Short entry—long day on the bike (8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.), then a group dinner and a silent auction and 26 new e-mails.

We went to the Top of the World today, and have the pictures to prove it. That was through Yellowstone and out the other side. We didn’t have time to see Old Faithful or any other geysers, but we’re strongly considering a short ride tomorrow to do just that.

The scenery was, of course, breathtaking. Stunning. There are no adequate adjectives. There was this one long, wide valley, with jagged peaks all around, and it felt like…I don’t know…not quite Eden, but just this sense that despite the road and a few other cars and bikes, it was still this untouched place that we’d just discovered.

We saw hundreds of bison; several birds of prey (I need to do some research and try to figure out what they might have been), including one that was level with us because the ground fell away next to us; geese and other water birds; ravens; some small furry thing (we went by too fast for adequate ID; all I can say is what it wasn’t); and probably more, but I’m too tired to remember right now.

And to cap off a day of wildlife, I’m sitting here in the cavernous lounge, facing one of the hotel’s restaurants (the grill), and I just saw a mouse scurry across the entranceway to the restaurant. Back and forth. Ken seems to have been the only other person to spot it. I wonder if I should tell somebody…?

Oh, and no writing today, so no story submission. It wasn’t a pro market, but somewhere I’ve sold to before, and I was happy with the editor and the process, so I figured I’d give it a shot. I’ll probably still write the story anyway. No reason to waste a good story idea, right?

---

Now Reading: Night’s Edge, Maggie Shayne/Barbara Hambly/Charlaine Harris
Lately Listened To: Marillion, and lots of it
Recently Watched: the view from the Top of the World