[As I write this thought,
I cannot but imagine life and our preparation to be successful.
It’s important how well we prepare,
but you never get “there” without living it.]
I was reminded this week of a trip to the far north.
A blessed experience in ’77, you know, in the last century.
A year before my son was born! It was special.
This was the year life showed me there were options
But you had to work to enjoy it.
Mom and Dad moved north. Far north.
Gold-colored oil and various shades drew many that way,
But who was to know the currency value was about “place.”
Drawn by one thing, pinned by the other,
Though money is found there,
Alaska was and is my valued place.
To prepare, you ensured all was up to par
Packed with every bit of emergency gear imagined
But you also had to temper your load
With only the things that “custom” allowed.
Border restrictions! They are for real.
Where to? How long? How much dinero are you carrying?
Water? Gasoline? Spare tire? Can this vehicle make it?
It’s 1,899 miles from Sweetwater, MT, to Alcan Border, AK.
That’s just the Canadian part.
I traveled farther than that to get to the border.
Now you must cross over, one country to another. Today?
A passport is mandatory. Yesteryear?
Just a current driver’s license and good sense.
From Houston to Sweetwater, 1,999 long miles.
Then that 1,899 miles on to the Alaskan Border.
Now, the last 401 miles to the central aisle of the population
Where we found 16 years of life. Anchorage. Alaska.
A vehicle must be ready for the challenges of the road.
We all know that to be the truth.
But when the road is a “beater, ”
Your transportation needs to be “tougher.”
For me, that first time proved something I knew.
Call it a point of knowledge, only now experienced for miles.
Though we’ve grown used to paved roads,
Gravel, even washboard, can beat you to death.
This first time on the Alcan, except for 100 miles or so,
Was mainly gravel, dust, and mud when rains came.
The pavement was only experienced around a few population centers.
It was a blessing when we finally hit Whitehorse, YK, CN.
We wanted to stay awhile!
That’s part of the tempering effect.
Though you planned as well as possible before leaving,
You learn…as you go…and adapt…every day, all the time.
You must be flexible and ready for trouble.
But this is tempering.
Preparing yourself to be safe and successful.
As with glass, tempering makes it safe and safer.
Remember this: You can take planning just so far.
You must experience it and ask: Did I plan enough?
Life at its finest.
Experience. Are you tough?
Nothing is so beautiful as this trip.
I’m ready. Oh, steady my heart, “Let’s do it again.”
Thank you for reading.
Please share with others.
It helps me get my book written!