Alaska '13

UPDATED 25 Aug 2013 - I did make it to Alaska and kayaked there on 8/20/13. 

I finally made it to Alaska on 8/19 and kayaked there on 8/20.  By 8/21 I was getting sick and on 8/22 I headed straight back to WA state so I could sleep in my own bed.  It was a dream come true and an awesome paddle... which I will write up soon.... when I am feeling better.  Here are a couple photos to hold you over.

Me in the rear, in front of the Holgate Glacier.

 

I promise to write a full blog soon.

4/8/2013 - 12 p.m.:  "Eyes" don't have it! - I didn't make it. It's hard to admit your limitations or to "give up." But, my eyes didn't work good enough to insure that I would be a safe driver.  They are 20-30, but I can't make out things like railroad crossings, caution yellow signs, etc. from 1/4 - 1/2 mile away.  I was also experiencing extreme stress as they would not transfer me to Anchorage, where I could camp at my sisters and remain in the fresh air (for my COPD).  I'd have been forced to live in a hotel and prevented from even sleeping in my camper van at night.  It would only take a week or two of that before I'd end up in a hospital.  I had increased my meds to deal with all the additional stress and was not seeing how any of this was going to be fun for me.  As coincidence would have it, they sprung a random drug test on me the day I was going to tell them I was dropping out, so they probably thought I was quiting to avoid the drug test.  Not true at all.  The meds I'm on wouldn't even concern a Christian Scientist.

But I don't care what they think.  I've reclaimed my freedom and my health.  Yesterday I even forgot to take any  meds at all and am going to try to get off all of them, altogether.  Stress doesn't need to be part of my life.

A few people have donated funds so that I could catch the ferry in order to report for the job in Alaska. Since the job is now out of the picture, I would gladly refund anyone who wants a refund. Just let me know.

I am, however, still going to Alaska this year.  I'll continue to do sketches for money.  I am putting together a set of notecards with flora or fauna of the Southwest that I hope will bring in some funds.  And I'm going back to boondocking which will allow me to save more money by getting away from stores, fast food, etc.  Will be spending more time in fewer places.  This is what I consider being true to my own best self (besides hindsight it always 20-20 or better).

 

I'm going to give a full accounting of what this experience cost me, and my opinion of this job opportunity so others who might be interested will be better informed that I was.

 

Funds raised to date:  

                           Earlier Donations                   $380.00

                           Donations for above Sketch   $100.00

                           Other Pay Pal donations         $110.00

                                                                           $580.00 

 

Some of that has been used for food, gas, supplies and items needed for work, uniforms, shoes, belt, etc.

 

Uniform/Work Clothing, Etc. (all items I would not have bought except for the job)

 

Belt                        $ 16.00

Dress shirts (5)      $ 28.00 (Goodwill)

Undershirts (5)      $ 21.00 (Goodwill)

Dress slacks(2)      $  4.00 (Thrift Store)         

Hangers                 $  2.49

Dress shoes           $ 67.00

Dress socks (4pr)  $ 16.50

3p reading glasses $ 18.30

               TOTAL  $173.29  (boy, that's a couple tanks of gas, almost)

 

Gas while in Phoenix  (will add later - had to commute from motorcoach lot to Luke AFB a couple times a week)

to be added...

 

Food/Groceries  (greater than normal, because I could not use my solar oven)

to be added...

 

 

Fast Food (greater than normal - not available when boondocking)

to be added....

 

Mind you, I'm not saying this job is a bad deal for everyone.  I no longer had dress clothes like the above, some of you may have such.  And if you like talking to lots of people and that doesn't distract your concentration on driving, might be a great thing for you. This, I realized, was not a new cause/effect situation... looking back on my life, I know it has happened a lot - not such a big deal and little car, but is in a 40 ft+ bus.   I like being alone... and that was a basic lie I was telling my self from the beginning, that I could handle the distractions of people talking to me.  I couldn't even handle ONE trainer talking to me without making mistakes. 

 

And Fresh Air:  You might have absolutely no problems with living inside, in a hotel, or whatever.  You might not have COPD.  If you like living out of a suitcase for five months, this could be a great thing for you.  Had I not been firm from the get-go, in wanting to have my HOME with me, so when the season was over, I could see a little of Alaska and enjoy the drive back on the AlCan Highway - a lifelong dream... then it wouldn't have upset me so much to be told... I could not sleep in my van in Juneau.  That was kinda a last straw for me.

 

Here's the up side of the job... it you can live inside and manage with flying up there and living out of a suitcase:  1) they will pay your round trip air fare from Seattle.  2) you can participate in relocating the coaches from the four cities where training takes place.  You have a co-driver, get the experience of driving the extra miles before reporting to work, you get paid for driving. You travel in a convoy with your trainers and returning drivers, and other new drivers.  You all stay in hotels during the relocation, you pay for that but get a discount.  3) you get a good driver bonus at the end of your contract  4) you get a good break on the housing at your work city 5) you get to go on all their tours free and they encourage that so you will know about all the tours 6) if you return for a second season you get free or greatly discounted cruises anywhere they go.   It's really a great deal, if you eyes are better than mine, you don't have COPD, and you can live out of a box smaller than the ones we live out of normally.

 

As for me... I've returned to the desert that I love.

 

 

 

It doesn't get any better than this, until tomorrow.