Alaska

April 12, 2012 In Alaska, Inspiration, Live the life you want to live, News & Updates, Photos

oh the places you will go

As I’ve been working with my talented, patient, and generous web guy Bobby sending him information, photos, links, etc. for the BLR face lift we are doing, I found this link from A Skirt! Magazine issue I was featured in before I drove to Alaska.

My, my, the things that have happened since this photo and article. Oh the places we have been.

This BLR-mobile got different license plates, added branding on the bumper, it drove all the way up to the Gateway to the Klondike:

…and went through the Inside Passage of The Last Frontier, then all the way down the west coast spending nearly 5 months total on the road with an extended work stay in Napa, back east, then a move to Chicago, travels back east again, back to Chicago, back east once more and just back to Chicago this week. (With so much in between.)

Phew!

I don’t think I’ve ever shared here after that Skirt! photo shoot, I left the east coast headed for Alaska with only $600, a fresh oil change, a few paper maps, and all my belongings in the trunk. (As in everything I owned.) If you do any sort of calculations on mileage and gas, $600 is not even enough money for gas to get to Alaska let alone any other expenses. I made it there and back and then some as listed above because at the time I wanted to make that journey happen so badly I would’ve walked there if I had to. Not only was I safe, happy, and did I have an amazing time, but I didn’t have to walk there. Why? Because along the way things just happened.Â

It’s so fun to look back and have thoseÂ hell yeah- I did that!Â moments.

When you take a step towards life (and work your ass off) the universe responds. That is no joke, and this photo above is a perfect example. There are no secrets or superpowers I have that you don’t have too.

Is there a “place” that you want to be so badly, you’d be willing to walk there? What’s holding you back from starting that walk?

This calls for a little Dr. Seuss moment:

Oh the Places You’ll Go:

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.Â And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets.Â Look ’em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.

It’s opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don’t worry.Â Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

You’re right Dr. S!

We have brains in our heads, we have feet in our shoes, and we can steer ourselves in any direction we chose!

March 29, 2012 In Alaska, Inspiration, Live the life you want to live

i should pay starbucks…

…for all the unplanned and totally random, awesome connections and moments I have made while working from their billion locations.

Just now, business guy next too me updating friend: “Yeah, so my son graduated and he’s on his way to Alaska. He wants to stay there for the summer and be a fisherman. My wife is kind of freaking out.”

Of course I invited myself to butt in the conversation with: “Let him! Oh my god! Please! It will be the coolest thing ever for him to experience and will make him a better human. I really believe that, I have done this for a long time, I am nearly 34. You can even call my mother- she will tell you that by me travel and trying new things- moving to where I’ve known very few people and very little about, has helped me become a most resourceful and overall badass fearless person. Isn’t that what every parent wants?”

Bam.

I’m closing my computer and walking out the door of Starbucks now. Thanks Starbucks.

Hey business suit guy with the kid who wants to go fishing~

If you love him and want him to become the best kid you could dream of- let him go! I promise you’ll never regret it and neither will he. if you are reading this , send me an email or note here. I love sharing my “road” resources and I know some amazing people from my time in Alaska. I’m happy to help!

Here’s to one life. Do it while you can…:)

August 18, 2011 In Alaska, Live the life you want to live, New York, People, Videos

8/18

(I’ve been sitting here sipping my coffee for 30 minutes now, letting my thoughts wander- trying to figure out how I want to start this post. Guess it’s time to just start typing…)

Each year this day is an odd one for me with thoughts off loss, and celebration, sadness and elation. So very bittersweet. I think about where I was last year honoring my lost friends and reaching a lifelong goal and it almost doesn’t seem possible yet another year has come and gone. I am so thankful to be here, still typing away on this Blue Lollipop Road. I think about all the people I’ve met on my journey, all the incredible moments I’ve had along with the tough ones, and I feel proud that I still make the choice to focus on the good and possibility rather than the opposite. I was fortunate enough to learn that art of appreciation and joy for the little things from my friends who aren’t here anymore. I never want to lose that. Especially on days like today, I’ll always be in awe of these two girls who lived their short lives so fearlessly, authentically, and completely wide open.

Here’s to never taking days for granted, loving hard, laughing way too loud, and living fearlessly.

I’m off to eat a blue lollipop…

August 8, 2011 In Alaska, Live the life you want to live, Wisconsin

welcomed interruptions

Scene; Sitting at Starbucks in Wisconsin this morning typing away on the patio with my coffee.Â Gentleman walks up to me:

“Sorry to bother you, but I’ve gotta ask you- What’s Blue Lollipop Road? I drove in behind you.”

A conversation ensues and in a few short minutes I share that Blue Lollipop Road is my blog, that I have traveled for years, and actually today was the day 1 year ago I crossed the Alaska border, hitting my 50th state in Skagway. He has been too. He grew up in Maine, and right near one of the towns I will hopefully be going to, so I can meet up a very interesting guy on my Honda Adventure in September. (Working on a few things, still TBA.) I share where I am from in Vermont, he has been there as well, and is now currently living in the Midwest like me too. Our conversation quickly wraps as he apologizes for bothering me again (which clearly he is not) and I go back to my head down typing away.

Moments like the one that just happened are fairly regular for me and I absolutely love them. Small worlds, unexpected and welcomed interactions with people I would have never otherwise met. I’m sure I could have talked to that gentleman for hours. Blue Lollipop Road has offered me such a great platform to open conversation on all subjects, and to prove that everyone has a story and something in common.

I can’t wait for my next random stranger interruption.

July 31, 2011 In Alaska, People, Photos

a picture is worth a thousand words

As I’ve made the transition to a new computer, I’ve finally done some serious homework in my iPhoto. Perusing through and organizing pictures I’ve taken since starting using a digital camera has been an entertaining walk down memory lane this past week and I still have lots more to go. Surprisingly the most fun part of looking back on my 10,000 collected images from the past 2.5 years has been reflecting on what my intention was taking each photo, and remembering where my head and heart both were at the time of point and click. As I was scrolling through just now, this particular one caught my eye:

Exhausted and filthy after being on the road for lots of days, here I am wind-blown. (I’m still trying to perfect those solo traveler self-portrait skills!) This is my first ferry ride in Alaska last summer and boy was I one happy camper that day. I remember the views took my breath away, my face hurt from smiling, and the sense of accomplishment- reaching that goal I had for so many years was unlike anything I had ever felt before.

Here’s to a picture being worth a thousand words.

May 13, 2011 In Alaska, Funny signs

they got scared and ran away

I look this photo in Juneau, Alaska last summer. That was Friday, August 13th, 2010:

This sign was taped on a storefront door. Clearly some people take their superstitions very seriously. I’m thinking it’s a good excuse to take a day off!

March 9, 2011 In Alaska, Photos

no gps needed here

Thank you to P&G’s Have You Tried This Yet? program and Kroger for sponsoring my writing about trying new things and breaking out of my everyday routine. Click here to find great savings on high-performing P&G products at a Kroger store near you. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

I am all about trying something new and getting others to hop on board with me. You could call me a cheerleader of adventure. I keep the excitement and curiosity of kid and constantly want to explore as if I’m still 8 years old. I hope that never changes.

Last May I quit my job, got rid of my apartments and sold everything I owned then drove from Virginia to Alaska with no plan. (If you have read here for a while, you know the story: Alaska was my 50th state, it was a lifelong goal, and I ended up on the road for 5 months with the trip being a wild success.) I didn’t use a GPS and I still don’t use one. On the trip I didn’t even stop at a AAA office or look at a map until I got to Madison Wisconsin. I didn’t know Alaska Highway was “world famous” until I got to it:

The great part about trying new things is that you never know what kind of surprise will be around the corner. I personally think it’s better not to plan out/know what route you are going to take somewhere until day of. Can you imagine driving along and happening on something like this out of nowhere?

(See Pablito, Juan and Juanita hanging out?:)

I spent a long time wandering around the rows and rows of signs and plaques people had left from all over the world. This spot was a complete surprise to me and wouldn’t have been nearly as cool if I had known it was coming.

There were countless new things I saw and tried on my journey to and through Alaska. Here’s a fun first of me crabbing for the first time:

So, Ok- instead of scoring a bunch of crab, I caught a couple of creepy giant gelatinous starfish. I’m not going to be a pro fisherwoman anytime soon, but this wasn’t too bad for a first try. I was thrilled to catch anything (as if you can’t tell by the look on my face.)

I will always love to travel, because travel makes me to try new things. I connect with people I’d not otherwise meet, I’m more flexible, open and less judgemental. All those things help keep me being the person I want to be.

Here’s to switching it up and trying it all. What new things have you tried lately?

January 10, 2011 In Alaska, Photos

what was it like driving the alaska highway?

Where do I begin? Well, for one, it certainly gave new meaning to “Next gas 350km” that’s for sure. One of the few spots I fueled up along the way, Toad River Lodge: