Friday 24th June

We finish breakfast and leave Lake at just after 9:00. We drive through Yellowstone and leave the park, setting off on our way to Dinosaur National Monument. It will be a long drive and we will not have much time to stop. I am still not feeling well. The mosquito bites have shrunk but are still just as itchy as yesterday and the medication knocks me out. The long journey ahead of us means I will need to take my turn driving. I took some of my pills when I woke this morning so Stewart drives first and I will drive this afternoon after their effect has worn off. I won't be able to take more until we arrive and I am hoping that concentrating on driving will distract from the discomfort.

Thursday 23rd June

We are eating breakfast in the hotel restaurant. We have both chosen the "continental" menu and beginning to regret it. Stewart has toast, no jam or marmalade offered. I have a tiny "Danish pastry". Tomorrow we'll try something different. 

Hardly satisfied with breakfast we set off to visit Old Faithful. The park guide tells us it is 38 miles (61km) from here. My mosquito bites are very irritating and I am trying hard, rather unsuccessfully, not to rub and scratch them.

Wednesday 22nd June

We leave Lander on the 2nd stage of our journey to Yellowstone. After the uplifting day in the Rockies depression is setting in again. I try counting the days until I will be home. In an effort to cheer myself up I don't count today or the last day, the day when I'll be setting off. But it doesn't work and I am sullen and miserable again with Stewart. I have to fight with myself to remember I wanted to come on this trip too. No one forced me to come. It isn't Stewart's fault and it isn't as though we haven't been visiting interesting and inspiring places. We have, but something is weighing me down. In my head I'm starting to get annoyed with Stewart because I feel guilty about my behaviour. I know it's me but it's easier to find someone else to blame and he's the only other person here. I sulk all the way to Yellowstone. Stewart doesn't say anything.

Tuesday 21st June

Once again I wake to bright sunshine. It had been another mild night and quite pleasant in our little tent. The ranger's thermometer had shown a low of 60^o F (15.5^oC) for the day we arrived and I think it must have been about the same last night. I had got up once during the night; outside the air was cool and the sky completely clear, dark and studdied with hundreds of stars. No artificial light, no clouds, just a brilliant sky and starlight. Thank you bladder and the water I drank last night!

Monday 20th June

Camping last night wasn't as bad as I'd feared it might be. The woollen socks had kept my feet lovely and warm.

Early morning and now the sun is blazing down and if anything I'm rather too hot. I'm still feeling homesick and think a day on my own may be better an a day with Stewart, who isn't Andy! I explain to him how I feel and he says that he had noticed. Now we have started talking I broach a few more subjects which I perceive to be causing friction between us but he doesn't reply. It crosses my mind again that I may be being rather selfish. To be fair he didn't force me to travel with him, he hasn't done anything other than be friendly and he must be thinking he could have chosen a more amenable holiday companion.

Sunday 19th June 1983

It is quite late when we get up. I finish breakfast, pack and then spend an hour trying to call Andy. I really need to speak to him. I never realised how much I'd miss him and how it would affect my holiday. I am getting frustrated being with Stewart all the time, but it probably isn't his fault, even though I behave as though it is. The problem is I want to be with Andy and he isn't Andy. I think that if I can speak to him I will feel better and stop being so critical of Stewart for not being Andy.