I feel like I say this nearly every comment, but it bears repeating — I so enjoy your writing, Holly!
Not only was your encounter with the elk an amazing story, but you describe it so beautifully that I found myself making little sounds of appreciation every time I read one of your many wonderful lines.
Below are a few of those lines, but there were definitely more.
“Now, a sudden fervor of blood and breath spells the foolhardiness of my feeling of kinship.”
“The wind, a master playing the bodies of her lovers since time began, picks up. Pine needles quake. The water below edges just over rocky shores and then slides back, released. A long branch lets out a whistling moan as it whips and then settles. I hear in the stillness the absence of caw, caw or chit-chit-chit or twee, twee, twee, twee, twirrrrr.”
“We are two creatures melded. Each takes in air the other expels. A welling up of something like longing surges from belly to throat. Show me, it would say if it had voice, everything. As if she could transfer to me the feel of summer’s white rays caressing rump high above alpine treeline, the way spongy tundra floor becomes a memory when wind speaks of snow once more and presses the journey to forest below, the satisfaction of yanking a woody morsel lodged in frozen crystal.”
“Even so, hovering in the air between us, my fingers feel her heaving side, soft but thick, flesh and muscle, steam transferring her heat to my hand—like an imprint from the eons that pulse through our veins”.
I also really enjoyed your explanations of what to do, where to go, the inhabitants etc., I feel like (if you wanted to) you could easily write travel guides for a tourism company.
And I say this nearly every reply. Thank you, Michael. Your appreciation of my work is a treasure. What a joy to have a writer whose work I absolutely dig find joy in reading mine.
I would LOVE to write travel guides or get into any kind of travel writing actually. I just attended a Zoom seminar called "How to Write Travel Features to Wow Your Editors," and I'm all lit up about new avenues to pursue. I found it through a substack called Talking Travel Writing, which I recommend based on how generous and informative the seminar and its panelists of travel editors alone if you or anyone else is also interested in travel writing.
Maddie! This makes me so happy to hear. I can’t recommend Alaska enough. I spent two months exploring and would have gladly stayed much longer but for my lack of preparedness for snow and rightful fear of attempting the return trip through the Yukon with icy roads.
I have a whole series of pieces on Alaska planned but will probably do a series on Arizona first bc it’s a good time to hit AZ now. But for sure hit me up for Alaska tips if you want them before you go. :)
I’m so excited to read these future installments! Seeing as how I’m shivering in my 70-degree house right now, my Alaska trip will certainly have to wait for next summer. 😅 AZ sounds ideal right now!
What a beautiful vignette, Holly - I really enjoyed listening to the audio. I'm not familiar with this part of the world. It sounds amazing. I can only imagine how clean and fresh the air must be.
This is one of my favorite parts of the world. I lived in the Yukon (Dawson City) off and on for four years and the drive up from Vancouver always entailed a stop at Liard. I took my husband up there and to Alaska on our first anniversary 19 years ago. You just took me right back to those memories. Thank you!
Ah, Alana, thank you! My aim is, if nothing else, to take readers with me to the places I've fallen in love with. What a joy to hear from someone else who loves this special spot. What a beautiful way to spend a first anniversary!
What a fun read!! I felt like I was with you experiencing that beautiful forest and the closeness of that elk cow. Thank goodness it was not aggressive😳.
I’m in Seattle at the moment too—at least for another couple weeks. Just heard about a Seattle Substack gathering. Follow @allison krupnick for details.
Like being there! "Untouched" tracts of nature are far fewer in Europe, it's much denser - so your snapshots are really refreshing for me. Thanks, Holly!
Thank you! I do love untouched tracts. But I love dense cities too. The buzz, the energy. Just different types of encounters and creatures to commune with 🤣
I feel like I say this nearly every comment, but it bears repeating — I so enjoy your writing, Holly!
Not only was your encounter with the elk an amazing story, but you describe it so beautifully that I found myself making little sounds of appreciation every time I read one of your many wonderful lines.
Below are a few of those lines, but there were definitely more.
“Now, a sudden fervor of blood and breath spells the foolhardiness of my feeling of kinship.”
“The wind, a master playing the bodies of her lovers since time began, picks up. Pine needles quake. The water below edges just over rocky shores and then slides back, released. A long branch lets out a whistling moan as it whips and then settles. I hear in the stillness the absence of caw, caw or chit-chit-chit or twee, twee, twee, twee, twirrrrr.”
“We are two creatures melded. Each takes in air the other expels. A welling up of something like longing surges from belly to throat. Show me, it would say if it had voice, everything. As if she could transfer to me the feel of summer’s white rays caressing rump high above alpine treeline, the way spongy tundra floor becomes a memory when wind speaks of snow once more and presses the journey to forest below, the satisfaction of yanking a woody morsel lodged in frozen crystal.”
“Even so, hovering in the air between us, my fingers feel her heaving side, soft but thick, flesh and muscle, steam transferring her heat to my hand—like an imprint from the eons that pulse through our veins”.
I also really enjoyed your explanations of what to do, where to go, the inhabitants etc., I feel like (if you wanted to) you could easily write travel guides for a tourism company.
Thanks Holly
And I say this nearly every reply. Thank you, Michael. Your appreciation of my work is a treasure. What a joy to have a writer whose work I absolutely dig find joy in reading mine.
I would LOVE to write travel guides or get into any kind of travel writing actually. I just attended a Zoom seminar called "How to Write Travel Features to Wow Your Editors," and I'm all lit up about new avenues to pursue. I found it through a substack called Talking Travel Writing, which I recommend based on how generous and informative the seminar and its panelists of travel editors alone if you or anyone else is also interested in travel writing.
Thank you again. Now I await YOUR next post.
Travel writing would be amazing! That travel substack sounds interesting, I’ll have to check it out. Thanks Holly :)
These photos, even though they weren’t taken with your preferred camera, are stunning. The Canadian Rockies are my happy place. 🥰
But while I’ve been to BC and Alberta, Alaska remains on my bucket list! You’ve inspired me to make it happen in 2024.
Maddie! This makes me so happy to hear. I can’t recommend Alaska enough. I spent two months exploring and would have gladly stayed much longer but for my lack of preparedness for snow and rightful fear of attempting the return trip through the Yukon with icy roads.
I have a whole series of pieces on Alaska planned but will probably do a series on Arizona first bc it’s a good time to hit AZ now. But for sure hit me up for Alaska tips if you want them before you go. :)
I’m so excited to read these future installments! Seeing as how I’m shivering in my 70-degree house right now, my Alaska trip will certainly have to wait for next summer. 😅 AZ sounds ideal right now!
What a beautiful vignette, Holly - I really enjoyed listening to the audio. I'm not familiar with this part of the world. It sounds amazing. I can only imagine how clean and fresh the air must be.
Thank you, Yasmin! I so appreciate you reading and commenting. You’re so right. The air on my Yukon journey was sooo fresh. ♥️
This is one of my favorite parts of the world. I lived in the Yukon (Dawson City) off and on for four years and the drive up from Vancouver always entailed a stop at Liard. I took my husband up there and to Alaska on our first anniversary 19 years ago. You just took me right back to those memories. Thank you!
Ah, Alana, thank you! My aim is, if nothing else, to take readers with me to the places I've fallen in love with. What a joy to hear from someone else who loves this special spot. What a beautiful way to spend a first anniversary!
What a fun read!! I felt like I was with you experiencing that beautiful forest and the closeness of that elk cow. Thank goodness it was not aggressive😳.
Thank you! And truth. She was such a big creature, it was a bit nerve-racking for sure.
Just beautiful!
Thank you!! ❤️
This makes me long for summer
Aw summer, seems so far just about now. Is it a long winter season whereverabouts in the world you are?
I’m in Seattle, so its the depths of winter here too :(
I’m in Seattle at the moment too—at least for another couple weeks. Just heard about a Seattle Substack gathering. Follow @allison krupnick for details.
Already RSVP’d!!
Like being there! "Untouched" tracts of nature are far fewer in Europe, it's much denser - so your snapshots are really refreshing for me. Thanks, Holly!
Thank you! I do love untouched tracts. But I love dense cities too. The buzz, the energy. Just different types of encounters and creatures to commune with 🤣