八千哩路
The Road Ahead - Driving Beyond Alaska Highway
The Road Ahead - Driving Beyond Alaska Highway
想去阿拉斯加內陸旅遊的念頭不是最近幾年才有的. 十幾年前第一次参加阿拉斯加Cruise 旅遊. 在豪華郵輪上欣賞冰山美景. 就想, 在船上所見的可能只是冰山一角, 沒有見到的阿拉斯加內陸一定更美. 在2002 年再度與親人Cruise 北上時就更希望如果第三次再到阿拉斯加一定是開車上來. 要有較充裕時間多看內陸的高山大湖. 後來, 幾次安排與親友組隊同行都陰差陽錯沒能成行.直到今年初覺得幾年來收集的資料與簡單裝備基本上是夠用的. 心緒, 體能的準備也趨成熟.. 如果時間充裕應可以經由阿加公路(Alaska Highway)北上進入阿拉斯加內陸. 計劃中,如果每天開二百哩路, 六個星期來回應該足夠.
一個人開車心情輕鬆, 行程有彈性. 除了計劃開完阿加公路由起點 Dawson Creek 到終點Delta Junction 的全程1442 哩路之外其他地方的去,留與時間長短都可看情況隨時安排. 沒有特定的路線地沒有預定旅館或營地. 這樣就不必為到預定地而趕路. 出發前除了回家的日期外, 我沒有為這個行程預設特定的目標. 沒想impress 任何人; 包括自已. 我相信走穩每一哩路就可以接到下一哩路, 把走錯的路走對了. 盡力而不強求更不輕言後悔.
七月九日出發, 八月廿一日回到華州家裹. 總共四十三天, 八千多哩路是期盼己久身,心,靈的嚮宴之旅. 山湖景緻勝過美食. 一路下來,我深感造物者的偉大也學到不敢視一花,一草,一物,一獸為卑微. 感觸良多,本來簡單的哩程記錄越寫越像遊記. 最後更像日記.
一個人開車心情輕鬆, 行程有彈性. 除了計劃開完阿加公路由起點 Dawson Creek 到終點Delta Junction 的全程1442 哩路之外其他地方的去,留與時間長短都可看情況隨時安排. 沒有特定的路線地沒有預定旅館或營地. 這樣就不必為到預定地而趕路. 出發前除了回家的日期外, 我沒有為這個行程預設特定的目標. 沒想impress 任何人; 包括自已. 我相信走穩每一哩路就可以接到下一哩路, 把走錯的路走對了. 盡力而不強求更不輕言後悔.
七月九日出發, 八月廿一日回到華州家裹. 總共四十三天, 八千多哩路是期盼己久身,心,靈的嚮宴之旅. 山湖景緻勝過美食. 一路下來,我深感造物者的偉大也學到不敢視一花,一草,一物,一獸為卑微. 感觸良多,本來簡單的哩程記錄越寫越像遊記. 最後更像日記.
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The Road Ahead - Driving Beyond Alaska Highway
It has been quite a while since the idea of taking a road trip to Alaska came to my mind. When the first time I came to Alaska on a cruise ship more than 10 years ago, I realized that it has a lot more to offer than the beautiful blue iceberg we saw from the ship and inside passage cities accessible only by sea. The unseen land of Alaska must be as stunning or even more so. In 2002, when I cruised Alaska again in a reunion trip, I knew that I would be back someday for a third time, and this time it would be a land trip to see the mountain ranges, forests and lakes of interior Alaska.
Since then, there were a few discussions among friends to visit Alaska by land. Unfortunately, none of them became reality for me eventually. Earlier this year, I finally realized that the information I have collected over the years and basic camping, hiking equipments I have purchased should allow me to make this trip on my own. Physically and spiritually I am much more ready than ever. Allowing enough time, I would be able to enter Alaska by way of northbound Alaska Highway and have a good visit there. By driving only an average of two hundred miles a day, I could complete the round trip in six weeks.
Driving alone is relaxing and with degree of flexibility. Other then planning to finish entire Alaska Highway: 1442 miles from the beginning at Dawson Creek, BC to the end at Delta Junction, AK, I did not have a definite itinerary to follow. On the road, I could make plan days ahead or make any last minute adjustment depending on the scenery, weather and road condition. Not making reservations beforehand allowed me to take time to travel and not worrying about getting places at certain times. I accepted the fact that once a while I might have to scramble to find a decent place to stay overnight. This is an open-end trip; I did not set any goal that must achieve. And no need to impress anyone, including myself. The trip would be completed whenever I came home. I would make best decision to travel every mile that led to next one. I would do my best but not forceful. I decided not to complain or regret easily.
It has been quite a while since the idea of taking a road trip to Alaska came to my mind. When the first time I came to Alaska on a cruise ship more than 10 years ago, I realized that it has a lot more to offer than the beautiful blue iceberg we saw from the ship and inside passage cities accessible only by sea. The unseen land of Alaska must be as stunning or even more so. In 2002, when I cruised Alaska again in a reunion trip, I knew that I would be back someday for a third time, and this time it would be a land trip to see the mountain ranges, forests and lakes of interior Alaska.
Since then, there were a few discussions among friends to visit Alaska by land. Unfortunately, none of them became reality for me eventually. Earlier this year, I finally realized that the information I have collected over the years and basic camping, hiking equipments I have purchased should allow me to make this trip on my own. Physically and spiritually I am much more ready than ever. Allowing enough time, I would be able to enter Alaska by way of northbound Alaska Highway and have a good visit there. By driving only an average of two hundred miles a day, I could complete the round trip in six weeks.
Driving alone is relaxing and with degree of flexibility. Other then planning to finish entire Alaska Highway: 1442 miles from the beginning at Dawson Creek, BC to the end at Delta Junction, AK, I did not have a definite itinerary to follow. On the road, I could make plan days ahead or make any last minute adjustment depending on the scenery, weather and road condition. Not making reservations beforehand allowed me to take time to travel and not worrying about getting places at certain times. I accepted the fact that once a while I might have to scramble to find a decent place to stay overnight. This is an open-end trip; I did not set any goal that must achieve. And no need to impress anyone, including myself. The trip would be completed whenever I came home. I would make best decision to travel every mile that led to next one. I would do my best but not forceful. I decided not to complain or regret easily.
Leaving on July 9th and returning to Washington State home on August 21st, this was a 43 days and 8,000 miles long-anticipated journey of body, mind and spirit. Along the way, I saw the creation of the all mighty hand also learnt not to look down any little things: a flower, a weed, an object or an animal, however small they seemed. My state of mind also evolved as the journey progressed. That change certainly showed on my writing along the way. My casual mileage trip-log turned into a travelogue and then eventually more like a diary.
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