Hear the Silence

My days up North are numbered. I’m on the ferry back to Seattle on the Inside Passage from Skagway. And after 3 weeks of camping I gave myself the luxary of taking a cabin instead of staying in the Solarium on the upper desk with about 50 other people :) I’ve made some great memories up North. But what I won’t miss are those darn little buggers called mosquitos, which are not called the "State’s Bird" without a reason. Nor the pit toilets whom we’ve seen a few and smelled a few of. I also will surely not miss the primitive campgrounds :) Nor the crampy Van and the AC in there (I mean, really?! Do we need AC inside the car when it’s like 10 C outside!). Or the timed showers that allow you 4 mins of time. And surely not the rainy days and the wet tent.

What I will miss is the beautiful landscapes. The people who’ve made this Trip a fun one. The encounters with all kinds of Wildlife. The silence you can hear when you listen closely.

I will remember walking in the snow with Trekking Sandals and barefoot in Whistler. "Being hyderized" in Hyder, Alaska (once and never again). The flight over Denali NP on a sunny day (didn’t have those too much there lately). Seeing a Grizzly from way up close (he passed us while we were in the bus). Getting stuck on a sandback with our canoe on McLaren River and having to get out in the cold water to get out of there. Kate Bowen’s (one great voice amongst us) singing. 2 flat tires and one broken van. And especially those 24 hours of daylight.

And what am I looking forward to? Some sunny California days. A little girl called Liana, who will be turning 6 pretty soon, and her family. Relaxing days. A Pedi -and Manicure (oh man, my feet are craving it!). Meeting up with friends. Going to the movies. Wearing open shoes and finally feel the summer sun on my skin. Cause summer has only just begun for me and I’m only just a little more than halfway through the Trip. Stay with me for the next part.

During your travels it’s always important to keep something in mind.
When one thing ends, something else begins.

Klondike

Alaska is definitely not Texas. And the "Southern Sun" (name of Trek from 2 years ago) is, as the name says, most definitely in the South. Still, the North is beautiful. Even though it's cold and even though we’ve done quite some driving up till now. But the nature that accompanies us is stunning!

10 days have passed since 11 strangers and one Tour Leader have left Seattle. Followed by Vancouver. Now, a few hundred miles further up North we’re not so much strangers anymore. And those "big" towns the only ones we’ll be seing on this Trip. The rest is Nature. Sometimes a small town (like Hyder, the most friendliest Ghost Town of Alaska – where we did get "hyderized"). A deer, a fox, even bears (yes, we’ve seen 10 until now, but only from the car along the road – thank god! :)). Many rivers and lakes. Glaciers. And there is much more to come …

Right now we’re enjoying a relaxing day at Dawson City. A town full of history if you think back to the times of the Gold Rush. Hard to imagine that there have been like 40‘000 people living here during that time. Now it’s about 2‘000. And what you can also do in Dawson City is have a shot with a human toe in it(http://www.canadacool.com/COOLFACTS/YUKON/DawsonSourToe.html). Yuck! I’ve been "hyderized" already. And that was by far enough :)

The Road of the Klondike Trek (the Klondike is actually the Yukon River) goes on and on. Heading back into the US tomorrow. More Alaska is calling. And the "Big One" awaits: Denali NP.

Hoping you’re still on for more Trails to take.

„May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome,dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.

Edward Abbey -