – I still can’t believe that you lived out of a van for 6 weeks – what an adventure! And to visit National Parks is the best. The old adage that “pictures don’t do it justice” is so true – the vastness and expanse of it all is so hard to capture. Thanks so much for stopping by – Dee and I loved having your guidance when we visited Asheville last spring! Please give Helen a hug from me and thanks for stopping by.
Yes, ma’am, those Rocky Mountains will do that to you everytime. Now you can perfectly understand why I miss my mountains sooooooo much. Having lived in the Rocky Mtn West for the last 30 plus years of my life – I yearn for what inspiration comes from time in the mountains whether on horseback, hiking, snowshoeing, fly fishing that perfect stream – that contentment I’ve yet to find in the flatlands of Indiana. I’m so glad that you found peace and inspiration during your time in Colorado. You need to put Utah, Montana and New Mexico on the bucket list for even more inspirational adventure.
Jil
Oh yeah, Jil. I do indeed get it. I will say that the flatlands offer their own peace and contentment – it’s just a little more of an acquired taste, not so easy to find as it is in soaring mountains and vast vistas.
A couple of years ago, we went to Zion and Bryce National Parks in Utah – stunning! That is still one of our all time favorite vacations partly because the landscape was so unexpected. I would go back in a heartbeat – and that was only a small part of Utah. We will indeed put all three states on our bucket list! Take care -
Another location for your bucket list: The Pacific Northwest! We have it all out here. And if you need a tour guide, let me know! I have some experience with that: http://queenodella.blogspot.com/2012/10/flat-student-guest-post.html
Lorraine
Oooh yeah. I’m hearing you. I’ve heard wonderful things about the Pacific Northwest. And don’t think I won’t take you up on that tour guide thing! Thanks so much!
Isn’t this true of all artists? “I’m a fraud with unoriginal ideas” is my mantra. But sometimes I get the courage to chant, “Just make good art”, and attempt to be gentle with myself. The angel is an amazing thing. Just make good art.
I like that you said that you “attempt to be gentle with myself.” That’s a good way to think about it. My angst is all self-inflicted – and what better way to take that out of the mix is to, well, stop hitting my own thumb with my hammer. Take care -
Here’s what I do – anxiety is the first line of defense against feeling emotions – and usually manifest as a series of negative predictions of the future. Because facing the unknown is naturally scary and unsettling we often turn to anxiety causing negative predictions rather than face our fearful feelings of the unknown. Another way to go is to make peace with not knowing by getting curious about what may happen. “I can’t predict the future so no need to feel anxious about these predictions that aren’t even real – instead I’ll be curious about what will happen when it happens.” Vector your anxiety into curiosity. See if this helps. It usually helps me.
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