We left Champagne, Yukon Territory by eight thirty and hoped to make it to Chistochina, Alaska by suppertime. But, as we had learned, traveling the Alaska Highway often yields the unexpected. Before we left we heard road rumors such as, “The Alaska Highway is gravel, isn’t it?” and “The potholes will swallow your car!” We …
Don’t Leave Home Without the Milepost and Proper Calibration
The Alaskan Traveler’s Bible Before we left for Alaska, someone suggested that we might want to take along the Milepost. “Milepost?” I said. “Is that some kind of map?” “Yeah, it has maps, and it tells you where you can buy gas and stuff,” my advisor responded. And so at the last minute I purchased …
Don’t Stress the Small Stuff on the Long Roads of Life
The Long and Winding Road I have always suffered from incurable optimism (in most areas of my life). Sell a house on my own? No problem. I read a book and did it. Weave baskets? Sure, why not? I gave the results to everyone for Christmas one year. Make twenty period costumes each October for …
The Walmart Parking Lot is NOT the Destination
Things That Distract From Reaching the Destination We figured that we should try to travel about 500 miles a day in order to reach our destination in Alaska in five days. I could have spent a month in Banff National Park, but alas, I haven’t retired yet. A constant push and pull plagues me when …
The Importance of Shedding the Unnecessary Stuff
Unnecessary Stops When traveling with my camera, I find it difficult to not stop every time I see something beautiful. Just about any time I step outside, I have an urge to record the beauty with whatever photographic device I have at hand. So you can imagine my dilemma when we started our drive through …
Running in Calgary, Running to Calvary
Running After a Hiatus After five short days in Bozeman, we headed north to Alberta. Unfortunately, we started late in the day and only made it to a Calgary Wal Mart parking lot the first night of our adventure. I decided that the time had come to get back in shape—I hadn’t run very much …
Why it’s Better to Have a Learner’s Attitude for Life’s Tests
My First Driving Test My first real driving test came when we left Bozeman and headed towards Canada. We decided that I would drive so that Pedro could work while we still had Internet. He hooked up the trailer, and I nervously hopped in the driver’s seat and adjusted it for me. I like driving …
How to do Life With Confidence
Riding With Confidence I met my nemesis in Bozeman this summer. Ok, maybe that sounds a little dramatic. Let me explain. Back when we lived in Bozeman, we had a favorite mountain biking trail—the Bangtail Divide Trail. Pedro always rode it with confidence. I tackled it with trepidation. This 25-mile trail spans the Bangtail range …
Off-Kilter Perceptions Make ME Unbalanced!
Perceptions Motivate Us Back to that desire of my heart I didn’t want to mention. I really wanted to visit Sarah at her summer job in Alaska. Ever since we stood Sarah up for a Christmas visit to Argentina, I’ve felt the need to visit her during a vacation. I know it seems silly, maybe …
Don’t Miss Out on the Rewards of Hospitality
Hospitality Has its Rewards “Can I visit you in May and bring a friend?” our Chinese daughter Weixuan asked in a text message. Sarah’s junior year, Weixuan lived with us when she attended the school I worked at as part of their foreign exchange program. That year we also opened our home to Jeanne, a …
