Friday, September 16, 2016

Final Thoughts About the Journey




Pilgrimage: any long journey, especially one undertaken as a quest or for a votive purpose, as to pay homage

Why did I do this trip? Why not take three weeks, fly up, and spend more time at Denali National Park and other amazing spots? Because I wanted to see and feel the landscape, inhale its scents, meet the people who call it home. You can't do that from 30,000 feet up in the air.

It was a journey, a pilgrimage to find myself again and to follow a dream, a calling to go north. Because I drove 5,396 miles alone towing a trailer through amazing places on some pretty tough roads at times, I'm stronger, more confident, and wiser than when I began. I pushed past the fears and moved through the challenges. 

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Next time with unlimited time so I could spend more time visiting the places I had to bypass.




Would I take all the same stuff that I didn't use? Yes, I was completely self-sufficient so if something did happen I'd be fine until help came. Yes- the generator, solar panel, 5 gallons of gas, 5 gallons of water, and other assorted items would be packed up with me.

Someday I'll fly back to Anchorage and return to Denali and make some time for exploring the Kenai peninsula. It would be lonely without my little travel buddy though.




Even in the rain I enjoyed Hyder and I plan to drive back, maybe in July, to look for the elusive bears and the wolves that catch the spawning salmon.

Here's a great article describing the little enclave.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/03/us/canada-alaska-hyder-stewart-british-columbia.html?_r=0

I found what I was looking for and I have a new vision for my life. Wish me luck!

Image result for quote on finding yourself


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