it's been 95 days on the road, just over three months. When you're on the road, every day feels like a week, and every week feels like a month. Oh, how i've changed so much, how i've learned so much. I was never quite sure what this trip would bring, but much more than i ever expected. I find such peace in solitude, i learned so many things about myself and others, i found my heart again. It's funny how such an obscure way of living becomes second nature. Every night i strategically find a place to park so i can sleep without interruption. Then, i know where everything in my car must go to set up my bed properly. From there i brush my teeth in the middle of nowhere, then i hop in my car, take off my boots, and watch one of the films i put on my hard drive. Every morning, i wake up early, I dissemble my bed in such a precise way, the same every day. Then i eat a clif bar and begin driving. Every day is different though. Recently, i've been driving around 10-12 hours a day. Your body gets so used to it, as does your mind. Right now, i am sitting near a mountain right outside of banff.
After camping in the mountains of Vancouver island, i stayed for a few more days, did yoga with my new friend Marissa, then took the ferry over to Vancouver. If you know me, or you've been reading, you know i don't care much for cities. So, i didn't go to Vancouver, i drove around it and headed north. Despite finding out that day that the bates motel set was now knocked down, i still went to where it used to be. There was nothing there, but i still was able to see the hill upon which the house had stood. From there, many, many hours driving north. I never realized how big British Columbia was, but if you look on a map, i suppose it makes sense. It took me 4...or 5 days to get all the way through. What i a beautiful journey though! I saw my first forest fire, which was quite large...but i suppose most forest fires are. I picked sage in the desert once more...yes, they have desert in BC! I also saw a knockoff "bates motel" haha. As i got to northern BC, it began to rain. Oh, my love for the rain, how i have missed it! It hadn't rained for me since i was in New Mexico. That is two whole months without rain! I was going up the cassiar highway when it was down pouring. All the sudden i see a bear! Then, three more! Within that day i had seen four bear; i was so excited! The next day as i reached the yukon, i saw four more bear! If you ever wanted to see a bear, go to northern BC or the yukon. Not long after, i reached Alaska! After 78 days, 23 states/provinces, 15,500 miles, and 5 time zones, i made it! I went south to meet up with a friend on the Kenai peninsula. I drove all the way down to homer, then up to ninilchik. I stayed with wanda and her husband for two nights, then headed north. I slept in a big pull-off on the side of the highway one night, and the next morning, a sweet woman asked me if i would like to join her and her husband for tea. They, like me, were sleeping in their car and traveling. They were the sweetest, kindest people. They gave me breakfast, and we talked for hours about our journeys. I thought my trip was something...Emilie and John are from Switzerland, and have been on the road for a year! they went through Russia, through Asia, to Australia, New Zealand, south america, north america, all the way to Alaska! They blew my mind to say the least. After meeting them i am so much more inspired to travel to other places and to explore. They were also believers in God, which was beautiful! I definitely hope to see them again one day. I kept heading north, and of course, everything was too foggy around mt denali, so i wasn't able to see her. My plan was to go as far north a possible. The farthest northern point in america is Barrow, AK. The only way to get there though, is by plane. Being that flights are way out of my budget, i didn't even consider it. So, i decided to go up the dalton highway as far as i possibly could. Everyone in alaska told me not to take this highway. They said it is the worst road you'll ever go on, you'll die, your car will blow up! I'm not kidding, people were actually telling me these things. So, i decided it's probably best i don't do it. But, me being me, i stubbornly decided to do it anyways. I told myself as soon as the road gets bad, or i get a flat, i'll turn around! Well, neither of those things ever happened. People from Alaska don't understand what potholes are like in Jersey! Don't get me wrong, my car is as dirty as can be, sounds awful, and definitely needs repairs...but i'm okay, and i didn't wreck my car. This road is definitely not for most people. I've been out here, by myself, for 3 months. So, i know how to handle things if something goes wrong (for the most part i think). You definitely have to be prepared for this road! It is a 414 mile dirt road that can most definitely ruin your car and leave you stranded. About halfway up, i saw something go into the bushes. Me being me, i pulled over and went looking for it. It was either a linx or a wolf i thought. As i was looking into the bushes, i saw the yellow eyes staring at me. As it began to come out of the bushes, i realized it was no linx. It quickly darted at me out of the bushes. Now, from what everyone has told me, if you see a wolf, you better fight for your life or it will kill you. So, without much thought, i went for my knife and let out a yell (finally useful that i do hardcore vocals). As it heard this, it immediate retreated, to which i realized it was no wolf. It was indeed, a fox. Hey, you can never be too sure, and it was covered by a lot of bushes! So, my attack mode quickly changed back to photographer. I spent about 30 minutes with this fox, five feet away at times. Definitely one of my better models on this trip haha. I soon after reach deadhorse, which is the most north open to the public. Purdue bay is only open to tours, since it's on an oil site. Therefore, the only way to get to the arctic ocean is to pay for a $70 tour. I obviously was not going to pay $70 to see water. So, as i approached deadhorse, i became lost, and i just kept driving. All of the sudden, i see seagulls and a large body of water with fog. I realized it was the arctic ocean! Then i realized, i must of accidentally snuck in! I know what you're thinking, "wow, anthony is slick", and i promise you, this was by complete accident. I suppose they didn't call me "smooth" in the barbershop for nothing though haha. So i was blessed enough to see the arctic ocean, and as i left, they were overwhelmed that i had somehow gotten in. They took my id, wrote some information down, then sent me on my way! It was smooth sailing from there. I made my way back, and decided to try out a similar highway in the yukon, The dempster highway. I crossed the border back into canada, and let me say, it is one of the most beautiful sights. Miles and miles of rolling hills. I kept going north until i reached the Northwest Territories! I was so excited to cross this border! It was once again, so beautiful! With rock formations that made you think you were in Scotland. I kept going north, crossed on two ferries, and finally reached Inuvik! They are currently building a highway so you can go all the way to the arctic ocean, but for now, this is the highest you can go. The next day i went to an art festival there and saw so much beautiful native art. I met an amazing dene artist, Antoine. He was very kind and let me take a photo of him (on film). He told me that in his culture him are i are shae-uyeh. Which means that because we have the same name, we are considered family. I thought that was a beautiful thing! I left and headed to a beautiful small community, tsiigehtchic. I then headed back down the highway, where i saw 4 more forest fires. I finally got to the end and began heading south toward alberta. On the way there, once again, i saw more bear. The count is now up to 21 bear on this trip, 19 of them were seen in BC and Yukon. Yesterday i entered jasper park, and drove all the way south toward Calgary. It was so beautiful there, except like everywhere in the summer, very touristy.
These roads i've taken in the past few weeks have taught me a lot. There was practically nothing at the end of these roads, but it was all about the journey on the roads themselves. I think this is how my whole trip is. I expected Alaska to be something else if i'm being honest. It is very touristy and very populated though. Don't get me wrong, it has unforgiving terrain, and is quite beautiful! I just think i was expecting a winter alaska, not a 24 hours of daylight, 90 degree alaska. Find beauty in all things though, i promise it will make life more enjoyable. I am so blessed that i am even still alive, and that i am able to see what i am seeing. I worked for 5 months in a freezing warehouse, i saved every penny, i planned, and i left. I just want my journey to encourage others to get out there and explore. No, you don't have to travel 20,000 miles and be gone for a while, simply just go on a small adventure. Our hearts were made in the wild and long for the wild. I encourage you to go get your heart back. I'll be home in a few days and i can't wait to see my family and friends, but it is also going to be difficult to come back to normal civilization. I can't wait to see what happens as this journey winds down. I love you all.
