"happy, happy, happy by myself"

Madison River
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Following the Madison River Northwest from Yellowstone. It is so cold. I’m bundled up like it's March in New Jersey. Stopped at a little cafe for lunch and got to chatting with 3 fishermen- everyone is out here to fish. One said I’d made a mistake missing Red Lodge Montana (very scenic). I said I had a friend, a college roommate I’ve lost touch with, who lived there, and wouldn’t you know it- this fisherman knows the family! He hunts on their ranch and promised to say hi for me. When I went in to lunch it was 55 and when I came out it was 65.

Quake Lake was formed by a huge landslide damming the river- now these skeleton trees stand to remind us that we are not in charge.
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I must say this area is just beautiful. The fields around me are golden with bunch-grass and there are hawks everywhere searching for little animals- I saw an osprey with a fish this morning- and like a movie back drop the mountains are a heavy navy blue silhouetted against the sky. This area had a big quake in 59 and there are signs of it everywhere. I’ve had rain every day for a week now and with the cold I’m hoping these forest fires will die down. Don’t need anymore smoke than I inhale lighting a damp campfire.