People

I was sitting in Meineke Auto Shop the day after my muffler rusted off the exhaust pipe. It dragged along the highway for 20 miles. I ripped it off entirely at a rest stop and drove to Casper on I-25 in Wyoming with no muffler - head out the window attempting to gasp air instead of exhaust fumes for 100 miles. It was Casper or bust. Anyways, this lady 60's - 70's, white stockings, kinda hobbled when she walked, hair had all kinds of crazy pins and fasteners - she went to the rest room at least 15 times in the hour. She was an old time cowgirl - man she was a riot. Asked for the spark plugs back that were being replaced in her truck - using liquid cement she makes a sculpture with all her old car parts - "I just put the old muffler right in the middle of it - oh its cute!" She used to be a bear hunter and a was once a hunting guide for lousy shot city folk. She even claimed to stick a shot gun in a mans mouth who stole from her. She was great. A Jersey girl moved country sat beside me and whispered "There's some real cowboys out here...".

I met an interesting fellow that worked at an Indian Shop. He was spouting "Little Field's Theory of Time" to me. I've heard it before and its true - its not a published theory, but it was established by my 9th grade World History teacher Mr. Littlefield. It essentially says time goes faster as you get older. It has a mathematical formula that checks out. I won't go into details - but it's absolutely all true as anybody can really attest - because we all have experience getting older - and how the days seem to slip by like they never happened.

After doing an incredibly grueling hike to Gannett Peak in Wyoming's Wind River range - 40 miles in 3 days - not sure why I push myself so hard sometimes - but I hike fast - especially when I'm solo - and sometimes to the brink of collapse. 17 miles on the last day left me beat. I ran into a group of three hiking out after their epic 8 night journey in the Wind River wilderness. After only a minute of brief conversation I was invited to dinner. My new friends were from Pennsylvania and recognized my east coast style immediately (who knew?). My plan was to head up to Jackson that night and eat at my favorite buffet salad restaurant. I said thanks but no thanks and I said good bye to some nice folks I'd never thought I'd see again. Turns out Jackson Hole was much further than I thought so I said hell I'll eat right here in Dubois. My newly acquired acquaintances where walking in the very same restaurant I decided on. This time I excepted their invitation to dine with them. Ohhh what a feast! It was the first time I had encountered some genuine hospitality on the trip! And they were from the east, Pennsylvania, the first state I really spent some time in on my journey. Maybe its because I'm opening myself up more too. Maybe projecting my energy out more and being more willing to let people in. A fault of mine that needs serious work is the tendency to keep bottled up or closed off. As the trip has gone on I have the urge just to talk to everyone. It's a great move because I learn so much from different people....things I would never even think about. I was treated to an incredible expensive meal that evening with virtually total strangers. It was a refreshing experience and so completely generous. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. And for filling me up for a good 12 hour period.

There have been several moments when I'm driving in my car by incredible scenery or hiking through a valley with towering cliffs on both sides of me when I cannot contain myself and my shoulders shudder and I let out a whooping WOOOOOOO HEEEEEEEE!! I love the road and I love the trail. Both give me absolute freedom. Is that what I'm after here? I'm not sure yet - and I'm not sure I'm ready to know. I'm going to keep moving. The Tetons sparked my love affair with the mountains when I was 18, but I'm going to bypass them and head into the Yellowstone backcountry. My 4th visit to Yellowstone and it will only be my first time camping in its massive interior. Bear spray is ready. All signs are a go - I'm off!

-Matt

"They have worries, they're counting the miles, they're thinking about where to sleep tonight, how much money for gas, the weather, how they'll get there--and all the time they'll get there anyway, you see." Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's On the Road