Embracing the Unexpected : June 2014

First and most important of all, thank you! Thank you to everyone who has helped turn this dream into a reality for me. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and follow me on this journey. Thank you for the financial support to help fund the drive out here. Thank you to everyone who helped me prepare for this journey from checking over my new van to helping me pack it. Thank you to those who offered me work as well to fund this trip. Thank you to everyone who has shown an immeasurable amount of support, encouragement, and love. I can not find the words to express how grateful I am for all of you.

My short time home was incredible. I had so much fun getting to see so many of you. I was able to work a lot and finish up coaching the high school girls rugby team. I will miss coaching dearly, but was so happy to find a new and enthusiastic coach for them! Thanks again to all my friends who went out of their way to see me before I took off and to those who made sure I enjoyed my time in Wisconsin. Was so happy to get some fishing in while I was there and kayaking!
I was able to find a mini-van for a great deal while I was home. Two days later I was able to sell my old car for basically the same price! God is great! From there it was decided I would bring all my dogs back with me so Chase of course but also my 2 other huskies, Cole and Amber. With a last minute addition of Brutus my friend who went back to Alaska early. So at this point I was preparing for a 10 day 4,600 mile drive with 4 dogs.

Thanks to my amazing dad and sisters I got a roof rack for my van. Thanks to my mom I got our family Tuhle box as a gift. This was perfect, I was able to pack lots up on the top of my van plus this meant I had room for my kayak to come with!

I found a trailer hitch as well for my van and a cargo carrier to pack some more stuff on the outside to allow the dogs more room inside the van.

I went through everything I own and got rid of more than 80% of my clothes and donated them to the Hope Center in Waukesha. My old turkey, cat, dog stuff was donated to the Wildlife in Need Center in Wales, and my furniture was donated to Goodwill in Oconomowoc. It felt so good downsizing all my stuff and packing up just enough to bring with to make Alaska feel like my new home.

While I was going through all my stuff it became increasingly more real to me about how big of a dream this past year and now have been to me. I found a poem I wrote in 6th grade about the Iditarod along with other school projects about Alaska. I also found my binder of research that went from 2nd grade to 7th all about huskies and dog sledding and what it would take to get my own dog.

After all this was done it was time to plan my trip out to Alaska!
I had to head to Fort Collins, CO first to see ny sister and her family since they will be moving back to Papua New Guinea soon and could not get to WI before I left. To make the drive a bit less stressful I planned it to stop at some friends along the way.
So this is what the plan was:
Lincoln, Nebraska first night
Stop in Kearney, Nebraska dog park then to Fort Collins, Colorado for night number 2&3 (luckily my friend was able to meet me here to join me for the rest of the drive, HUGE help!)
Night 4 in Ogden, Utah (got to check another state off ny bucket list)
Then straight north to Canada( this was planned more as I drove) nothing like winging a road trip through another country. :)

I have heard lots of different tales for the drive through Canada so I knew I had to be prepared for anything. From flat tires to running out of gas and the wildlife.
So this meant bring back the girl scout in me and being prepared.
-I got a full size spare tire for the van, double checked the jack in the car.
-Put together an intense medical kit for the dogs and I.
-Travel with 4 gallons of water
-5 gallon gas can full and ready.
-Have warm clothing and rain gear easily accessible.
-Get a good atlas and stop at information centers for road conditions and weather reports. ( I don't like using GPS)
-I set my phone to get enough talk time and a few texts for emergencies in Canada.
-Purchased the Milepost to help guide me through Canada (highly recommend)
-Set up a card with no international charges
-Traveled with extra food to save money as well

Once I was all packed up and fully loaded, and I mean I maxed out my poor van I hit the road June 23rd.

Saying my goodbyes was definitely difficult, but I am so excited to get back to Alaska and see what God has planned for me out there. I will be starting my vet school application in July and it's due by October 1st. I will find out by March 2015 if I'm accepted into the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Thank you once again for everything. All your support truly means the world to me.
Stay tuned for a post all about the drove put here :)

Saying goodbye to the vibe that has done so well for my family for 230,000 miles!

Poem I wrote way back in middle school... so weird to find this and realize this life long dream is coming true!

Chase's first boat ride

<3 Fishing

Chase and I camping by Lake MI and doing some day hiking

Never too much fishing!

or camping! Great way to end my time in WI with friends

I helped to train these two young ladies how to coach flag rugby in Milwaukee and could not be more proud to hand over my lead coaching position to them this summer! PeppNation.org