Several years ago my family and I were coming back to Montrose from delivering some paintings to a gallery in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Along toward evening we stopped in Pinedale, Wyoming to fix some supper. We pulled our rig, pick up and camper trailer, into the town park and found a spot where we would be out of the way. Kathy fixed supper while the kids fished in a nearby pond. By the time we had eaten and were cleaning up it was dusk and getting darker. I was whiling the time away on a park bench when about a hundred yards down toward the creek, a cow moose and her calf slowly emerged from the willows intent on grazing on the nice park lawn. Quietly I motioned for Kathy and the kids to join me and for about 20 minutes we sat there and watched that cow moose and her calf. Finally it had gotten quite dark and we had a ways to go yet. Reluctantly I broke the little get-together up and said, “Chop, chop. Let’s go. We have to be in Montrose in the morning.”

As an artist, I can’t think of retiring in the traditional sense. You know, quit my job and collect a pension, hang out on Facebook and go on cruises sort of thing. I’ve got too much to do of a more active nature and besides, I don’t know of an artist who put the brushes away, stored the easel and quit painting. To do what?

For me, what I’ve always said was, that someday, I’d like to be able to sit on a park bench for 20 minutes or three days, which ever I choose. I believe that time has finally come. My obligations have changed significantly recently and consequently, I find myself in a position to find that bench. Perhaps I’ll find during my Return to the North Country ride that I started on yesterday, Sunday.

I write this to you good folks from the KOA campground in Pocatello, Idaho. I’m headed back to the North Country on the Harley to paint, stopping when I choose and continuing on when I’m ready. 

The ride has been good so far. I’m just getting settled into the routine of daily travel on the bike and camping. I am really enjoying this after the stress of Mother’s passing and the funeral. She had a good send off by the way. Very fitting.

 Thanks for tuning in and I’ll be in touch.