Coming Home
I took upon this rare opportunity life had offered to explore Alaska. I told myself from beginning, not to expect anything specific from this trip other than coming home safely and I believed when the moments of serendipity presented themselves I would recognize. And I was right. The sensory encounter with the nature becomes metaphorical to the non-sensory resonance of the heart within. Looking deeper into myself or examining relationships with others were much easier and more revealing in the wilderness. The joy of discovery was immense.
However, it is also clear to me, what is my joy may be someone else’s misery since not all experiences were pleasant and people do not experience same event the same way. In Banff, a man refused to let me ride the cable car with his family demanding that I rode alone. In a national park, a plushy RV occupied the campsite I had just reserved while I was out looking for water. Eventually, I leant to handle situation nicely but with integrity and dignity. Traveling along, I could still ask for respect, not handout.
I made mistakes, wrong decisions or wrong turns, quite often but learnt quickly that ignoring my wrongdoing would not be an option if I wanted to come home safely. I was responsible for everything I did or did not do; I need to fix them and no one else to blame.
The journey is coming to an end soon but the impact will remain profound. I know I will not see this world and myself the same. I feel gratitude to people I met on the road who made this journey possible and friends and family back home whose e-mails reminded me I was not alone. They will be forever in my heart.
I took upon this rare opportunity life had offered to explore Alaska. I told myself from beginning, not to expect anything specific from this trip other than coming home safely and I believed when the moments of serendipity presented themselves I would recognize. And I was right. The sensory encounter with the nature becomes metaphorical to the non-sensory resonance of the heart within. Looking deeper into myself or examining relationships with others were much easier and more revealing in the wilderness. The joy of discovery was immense.
However, it is also clear to me, what is my joy may be someone else’s misery since not all experiences were pleasant and people do not experience same event the same way. In Banff, a man refused to let me ride the cable car with his family demanding that I rode alone. In a national park, a plushy RV occupied the campsite I had just reserved while I was out looking for water. Eventually, I leant to handle situation nicely but with integrity and dignity. Traveling along, I could still ask for respect, not handout.
I made mistakes, wrong decisions or wrong turns, quite often but learnt quickly that ignoring my wrongdoing would not be an option if I wanted to come home safely. I was responsible for everything I did or did not do; I need to fix them and no one else to blame.
The journey is coming to an end soon but the impact will remain profound. I know I will not see this world and myself the same. I feel gratitude to people I met on the road who made this journey possible and friends and family back home whose e-mails reminded me I was not alone. They will be forever in my heart.
It is nice to wake up with children's laughter from nearby playground. It is a wonderful day!!
From campground, beautiful mountain view in the front...
and city view on the right. It is time heading back home.
Scenic Highways lead to Merritt, then to Hope.
Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park north of Hope is where the Othello-Quintette tunnels resides.
An interesting warning sign in Park's parking lot.
O-Q tunnels are abandoned Kettle Valley Railway tunnels. The railway was originally built in 1913-1916 when the silver and other precious metals were discovered in the area.
The trail leads to tunnels.
Getting through Coquihalla Gorge was the greatest challenge of the project then.
Here is the entrance to the first and the longest of a set of 4 tunnels.
In the middle of this tunnel, it is completely dark except lights from two ends of the tunnel. At this point going back or moving forward to either end is almost the same distance.
Coming out of first tunnel and looking into the second one.
Raging water under the bridges that connect tunnels.
Gorge of solid granite.
At the end of the last tunnel there is a trail leads further into the mountain.
Looking back to the last tunnel
City of Hope is a few miles south of the tunnels. I stop by here briefly for a break.
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