Changing mindset

'It's raining. Oh well, guess I'll just sleep in a bit longer,' I think to myself. My new tent is working wonderfully. Not a drop on either Buddy or me. By a quarter to nine, Bud starts getting restless, so rain or no rain, we break camp and hit the road. I feel incredibly invigorated. Maybe it was the bath in the river I'd taken the night before, or perhaps it's just the gentle drops coming down bringing such an intense verdure to this rugged country.

Within an hour my tune changed. A full out deluge has soaked me thoroughly, every time I move off the road to avoid an oncoming vehicle my tires get stuck in the mud, and to top it off, Buddy's getting on my nerves.

Now if you take no solace in spiritual matters, you'll find the next part hard to relate to. But for me, this kind of of mind altering approach to living is becoming increasingly crucial. I say, 'I'm not very happy, God. In fact, I'm pissed off, and don't even know why. But I'm going to force myself to rejoice, regardless of how I feel. I start singing aloud despite my bad mood, and I kid you not, within a few minutes the clouds in the sky part, and a glorious array of light beams highlights the glistening moss that covers the granite cliffs on both sides. And in that moment all I can think is 'It's good to be alive.'

We make it into Kamiah around 16:30 and check into a cozy little motel called 'Clearwater 12.' The rates seem quite affordable, and the Manager, Judy, doesn't have any issues with Buddy joining me. He was filthy from his earlier escapades in the mud, so he gets a hose down and dry off before entering the room. Once inside, he proceeds directly to his blanket and flops down with a bellowing grunt (I think of approval). We'll be headed through some high forest country for the next five to seven days and won't have Wifi access, but once in Missoula, I'll be sure to place updates and, I hope, some exciting stories.