Fear

"The whole secret of existence is to have no fear." Buddha

Last night I barely slept. Templeton appears to have kennel cough so he coughed much of the night. The bigger reason, though, was the overwhelming fear that hit me and the anxiety of going on this trip. Every fear and doubt hit me- lack of planning, lack of saving money, potential breakdown, do I have enough time, what if something breaks, will I be able to leave Templeton home if he's sick, I'm kinda old for this, and on and on and on. I came very close to canceling the trip. Then Tim McGraw's song "Live Like You You Were Dying" came on while I was driving to work and I exclaimed through the tears- I am going to Alaska!

I realized that this trip is bigger than I thought. It's about facing my fears and moving forward through them. It's about finding my courage and realizing I'm listening to all those negative voices I've heard all of my life from family and friends, society and acquaintances. I will do this. I will pack my trailer and truck, hook 'em up, grab the pup, and head north. There's a destination- loving life for what it is, wherever it goes, challenging my comfort levels, and no regrets. Adventure awaits for those that push through the fears that have held them back much of their life. And I believe you're never too old to follow that adventure wherever it may lead. 

Countdown to Adventure!

Well, the truck is now outfitted with the cargo carrier (note it says Subaru LOL) thanks to my son and his friend. It was much more complicated than we expected; especially painful on a 90 degree day. The carrier is for lightweight extra items- toilet paper, paper towels, windshield washer cleaner, food (yes food because I unfortunately can't eat just anything or anywhere), blanket, etc. I am trying to be aware of the items I'm taking because more weight means lower gas mileage. However, I still have 5 gallons of water and 5 gallons of gas, and the generator, solar panel, food, blankets, maps, books, dishes, and on and on. It's challenging to know what I need while knowing I'll still have too much.

Today was a constant of running back and forth between the truck, trailer, and house (also household chores and cooking up stew and applesauce for the week). Packing was the priority. My son installed the new city inlet for freshwater so the benches are back together. Now to figure out what goes where. The house looks like a tornado hit it with bins and boxes and maps and books all over the place!

I have a very busy week ahead- job interview, dog vet visit (followup to him being sick last week), my doctor appointments, shopping, and getting ready! I was able to get a fair amount done today. There are items I can't pack until the night before- the same night Templeton will need to go back to the vet for either x-rays or a bordatella vaccination, depending on his condition. Now, really? I'm having so many second thoughts about doing this trip, yet I'm still going to head north next Saturday with a full trailer and truck and hopefully a happy healthy traveling companion!

I have a new Thetford portapottie which I love. Sounds weird but the previous sanipottie of unknown age failed a few times and that's just not something you want to happen when you're traveling. And emptying it was not pretty. Now I have a lovely new one that is reliable and easy to empty and clean. The last little fix for the trailer is figuring out how to hold it in place. That may be challenging.

I finally called the RV park near Denali to talk about reserving a spot not knowing when I'll be there. Fortunately they're pretty laid back except I need to give them several days advance notice for dog sitting. Hopefully, she'll have the days open. They charge extra but Templeton gets personal attention along with her dog. I'm more than happy to pay for that. I plan at least two days of the 8-10 hour bus ride so he'll be spending some quality time with her.

I'm not sure I'll have time to write again for awhile so I sign off with- here I go making everyone around me either envious or wondering what the hell is up with this crazy 50-something woman! My answer: LOVE LIFE EVERY MOMENT! Chase that dream, push back the fears, follow your heart and soul to where you want to go. "A grand adventure is about to begin." Winnie the Pooh

My destination!

12 Days and Counting

New GFCI sans cover and view of water pump, etc.

Latest- replacing city water inlet connection due to stripped screws

Things are heating up! 12 days before I head north to Alaska and I feel like there's so much yet to do. Food planning is mostly under control but the trailer isn't! You know how you want to fix one "simple" thing and suddenly find it becomes a much bigger project? Yeah- that's what has happened with thinking I would just change out the water strainer and a couple of feet of tubing (actually my worker is my son). It's become a much bigger project because I want things done correctly- such as replacing the electrical outlet next to the water with a GFCI outlet! It will be done in plenty of time but wow! No more ideas for changing anything from me! I do need to check under the bench where the hot water heater is located for tightened screws, etc. since the trip will be a bumpy one. But that's about it. Needless to say the trailer is a mess and unpackable.

Life in a little trailer.

Messy!

I seem to be running out of time to do any detailed planning on where to stay and visit. I hope I don't miss anything really great. I remind myself, though, that this is a trip of adventure and doesn't need too much planning. I'm still trying to figure out how much money to take and where to get it changed into Canadian currency. My bank told me that I could buy a "travel card" that is loaded up with money from my account and can be used anywhere a debit/credit card is used. It has a one-time fee of $9.95 vs the 1% fee of the total purchase on each credit/debit card transaction. That means I'll need to do some math- ugh. Guess I'll be a bit busy next week.

This will come together (I tell myself over and over). And it will be quite a journey.

My Route and My Wild

My Route
The yellow lines are my planned routes- one way up and another way back. From Washington State, up the length of British Columbia, through a corner of the Yukon, all the way to Denali National Park. The route leads over 2,200 miles one way through near-wilderness from temperate forests to boreal forest to tundra. How much wilder can you get? 

Where will I stop? Who will I meet? How long will it take? What amazing sights will I see? What amazing experiences will I have? How will this solitary trip shift my spirit? So many exciting questions.

Wild Woman
I'll be off to the wilds for 3 weeks in about 3 weeks! I've been pondering that much time alone. I know what happens to me when I camp alone for many days. The wild woman emerges. I become one with the air, the water, the forest, the soil. I become the wolf, the bear, the raven, the salmon, the frog. My hair tangles and my scent becomes earth. I feel things not seen and hear the tiniest of sounds not heard. I can taste the air and smell the wild scents. My heart opens-I become feral. My spirit soars to new heights and my intuition strengthens. I feel stronger and wiser, wilder and bolder. I shift to me again.
Three weeks- the biggest question is will I civilize when I return?

Financing a Long Road Trip

follow the tracks to adventure!

So  how does one finance a long road trip? Save up for years or fly by the seat of your pants and just go?! Well, I haven't saved up so it's just go for it. I've spent quite a bit upfront over the last several months getting my trailer ready to go and making sure I'll be pretty self-sufficient.

I believe my primary costs will be:
showers and laundry
camping
gas
groceries
souvenirs
pet sitting while visiting Denali National Park
emergency- credit card

It appears that gas is around $1.15 a liter. 3.78  liters equals 1 US gallon. The trip is around 2,300 miles one way and my truck only gets around 15mpg with the trailer. I'd say gas will be my biggest ugliest cost! Camping fees will likely average around $20 (many are $12 plus I hope to find free spots), with an RV park a couple of times at $30 or $40 a night. Meals are groceries with very little eating out. With my new health issue I'll need to watch what I eat as much as possible. Showers and laundry should be pretty cheap- when I can find them. Lastly, souvenirs. I am a sucker for souvenirs! I love visitor centers and all of the wonderful items they carry. I plan on picking up some jewelry, t-shirts for family, books (after all I am a book addict), couple of coffee mugs, and other items that either bring me or another person  joy. And don't forget pet sitting is $30 or $40 a day and I plan on spending 2 full days on the bus in Denali National Park (an 8-10 hour ride!). No frills such as plane rides or boat tours since I have Templeton with me. That's for another day.

The other issue is how much money in Canadian vs US I should carry. I'll need to decide how much Canadian money I'll need and stop by a bank for the best exchange rate. I'll be looking for credit unions that reciprocate with other credit unions. I plan to use my debit card a lot because I'll get the exchange rate and avoid extra charges. Credit cards give the exchange rate but charge a fee however, I'll utilize them from time to time. I'll inform my bank and credit union plus phone carrier about my trip to avoid any surprises.

So many items to think about when you are towing a trailer, taking a dog, have a health issue that affects meal planning, haven't saved up for, and on the road for 3 weeks in near wilderness. I can't wait!!

Feeding the Body While Feeding the Soul

Just the beginning

The next part of planning for a long trip is what do I eat? It's gotten complicated. I was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis so my food choices are quickly becoming restrictive. In fact, I'm still not sure which foods to avoid. Soy and wheat are the top two. Dairy, too. Due to inflammation I am working on avoiding tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. Corn is on my list to avoid. Cruciferous veggies such as broccoli have to be cooked a bit so I can still eat them. And my biggest addiction is sugar. I'm still working on it, though.

It's nice to have my own moving kitchen, even if it is pretty small. I'll be limiting any restaurant food, plus there will not be many opportunities for fast food anyway. 

Fruits and vegetables are primary items, Protein- hmmmm, the only meat I eat is bison, fish, and seafood. No good way to refrigerate them. Looks like a lot of tuna! Here's the general plan. 

Breakfast Ideas
I haven't confirmed what and if I should be avoiding oats so granola (no wheat) and instant oatmeal; maybe gluten free pancakes a couple of times. Fruit to round out the meal.

Snack Ideas
veggie sticks and maybe a black bean dip. Definitely need a dip for the celery!
I have a nut-seed "trail" mix of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and a few almonds.
Fruit- apples, bananas, berries, grapes (all organic)
I have dried tangerines and apples from Trader Joes
I'm pretty sure some type of sugar will sneak in to my plan 

Lunch Ideas
Tuna on gluten free bread with pickles, of course!
Almond butter on rice cakes with berries on top (peanuts are a no-no)
Of course fruit and/or veggies

Dinner Ideas
Veggie broth, dehydrated veggies and maybe "real" veggies (need a protein too) for a soup.
Burritos with refried beans and a bunch of veggies.
Maybe stir fry veggies (still working on a protein)
Salads once in a while will be good. I'll make my own salad dressing to avoid gluten (corn too)

Food is a critical part of our lives. Without food we can't survive. The taste of food keeps us eating; sometimes too much. It is a social act; many parties end up with most folks around the food table or in the kitchen. Eating whatever I wanted for so many years (except that I've been a "pescatarian" for years and have had to limit eggs, dairy, chocolate, and a few other items that make me sick) makes for a challenge in completely changing the foods I choose to eat now. Food is a critical part of our lives. Our choices, my choices, can mean the difference between a healthy long life or an unhealthy, struggling shorter life. My choice- find my way through this dilemma to a healthier life.

The reality of tiny trailer camping!

Emergency Supplies

Planning, planning, planning! What do I need for emergencies on a 3 week trip with only a couple of big cities along the way? Here's the first part of the list-

• new roll duct tape- the handyman's tool
• black electrical tape
• butyl tape- for all sorts of trailer issues
• clear packing tape- for windshield chips
• nylon rope- who knows
• velcro- same
• silicone- window leaks/water leaks
• Socket set
• all sorts of hand tools
• screws, nuts, bolts- for whatever might ramble off
• rubber bands
• safety pins
• zip ties

I need some glue- maybe some sort of gorilla glue. Maybe some clamps. I'm still working on this list. Being prepared for every possible thing that could go wrong is impossible. 

For Templeton's emergency supplies I have packed-

• eye wash
• ear cleansing solution
• anti-diarrhea medicine
• styptic powder to stop bleeding
• benadryl for stings
• terramycin eye ointment
• rescue remedy
• 3-way ointment
• tea tree and water
• antibacterial bandages
• ace bandage
• self-sticking bandage tape
• medicated gold bond for itching
• flea powder
• emergency blanket
• homemade anti bug tincture
• grooming wipes
• hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting

and whatever I have in my human first aid kit! I suspect veterinarians are few and far between so we need to be prepared.

I've watched one video, so far, on what it's like to drive the Alaska Highway. This, once again, causes me to question what in the world I think I'm doing! Then I calm down and realize that this is an adventure and many wonderful things will happen and maybe, just maybe some little thing that I need to fix or need help to fix might happen, maybe, possibly. And off I go!