A little more of Pocatello, then Yellowstone

Here is a picture of our Wandering Book Artist’s Bookmobile parked next to the Pocatello Public Library’s Bookmobile. Katherine from Children’s Services is behind this genius idea of heading to the farmer’s market every Saturday and handing free books (donated by other patrons) to every child that wants one. Donna sat with her and she passionately outlined the

value of a public library.

Now, we go to Yellowstone!!!!

Donna and I looked at geysers and hot pots the other visitors looked at our wagon.

We always invite folks to look inside if we find them yearning. After inviting one family in, the dad said, “You are artists, Right?” and the pre-teen daughter said, “This is the most BEAUTIFUL thing I have seen in my ENTIRE life.” Another family flagged us down and the dad said, “My kids want me to buy them one, where can we get one? We stopped to get directions from some rangers and instead of us beginning the conversation, they jump in with, “What’s the story?” I said, “We are on a road trip promoting the idea of more color in campgrounds. RVs are so monochromatic and dull. The ranger said that should go for ranger trucks too. This thing is too white.”

Donna wanted to include these photos of her painting in Yellowstone.

We left Yellowstone late in the afternoon, feeling roasted from wandering all day in the hot high-elevation sun to see the steaming geysers, the bears and the standing petrified tree. After driving an hour or so we stopped on the roadside for dinner at the bend of the Yellowstone River and we were able to back the wagon right up to the water’s edge.

We poured ourselves a glass of wine, just as all good gypsies do and sat in the wagon looking out the door at the mesmerizing river.

“There is someone outside taking pictures,” Donna said. I saw a shadow of the person and stepped out. He was just getting back on his motorcycle to leave, not wanting to bother us. I said, “Would you like to come in?”

“Man would I. You don’t know how much I want to see inside. This really makes my day. I started In the 70s with a school bus. Now I have an RV, but I am kind of living the gypsy life. I make leather hair barrettes and sell them wholesale to western stores. I sold $200 today. I have been going 7 months and have paid for all my food and gas.”

We camped next to the freeway and 2 tipis in Butte, Montana.