April 21,2010

oouuch........sore muscles...sore everything. After a 13 hour and 728 mile push I arrived in Helena, Montana. There is a bungalow waiting for me..that was enough motivation today to keep going.

The trip down had become enjoyable with some hikes here and there, watching the wildlife and soaking in the Liard Hot Springs, that I almost lost track of time. Liard was amazing. The hawks were all around me there and talking. Once I got to Alberta and realized how far I still had to go.....yes I did actually look at a map at that point.....I got a little more serious about making headway. Alberta was easy to drive....flat...wide expanding landscape with a steady wind of 25 knots and even stronger gusts. I wonder how people handle this constant wind. It makes me edgy and I noticed I was breathing really shallow.

Once I drove into the canyon along the Missouri River I could breath again. There were big rocks, rivers,valleys and mountains.....contrast. A most comforting view. Welcome to Montana!

Yukon and beyond....

April 19,2010

Frost Hives...enormous bumps...holes.....the kind that throws your car off the road.

Snow still coming up beside the road, but at least the road is clear.

Seems like the hawks are guiding my journey. Had one

making a low pass in front of my car today

that I had to tap the break not to hit him. I heard "slow down..something in the road". About a half mile later were 2 moose crossing the highway.

I am not comfortable on the highway yet. Feel kind of ill prepared. I haven't even looked at a map yet, but so far the signs pointing out the direction are pretty easy to follow. And I decided not to rush forward either. If I get to Montana in time to make my flight to N.Y. fine, if not...well so be it.

Leaving Anchorage

April 17,2010

If it had not been for my wonderful friend Ursula, I might have never made it out of Anchorage. I had been stalling..I simply had no clue how to get the stuff into my car. Not that I had a lot, but I have just a little Subaru Forester and the dog kennel took up half of the cargo space.

Ursula took a look, rolled up her sleeves and said:"Just bring me your stuff and I will pack it in." And she did.

So on the morning of the 17th of April I rolled out of town with everything safely stored and Sky comfortably snuggled into his kennel.

I felt kind of shell shocked...neither sad nor excited...The road took all my attention. I realized, that I really don't like the cold climate anymore.

Still wondering how a place so beautiful had felt so right for so long (14 years) and all of a sudden feels so wrong, since I had returned from my 3 month stay in Tulum, Mexico

Chena Hot Springs

March 26,2010

The day could not have been more perfect and not because it also happened to be my birthday that day. Sunshine and blue skies as far as the eye could see. My friends Leslie and George had a big pile of wood that needed to be burned. I tended the fire in the afternoon and kept on thinking "how devine" the timing as I was to work with the water element later that evening at the Chena Hotsprings.

At sunset we made the 40 minute drive up to the Springs. George is a big fan of the springs and had happily agreed to come along. George and Leslie are nature children and love rocks, so I was not too surprised when George showed me around the springs and introduced me to some of their favorite rocks. One specifically dubbed the "Angel Rock". The rock truly looks like an angel with wings and a headrest. George told me to lie on it. I immedeatly sank into the rock and it felt like the wings were folding around me carrying me off into a void. After about 10 minutes I came out of it, felt totally relaxed and very clear minded. ...Awesome.

In that moment it made all sense..driving to South America just seems like the next best and highest Purpose for me to experience.....