I’m currently writing a personal essay on river travel and water. It’s not ready for publishing here (and frankly, I may save it for something else I am working on). However, I think these images tell the story of our Green River trip quite well! I would love to say that it was a trip of a lifetime, but the fact is, Rob and I are going to run this river over and over and over again. Sometimes a place changes you, gets in your heart and soul. Some places are unforgettable, little homes away from home. The Green River is one of those places for me. I’m tethered to it now, for all of time.
Please note, any images that I appear in are courtesy of my husband Robert. I didn’t take a single self portrait on this trip! Unusual for me! I must have been in vacation mode or something…
How cool story in photographs! much encouragement with your essay, I think that´s a wonderful Project!!
cheers Darling!!
Thanks for the encouragement, sweets! I’ll keep my pen on the paper, for sure. X
Stunning and amazing and beautiful and…wow.
I’m so glad for you. Really and truly.
xx
From one river gal to another…you would be TRANSFORMED by this river. It’s amazing. XX
Beautiful images.
They speak volumes.
🙂
Thank you, Ande. X
a dozen types of light and each one more beautiful than the last.
I know! That’s how autumn is though. It’s my favorite season to photograph.
I would love to read it and yes, the pictures tell the story. While in DG area I was hooked on this one region, tri-state area around Harper’s Ferry. I had to go there every weekend for a ride, then pick berries, river crossing. Nothing wild like your river but true that repeated visits were necessary. The trout look incredible and Miss Penelope, well, she fits into any landscape. xx
Sometimes a river just gets its hooks into you…I know just what you mean. I wonder why that is?
Penelope. What a little strawberry toot!
i love each and every photo.
but especially the ones of your grimy hands [yours AND robert’s] holding those slippery slimy beautifully-colour’d fish. and the ones of tater and his uncontrollable tongue. and my girlfriend penepie posing so sweetly. and the ones of the fishes making fish-faces at the camera.
every photo, i tell ya’. EVERY photo.
!!! We were so dirty by the end of this trip. No hot water to wash filthy hands in and trout slime attracts dust! HA HA!
Love having you here, always, friend. X
The green. I’ve eaten so many good river meals at that picnic bench, and I’ve climbed that climb to look down on my campsite. I may have even caught one of those very same trout. Can you believe how clear the water is on the A section? I love how, say on a Wednesday morning, you can just say, “Hey, wanna go run the Green this weekend?” No permit, easy shuttle, and I think the sun is required to shine there every single day. You captured it magnificently.
PS. Still loving my wealth of Ruth.
-Dawn
Dawn! The glorious baker! I bet you put dreams in your bread…just knead them in there for some unsuspecting person to bite into…
It comes as no surprise to me that you know and love the Green. So many other avenues of our lives intersect. I hope we have caught the same trout. Can you believe how big those fish are? Can you believe how wild and strong their coloration? And yes. The clarity of the water…it was like being at an aquarium.
We saw OTTERS!!! River otters! They surfaced by the raft, just popped up to say hi before diving under again. The dogs nearly jumped out of the boat after them!
What a magical place…I’m glad you’ve felt the magic too.
Love all these photos! It has been a long time since I’ve been in the Southwest on a desert river and these photos made my heart ache a little for the colors of desert rocks and waters. Maybe a trip needs to happen.
I think a trip DOES need to happen!!! 🙂
A gorgeous story book of images, and that man of yours is a good snapper too.
He needs a LOT of coaching with a camera but eventually he gets the job done! 🙂
Yesterday during a yoga class, while we were in downward dog, the teacher was talking about being grounded in the pose, and she said it’s like people you know who are grounded, it should feel like that. And just now as I thought, oh I should check on the Plume’s blog, I realized that you are one of those people. Even if I only know you through your blog. And it’s nice to know that those grounded people are out there. It gives me some peace of mind.
Well, I try not to be crazy and highfalutin. Besides, I’m really just very normal. My struggles are normal. My victories are normal. Normal and human. 🙂 Yoga…I’ve been meaning to get a punch card at the Oldtown studio here. I might bike over there this afternoon and hook myself up. I love to get bendy.
Thanks for being here, Erin.
And for being ever gracious.
I was just thinking as I was looking at these beautiful photos just how blessed you and Robert are to be each others bestie camping and outdoorsy buddies….not all couples can share that kind of sacred chemistry…:)…xo
I know. I am the luckiest. He is too. We have so much fun together. Good, honest, genuine fun.
Thank you!!!
Thanks for saying thanks! X
You have outdone yourself! These photos are breathtaking. They transport me.
Deanna!
Good to hear it was worth the work! 🙂
Thank you for dropping by!
{speechless}
xo
XX
Hello, found your blog through another blogger friend. Love your photography. I will be back often to visit.
The Green River is very beautiful. Soul stirring images.
Thank you for finding me, Felicia.
You’re always welcome here.
another day in paradise with the plume!
I can’t help but think tater would have gotten himself in plenty of trouble if he’d have been born a kid. the assortment of faces he makes with the help of his super-tongue is nothing short of incredible.
many thanks for another great episode of armchair travel. you do lead a charmed life and i appreciate that you allow us to come along!
xoxo
Tater Tot is a total clown. All of the time. Usually I am laughing my head off at him unless he is doing something really bad…then I yell. That’s the honest truth. I can be a yeller. HA HA HA!!!
Always love having you here, friend. X
Beautiful! One cannot take a bad photo of Utah! (I used to live in Moab…..you’re making me so homesick, girl.)
I agree! We love Utah. A lot. Moab is a magical place.
Absolutely gorgeous photos!! The green water! The light! Can’t wait to hear about your project! 🙂
Thanks Erin!
oh mama, what a trip! so much good stuff. and that tater, i don’t know how you aren’t laughing at him all day long, or maybe you are?
K,
I pretty much laugh all day long at that dog. He’s hysterical. He has so much personality and is incredibly photogenic.
X
I dream of your adventures – you and RW and your creatures – and I imagine scenes like this altogether beautiful, shimmering, humorous, unadorned (and yet lavished with silken stream, crumble of earth, golden sun). It fills me with such hope and happiness. Bless you on the riverways, always xx
When you go out into the wild places, bare as bones, you’ll find the wild places clothe you in riches and beauty. It’s the simple truth.
I’ll have to check in on YOUR adventures, my friend. 🙂 Love having you here. X
In my veins there is river water. I dream of rivers…
Me too! Me too.
The Green River changed me, too. We camped there in August and I didn’t want to leave.
I seek out places far away and peaceful, and that’s as good as it gets. The Green must have magic in her water, stardust for sand.
Look at those glistening trout! And the mile wide smiles.
You’ll run it again & again, and I can’t wait to hear about it.
Where did you camp?!!
I’m so glad you know this place…so glad.
Looks like you guys had a great time! Trips like those always seem to cleanse the soul.
They surely do! River trips are like an extended sort of baptism…
Hi Jillian,
Lovely lovely pictures, and that first shot just cracked me up – who was he sticking his tongue out at! 😉 Also, what kind of fish are they? I’m from the east and the 1st ones look like trout but the coloring is so different on those spotted golden ones, what are they? Simply a gorgeous little vacation from my workday morning, I thank you!
He was taunting the herds of BLM mustangs we were driving past! 🙂
These are rainbow trout (with the blush pink) and brown trout (mostly green with spots). Beautiful, wild fish.
I would so love to read that essay when and wherever it appears. Such gorgeous photos – gosh I miss the West.
I’m working hard on it! Thanks for your interest! The West misses you back…come home.
I can clearly see how this beautiful river and part of the country can wiggle its way right into your very being… Truly amazing…
This post really captivated me (well, all of your posts do really, since I thoroughly enjoy your photography and inspiring words). I think I especially love seeing all the photos of your canine pack. And I love the opening photo, what a goof! It also makes me miss camping/traveling to wild places and exploring… We have a new pup, she is a 3-legged bundle of love and I can’t wait until she is really strong enough to accompany us on such trips.
Hope you have a glorious Friday, my dear!
xo
A new pup! Three legs! Sounds like a special one. 🙂 You’ll have so much fun with little hop-along!
A beautiful photographic essay Jillian!
And I see a different you through Robert’s eyes.
Softer somehow more quiet, more feminine (if that is even possible)or is it more vulnerable and I just equate that sense with femininity (shamed feminist me if that is so).
Anyway – it’s good to see that other you through Robert’s eyes.
xx
I think vulnerability is an exquisite attribute! Don’t shame your feminist! I know a handful of guarded people who put a lot of effort into creating and wearing masks…changing personas like I change shoes. It makes me sad and it makes it nearly impossible for true, meaningful connection. In point of fact, I tend to let go of relationships with guarded people. Those relationships don’t hold any meaning for me.
Vulnerability is about reaching out for connection — earnestly attempting meaningful and true connection. I think it’s beautiful and it’s how I try to live. To hear that Rob’s photography of me is more vulnerable and feminine than my own self portraits is a testimony to the depth of our love and trust. I think it’s a beautiful thing to notice and I’m glad you mentioned it here.
GOOD GOLLY, GIRL!
LOOKED EPIC.
It was!
It was.
Whoa. These are amazing. Makes me yearn for rivers something fierce. Thank you for this little vacation in front of the computer.
My pleasure, Milla!
For what seems like a dream, is a dream and I’m glad you’re both living it…thank you for the frolicking images…xo,Hbb
Helenbobelen,
Always a pleasure to have you visit some of my dreams… 🙂
X
Beautiful pictures! What section of the Green did you guys do?
Hey Maggie!
We ran the A, B and C sections of the river. We took 4 days to do it and camped along the way.
Absolutely Stunning Images !
What an incredible adventure! I’m just catching up on your adventuring now…how is it that your journeys and photos just keep getting better and better? I suppose that is all we really want out of life, though..an upward trajectory of love, happiness, and quality. I am in awe of the beauty you experience, and that you share with the rest of us. Your posts make my heart itchy in this city I call home, however much I may love it. Today, I reveled in the simple act of raking leaves and gardening outside. I cannot wait to get out to the hills again. June can’t come quickly enough!