What's more freeing than the thought of hopping on a freight train and traveling across the United States of America? Recently I took my camera down to Livingston, Montana for a project that I've been wanting to work on for some time. 

Having quick access to one of the most popular national parks in America may seem like a blessing, and it is, but with the summer crowds invading like a swarm of biblical locusts, I tend to stay as far away as I can. You'll normally find me wandering around Yellowstone National Park when it first opens, or towards the end of the season.

With an entry fee of $500 on top of expenses for the Art Fair in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, you need to be pretty confident that your art will sell, and these days my confidence has grown enough that I believe in my creations. While I tried to keep my expectations for the show in check, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited for the chance to participate in such a high end affair. 

The closest thing I have found to an ocean out here in Montana, is Flathead Lake. Unlike the endless horizon I was accustomed to back in New Jersey, the eastern shoreline is flanked by the Mission Mountain range.

So much can change in just 52 weeks!

We continued our way north to the St. Mary entrance of Glacier National Park, where the sight of a desolate parking lot awaited us. Empty spots soon to be filled with tour buses, shuttles, vans, trucks, cars, people, screaming children, you name it, lay vacant in an eery silence. A lone car pulled up with Utah plates, as we exchanged a warm smile and continued on our way. I leashed the dog up and headed into the park by foot, thinking we wouldn't be able to drive too far in, but much to my surprise, the road continue onward for a ways. After capturing the photograph below, we turned around and headed back towards the parking lot to continue our journey by wheels.