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Yellowstone gets about 4 million visitors a year, summer being peak season, visiting after a long night sleep , a hearthy breakfast , black coffee and on the road around 11 am will put you in an hour long traffic jam just to get in the park. This is through the west entrance, the busiest one . The park will be busy , Old faithfull has a disneyesque vibe and parking lot . You’ll get lost , old faithful might have 2000 watchers on the benches in a half circle around the basin. Other great sites have overflowing parking . sometimes 30 minute walk from the entrance . so ….. I like to be by myself in these spots , so I get up at 0 dark 30 !!!

Many times I get up at 3;30 -4 am and on the road ( by myself 😭) by 4-4;15 . First in most parking areas , sunrise through the fog and steam , an amazing experience. Do it once and youll never visit midday. Animals come out early to hunt or go for a coffee, The sun puts up a show not to be missed !

Enjoy the MANY sunrise pictures , I never get enough of it !

A golden glow breaks the night,
Bringing warmth and new delight.
Nature awakens, the world’s at peace,
As the sun’s first rays release.

My butterfly…

At the start of the pandemic, four years ago, after realizing it was here to stay for a while , we decided to take a roadtrip to see our daughter Sasha in Missoula Montana. One week later we left ,visited many grreat places and had no plans . Missoula is close to Yellowstone National Park and it seemed fun to go and see the Old Faithfull Geyser. Not knowing much about the park ,we visited without a lot of expectations. Well….. it blew my mind ! The earth was on fire , smoke everywhere from holes in the ground. Azure blue pools bubbling away, mudpools delisciuos as chocolate fondue slowly bubbling in their Cauldrons. and then …the animals, THE ANIMALS !!!!. Bison everywhere , Elk , wolfs , Moose , Chipmunks too much to name and they are everywhere . I spend every waking moment driving and hiking the park and it left a lasting impression. So. this year it became a major stop on our schedule , 8 days and nights , 8 early mornings , just getting better and better. Now its big , so you do a lot of driving to some famous sites and trailheads , so worth it though. I’ll post multiple days as its too much to showcase in one blog. make sure it goes to the top of your bucket list. Enjoy !

Mam told me “enjoy the little things in life”. She loved flowers , colors ,feathers, birds, any kind of animal,tree,brush, field with a passion. She instilled this in me from when I was a small child , walking by the fields in Holland , pointing out the herons with child like enthusiasm. It never got old for her. I’m proud to say I have the same love for nature . This half hour laying down in a soft meadow on a lake in Montana made me realize again how right she was in enjoying the little things around you , Thanks Mam

Nature’s Beauty

Amidst the chaos of our busy days,
Nature’s beauty quietly sways.
In flowers, birds, and trees so tall,
There’s magic waiting for all.

From feathered friends to fields of green,
A world of wonder can be seen.
So take a moment, breathe it in,
Let nature’s dance become your kin.

the phone rang at 3;30 , dutch call ,wrong calculation for 8 hours time difference , My luck. I had the alarm at 4:30 to go to Death Horse Point and see the sunrise . This unexpected call gave me the early idea to shoot some stars in Arches . Fron the Campground to the Park is 5 minutes , to a great rock formation another 5 .

Tripod ready , setting Ok and let the wait begin. each photo is between 20 and 240 seconds sometimes longer. Results are fun and special.

Enjoy!!

Infinite Nights

In the hush of night, the stars alight,
Like diamonds strewn across the sky so bright.
Infinite realms, a celestial ballet,
Where dreams take flight and worries sway.

There, infinity unfolds its grand design,
As the universe weaves tales divine.
A timeless spectacle, a sight to behold,
Infinite starry nights, a story untold.

With each glimmering spark, a secret untold,
Infinite depths, mysteries unfold.
The universe whispers its ancient lore,
Infinite starry nights, forever more.

Milky way

No words for this view , from before sunrise to Chipmunk Cuteness.

before sunrise.

Dead Horse Point is a distinctive geographic landmark that derived its name from a rather somber history. As the legend goes, in the late 19th century, the point served as a natural corral for cowboys rounding up wild mustangs. Tragically, a group of horses was left stranded on the narrow neck of land, resulting in them perishing from thirst within view of the Colorado River, far below. This poignant event led to the etching of the name “Dead Horse Point” into the annals of history, serving as a reminder of the region’s significant past.

Quick Heavy deluge in Springdale , gateway to Zion.

Zion’s Majesty,

Little dreamy goodbye, and see you soon.

In the heart of Springdale, where the Virgin River flows, lies the majestic Zion, a realm of ancient cliffs and emerald hikes. Here, at the gateway to sheer red rock walls that reach for the sky, nature orchestrates a symphony of awe. As the sun kisses the rugged landscape, Zion unveils its timeless grandeur, painting a silhouette of tranquility against the heavens. Each step echoes with the whispers of a thousand tales, inviting wanderers to embrace the sublime dance of earth and sky.

We’ll be back soon.

As I said , it was gonna be a long day, at least for me😏. Months ago Dee had planned and booked a night under the stars , guided by an astronomer and out in the desert . We cut away from the main road towards Kolob Plateau. Winding in and out on the edges of Zion National park. After about ten miles we parked uphill in a sandy, dusty parking lot where we met up with about 20 other gazers. A short walk across a field , stopping occasionally for some planetary explains!

Little colorful globes lit the way ,each one a different planet in our solar system. each one with a short and very informative story. So much to learn, so much to forget. Behind a large group of trees we ended up at the gazing site. A very comfy beanbag for each of us and a sky full of stars , satellites and one giant bright moon. About 5-6 telescopes were on the ready for us ,(for who can still stay awake🥰). Long days, comfy beanbags,and horizontal positioning is enough for my Bestie 😍to fall in a deep relaxing sleep . I was excited taking pictures and listening to the mysteries of the universe. Its size is, even after a great explanation ,still uncomprehensible. I think my rv is big , let alone the universe. DUH. Sorry I had to wake her up😇 , still an unforgettable night and day!

Here some pictures of the closing of our wonderful day .

The universe’s sheer scale is staggering, with its expanse exceeding our wildest imagination. To put it in perspective, the Milky Way, our home galaxy, spans about 100,000 light-years, yet it is just one of billions of galaxies in the observable universe, making our cosmic neighborhood seem minuscule in comparison.