The highlight of my visit back to the Pacific Northwest was marked by this sunset at Golden Gardens. Initially I didn't it would amount to much. The clouds dominated the sky—hiding the sun and it's warmth. But just above the horizon there was a break, and when the light eventually did peeked through it would be sandwiched between the clouds and the water. Ultimately reflecting and refracting off of one and another.
The first time I saw a sunset like this was roughly a year ago.
In which, my friends Mary and Austin had invited me to visit their sailboat at the Marina. I had just graduated from Seattle Pacific University with essentially a Graphic Design degree I didn't seek to use anymore. Visiting was them was meant to be a reprieve. So, we paddled out in their little dingy to listen to music as we floated on the Puget Sound.
A few moments from June of 2017 . Mary Campbell Photography
I felt as uneasy as the tide that tossed our small vessel. There were probably a thousand different questions bouncing around in my head, with no definite answers of what this next step in my life would look like. To the point that I looked at Mary and asked her to jump in the water with me. We leaped from the boat. Sea salt stung my eyes and the chill of the Pacific was numbing. But after a few seconds you could acclimate to temperature, and it became pretty pleasant floating with the current.
We splashed, laughed, and let ourselves get tossed in the waves as we watched the sun paint the sky in vibrant color.
The year following college had no shortage of spontaneous "leaps". It always stung and seemed daunting, but it was through these moments I was able to rediscover my love of storytelling. Particularly through an old passion and new passion: photography and writing . And that current, my current, would eventually lead me back home: Jackson, Wyoming. Coming back to the PNW—I guess it felt like coming full circle. Seeing these familiar landscapes, sunsets, and faces reminded me of what the journey the past few months had been—and that this is only the beginning.
The journey started with a drive through from Wyoming to Utah. The fields of vibrant green vegetation were endless! I tried to photograph what I perceived to be some friendly cows. They weren't too keen with my presence.
ON ROUTE TO OREGON
Some lovely strangers I met while waiting for my train, they were just starting their bikepacking journey through the southwest.
The face of a girl who was just surprised with early birthday pie —locally made too!
After a relaxing visit with my parents at their abode in Oregon, I headed back home to Wyoming.
