"It's the simple things that matter" I heard about people say when they are on their death bed. Like watching how the leaves move when the snow falls on them.... I think, traveling the way we do brings the simple things to the foreground again. On the road we are so vulnerable to nature, animals and people. I am reflecting on this, while sitting in the sunshine next to the tent on the 3-4 day ferry from Haines to Bellingham. On the two nights we spent riding our bikes from Haines Jct to Haines the weather didn't improve, but somehow we were more mentally and physically prepared. In fact, it got even colder and it snowed when we left one morning from our little "side of the road shelter" with the amazing wood stove. We had covered our gloves and socks with plastic bags before we took off into the rainy snow on our last stretch to Haines. We got chilled on the downhills and warmed up again on the climbs. We didn't expect to get called over on the side of the road to enjoy a hot dog for lunch while sitting by the fire and telling stories with the Moose hunters,
who also knew Dwaine and were surprised to hear that he shared his moose meat with us. (That stuff is worth more than gold) Visions/ideas what lays ahead when cycling the world are different then when one plans a vacation for a week or two or three. The surroundings are as unpredictable as the weather. And since I don't know what is coming I am amazed about everything, like, when the sun peaks out after almost two weeks of rain. THE SUN! The light, the warms, the pleasure it brings when I just about got used to "no sun" seemingly forever....
This ferry ride tops the understanding of luxurious for me. Our second day on the ferry and the sun has been shining like it is making up for lost times. We left Haines after midnight and then the sun rose over Juneau.
We are on our journey of the "inside Passage" of Alaska, stopping in little towns like Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, Ketchikan, which can only be reached by ship or plane.
We get off the ferry at some little towns, if they are not located too far away from the dock, since we often only get one -maybe two hours layover. I am surprised how developed they are! For a place that is not connected with roads to the rest of the world, there are an awful lot of cars and trucks on paved roads; expensive shops, big grocery stores and fancy cafes....not much left of the original inhabitants. Only few very guilty reminders.
Back on our ferry the M/V Columbia the waves are never big enough to get sea sick. The tent is our home on deck and when we peak out we either see the stars and the moon or the sun, the mountains, the glaciers, whales, seagulls...... a new collage every time. The comfort of our arrangement in the tent can't be beat. We don't even have to get up to get the million dollar view every time we open our eyes.
