Whistling

It was getting dark and we are driving through quinsnal Bc trying to find a place to stay. We keep backtracking looking for campgrounds. Finall we get to one, a gated rv park. Real quiet here except for a guy walking around whistling. 

Mikal and I make dinner by candlelight, two cans of soup and a can of green beans and some whiskey. I still have a weird feeling about his place, my knife and bear spray are under my pillow. 

I just walked to the bathroom and uheard the whistling again, I locked myself in and  before I left grabbed the toilet plunger. I opened the door before flushing, just I case he was outside waiting. I swear I have zero tolerance for bullshit. 

I haven't heard him since, but I'll be on full alert. 

Ravens and Rivers 9-29

I woke up to the sound of Ravens, hundreds of them. They were flying around the campground, pickup up last nights scraps. Nutt hadn't checked in yet, I have a sinking feeling something is wrong. So much noise form the campground and the ravens and the rivers. I have this horrible imaged that something got him in the woods and the Ravens are picking his bones. I can't sleep. I get up and try calling him, I can't hear him anywhere, no meows, no tags clicking, just ravens.

This must be the way parents feel waiting for their kids to come home each night. It's a sickening feeling. I try to lay back down and pray, but then I don't believe in prayer, but man, it does make me feel better.

I can't go back to sleep, I have to go look for him. I put my boots on and start stomping through the woods yelling for Nutt shaking his treats. I don't care how crazy I look, I just need to find my cat. I just hope he isn't lost or dead or even worse, just lying there hurt somewhere not able to cry out or get out of the woods.

I can't hear anything. I don't want to yell to loud as to wake up the people in the campground, but I worry he can't here me over those damn ravens.

There is nothing else I can do, I try to make myself busy around camp but I keep thinking I hear him. My every intention is to find him. I got back into the woods, take the treats again and start looking. I step about 10 feet in and hear this tired little wake up meow, look over and see him stretching by a tree. That little shit was napping just outside the tent the WHOLE time!

He's grounded.

I don understand why or how armpits can smell the way they do. I don't know if my shirt will ever be the same. Socks too, they were so bad up by Whitehorse from living in my xtratrufs we punched them in the sunroof to blow the stink off them.

McChickens in British Columbia cost $5.18, but at least the actually put rolos in their rolo McFlurries. This trip is already starting to heal all the hurt spots from my last one. 

Salmon and Potatoes 9-28

Some moose hunters gave us salmon and potatoes before leaving the Dease Lake campground this morning. We don't have a cooler so I threw them up in the kayaks. That isn't really working now that we are so far south. The leaves on the trees are turning green and the nights are warm and humid.

We met some guys at the gas station in Bell and are camping in Smithers. We cooked the potatoes and salmon over the fire and made a blueberry honey glaze from berries the boys picked up at exit glacier. Almost as good as the boxed potato smoked salmon and corn from last night. 

There are showers here, first shower since anchorage, thinking that was 5 days ago? Hard to keep track, we aren't moving very fast and it's awesome.

Cat litter 9-27

So we stopped at boya lake and it was beautiful. Wanted to camp but needed to get a bit further. For some reason I thought Dease Lake was only 40 Miles's, I think we drove another two hours.

I'm really bad with music and who knows what is on my iPod. I had audio books so whenever I play music on shuffle David Sedaris or 1984 comes on randomly. I made the move to knock out the audio books and put my new iTunes library on. I stole all my music literate friends libraries so figured that sound be a good idea. Now with 36 days of music how could I go wrong. Well, for the last 5 days we have been trying to find good songs. We made a rule that we have to put it on shuffle an listen to the song. That rule went out the window after a snoop dog song that said fuck me over thirty times 

We got to the campground and it's pretty rainy and dark. Not really wanting to set up my tent in this. There are holes in the rain fly and we lost our ground tarp out if one of the kayaks. 

There is a pbc set up shelter across the way. Looks like it used to be the picnic area but there was no tarp covering. Thank goodness we didn't leave my massive tarp back in Tok. We got it up pretty quick using bungies and para cord. I was so impressed with Mikal when I saw she used one of my big fish hooks to secure the last corner. 

I let the Nutt out and he didn't like the rain so he hopped back in the car. His wet paws tracked the cat litter all over so I put the box under the car and let him out for the night. 

I guess Nutt doesn't like the rain. I just woke up to him pressing the screen against my face trying to get into the tent. We wouldn't let him in  because he'd pop our sleeping pads. He didn't like that and the next thing I know he is crawling up my tent under the rain fly hanging down on top of me. I had to wake Mikal up to help me get him down and back in the car. 

I went to put his box back inside with him and couldn't really see because my headlamp died but felt a  mucky slush all over my hand. I grabbed a a light, half the box was full of water. The cat litter had turned to a mucky mess. 

I didn't want to dump it in one of chucks nice camp sites so I thought id be helpful an dump it down one of the pit toilets. 

Well. I put the toilet seat up and started to dump the corner in. I didn't plan for the muck to stick so all the loose liter spilled over all over the toilet seat and the floor. I couldn't leave cat litter there , sweet old chuck knew I had a cat, who else brings cats to camp grounds so I couldn't blame it on anyone else. I tried to scoop it all off the seat and into the pit, then I had to get on my hands and knees and pinch by pinch pick up the rest of the litter. 

So I still had half a muck in the box so here I am in the dark, pouring rain, walking through a wooded camp ground with a litter box. Trying to find a discrete place to dump the rest of the mess..

Late starts, lake baths and Yukon jack 9-27

Another interesting night around the campground. Derrick, Ryan and Jimmy Burns camped with us at an actual campground in the Yukon. We made noodles three times and smoked a bowl out of a carrot. First time for that one. 

I had bad dreams about something happening to Nutt. I woke up a few times to check on him. Once he was on his hind legs against our tent meowing. Guess he made the rounds last night, freaked the boys out too.

Slow start again this morning. Mikal took a bath in the lake, gotta be in the low 50s and I made hot coco with the rest of the Yukon Jack for everyone. Only seems right to drink it here in the Yukon.. 

Finding things 9-26

Last night was awesome. We camped on the side of the road between the wrangles and the Dawson range. Da Nutt escaped again and I lost my matching wine glass. Think it fell out of the car in anchorage. While I was searching for my life the boys and Mikal got a fire going an we set up camp. We combined forces on dinner making noodles with their smoked salmon and we finished off the bottle of gin. We smoked a bowl out if an apple, irate time is done that in about ten years. So nice just sitting there sharing what we have, under the stars cheersing to the lost cat.

So Nutt came and checked in with us twice at the fire between back woods adventures. That cat amazes me more and more. We crawled into bed, it's gotta be in the twenties. 

In worries about da Nutt but nothing I can do. Mikal for up to pee around five and I hear her go, ohh kitty! He was outside out tent and when he got out he crawled in my sleeping bag. 

I gout out to put him in the car and the sky was streaked with green. Some of the most beautiful northern lights I've ever seen. 

Late start again this morning. Everything was frozen, all out water and frost everywhere. 

Mikal started coffee and I broke down camp. She found my wine glass under one of the seats so we took a celebration drink of whiskey in the kayaks, it tasted way better covered in the Yukon frost. 

We just stopped for gas and met a cyclist from Barcelona. He's biking from anchorage, catching the ferry then down to Patagonia! 

We got so excited talking to him and giving him snacks we forgot to get gas. Mikal is being introduced to my game of can we make it? 

First night survival

So I made the decision to leave the Nutt in the car despite is protesting. He took it out on us this morning when we were all packed up getting ready to leave and he slipped out. Straight to the woods. Always just a few feet in front of him. At one point I full out lept for him, got one leg, knocked the wind out of me then he was gone.

We stopped in Tok for a good three hours doing some last minute things before heading into Canada. Mikal made fun fetti pancakes my mom sent me last winter and we took the snow bike out to get some first tracks. 4 inches of snow in some places out here. 

We stopped at the Yukon sign before the border to get pictures. We both had to pee real bad and there were no bathrooms so we went on the side of the road. I mean, one of those pees that just keeps going, there were no cars at first then we heard one coming we pray they just keep going and try to duck lower. I head the car getting slower then saw them pull up right behind us and pretend not to look as we shot up pulling our pants up laughing. 

They were two boys who were wffing in Delta Junction and Homer. One had steri strips crossed over his forehead, Mikla asked him right off what he did, guess he shot a gun and the scope came back and knocked him in the forehead, I know how that feels. They gave us fresh apples, they couldn't take them over the border. Guess we hope the don't search our car because we have a lot of things we have a lot of things we probably shouldn’t and the Nutt.

I have never gotten through the border so easy. I think the lady felt bad she only had dog treats and let us through. 

Flying

Didn't sleep really at all last night in the Subaru, I forgot to latch the seat so my head was on a decline and all the snot in my body went to the back of my throat and I kept trying to swallow but couldn't. Mikal slept there too. I really need to get. Pillow or all this. 

Leaving talkeetna was pretty tough. Was tempted to stay another night to see a friend but thought seeing him would make things harder so dipped out. We picked up da Nutt from Rob. That man really impresses me. He grew up in kodak and was a hunting guide there for years before moving to talkeetna. He is also one of the most amazing artists I have ever met. I found a bear tooth and he is helping me make it into a necklace.

I usually get really bad anxiety about traveling with people. But I have none of that with Mikal. She is calm about everything and had her shit together. She is patient with me, knowing I have a lot on my plate with this move and I cannot be happier to be starting this adventure with her. 

We were planning to go flying with tj today and I almost backed out to take a nap. In glad I didn't. I got to the airstrip right at four, hopped out of the car and into a little four seat plane. We went looking for moose which felt more like a roller coaster and hovered above the knik river and zipped alongside tidewater glaciers. 

To tired to write really, just got to Girdwood. Walked in and the guys staying here was so pleased to have two girls walk in he gave us his pizza and bed us smoked salmon. Mentioned something about how bad the dating scene was then we made our exit. Excited to have a night of solid sleep before I break down. 

Leaving?

Last night we laid low drinking gin and tonics with our new matching glasses going through gear and maps. I was able to spread all my stuff out on the floor and get it into it's home bag. I can't tell you how good it feels to have my life organized into bike bags, it just makes more sense that way.  

Our plan was to leave anchorage at 9 this morning, it's 1:53. Da Nutt picked out a box for the trip, I set a few out and he kept crawling back into the Kirkland Canadian whiskey, makes a mom so proud! 

We were running errands this morning, Nutt got out at the post office then we had to run back to the house to get something. Every time we tried to leave something would come up. 

We made it to Palmer to pick up some mail from TJ. He was the one who took us flying the other day and brought us on board to see the plane he's working on.

 

Not sure how well da Nutt is gonna do camping but we will find out. 

It's weird leaving. I'm content. I think meeting Mikal and us doing this trip was meant o happen. We are on the same page, no stress no pressure, just open doors and winding roads.

The termination dust has hit. The lowers mountains are golden with the changing trees and the peaks are  starting to be covered with snow

I'm so proud of da Nutt right now! We stopped to have a snack by the matinuska glacier. Peanut butter jelly and honey sandwiches for Mikal and I and some tuna for da Nutt. I let him out of the car and he ran around the parking lot and played in the woods. We went over and got a family picture infront of the glacier and ran into some motorcyclist. They didn't believe me he came when he was called and he jumped out of my arms and they started to chuckle. Then when we were walking back to my car I told da Nutt to c'mon and he gave a little meow and ran up along side me. Faces were priceless!

I think I just lost Da Nutt. We pulled off at a trail head just south of Tok and set up camp. I let the Nutt out and he did some exploring, looked at me, gave me a little meow, then took off into the woods. I could hear him for a while then nothing. Shit. 

I tried calling him and shaking his treats. I even told him I would give him a snack, silence..

Mikal and I made Mac n cheese with rice milk and tuna. Finished the small bottle of whiskey and still no Nutt. I set up his food and his litter and his bed, even a little snack. 

I called an called and THEN! Out of the blue, I heard his little meow comming from the woods. Then nothing. Then the jingle, then his eyes in the dark as he took of running back and forth. He hopped on the car then into my lap. I moved all his stuff back In the car an tossed him in. 

No we are in the tent and I can hear his cries from the car. Yeah, he is safe there, but sad and scared and lonely. I can't bring him in the tent, he will pop our air mattresses. I am tempted to just let him out for the night. I'm scared he will get lost or hurt or worse... But he would be happy. It's not fair I get to do the things I do and be free and keep him couped up.. Idk maybe I'll let him out. 

The Beginning

It's always a new adventure, always moving forward. I finished up at princess yesterday, and met Mikal in talkeetna. It's great we have this whole trip planned and we just met.

I have a really good feeling about her and this trip. I just haven't slept in days so I'm on the verge of breaking down. I was trying to to collapse into tears telling maxwell goodbye. 

It was the perfect place to meet. Beer fest was going on but it was too expensive so we bought our own beers an drank and hiked around. Midnight sun also miss canned 24 cases of beer so there was an epic beer baseball thing going on.

Alaska has just become my home. I love it here. I've said goodbye to too many people. I don't know why I keep doing it. Why I can't just stand still. I guess if I would have done that I never would have met or experienced the people and places I have. I know I'm just being tired and emotional. I just need a nap. This is gonna be an amazing adventure and Mikal seems like the perfect person to do it with. 

Portage Glacer vs. Grace and Mikal 1 - 0

Mikal and I are trying to leave Girdwood, both of us have our stuff all folded into piles all over our rooms just not really knowing what to do with it, guess maybe we shouldn't have gone out to the dive last night with friends. 

Da Nutt is running around the house like crazy, making friends with all the dogs and catching bugs out of the air. I swear that cat was meant for me, what a chameleon. I sure do hope he does well on this road trip. 

Yesterday I took Mikal to the hotel, she is wanting to get a job at the spa this winter. We biked around Girdwood and were both just in aww of how beautiful it is. We tried to go shopping, gonna make it a plan to buy one cute girl outfit for our trip so we can fit into society, but both of us forgot out money. I think we are going to make a great team.

We just got back from kayaking out at Portage Lake. I’ve never been there before and thought it would be a good idea to take the cheap whiskey. Somehow along the way we made it a rule the handle had to be gone by the end of British Columbia and it can only be drank in the kayaks... 

The glacier was amazing! much smaller than Aialik or Pedersen so I felt we were able to get much closer. we pulled our boats up on the moraine and instantly ran to climb the cliffs next to the ice. the blues we unreal under the cloud cover. 

Portage just calved. Mikal was like look at the wave! my eyes shot over to the boats as I watched them get sucked out into the lake and under the water. The blue one popped up and with the next set of waves and washed up 30 yards on shore. We booked it down the rocks to try and save the red one which was now rolling in the surf. I tried to walk out to get it, the surf coming up around my legs suctioning my rain pants to my body, feeling oddly familiar. It took a good 5 minutes of me trying to grab the boat with each wave. Finally I was able to snag her as I watched my last bag of jelly bellies float out of reach.. they were the only casualty.