So You Think You Can Drive

As the saying goes, be careful what you ask for. The last few days I've been lamenting that I didn't have anything to write about on the blog. What to say, what to say, what to say. Things have been rather quiet as of late: no astute snow metaphors about life, no stupid human tricks, and no driving escapades.

Whoops. Hang on there. Driving shenanigans, you say? Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!

Leaving Cheechako Behind

My car has Alaska plates and a plug hanging from its grill. The windshield boasts not one, but three cracks. I'm not sure what I think of all this other than should I be pulled over, the state trooper can't yell at me about needing to register my car. 

The car is looking more like a seasoned Alaskan but does this mean I've left my Cheechako ways behind? That remains to be seen -- it's early in the season yet. 

Snow Cometh

As ludicrous as it seems, I am looking forward to the first snowfall. It makes everything look so clean and lovely. It's more than just the beauty though that I'm anticipating. I can't wait for the lines of the parking lots to be covered so you can drive and park however you want! It's a sense of freedom I've never experienced. Disconcerting at first, but once you give into it, boy it feels good!

To Be Continued...

It's hard to believe that my four month stint in Fairbanks is over and I'm already back in California. It's been odd getting used to dark skies at 9:00 and the relentless traffic. In many ways it feels like I never left. This is both comforting and disconcerting. I've had new experiences and have changed, yet nothing else has.

In August I'll be returning to Fairbanks but this time in a slightly different capacity from my previous position. More details on that come. I'll be driving my car up to Fairbanks. Seeing how well I navigated that small town, it's sure to be an interesting drive. 

I enjoyed my time in Fairbanks immensely. It was just what I needed -- a change in perspective. While there I felt as though I was in a protective bubble, on an extended vacation. It never felt like real life. But the friends I made certainly were real and I look forward to seeing them all again. As for now, I'm enjoying catching up with my California friends.

I know the long Alaska days make summer there special, but honestly, California summers are hard to beat. I've already been camping in the Sierras and I don't think there is any place on Earth that is as exquisite as the Sierra Nevada range. Regardless of where I am in the world, those mountains have my heart. The California coast is also amazing, not to mention the Napa Valley and my patio! So much to do this summer!

Have a good summer y'all and I look forward to filling you in on the details of my next Alaskan stint. Hopefully with tales of ice climbing, dog mushing, more snowshoeing, and of course whatever trouble comes my way.

Magnificent Denali as seen from Talkeetna.

Conversation with a State Trooper

A couple of weeks ago I was pulled over by an Alaskan State Trooper. You know, the ones with the great hats.

I was on my way home from work one day and was driving, I admit, my usual 70 MPH or so. The speed limit was 55. I noticed a trooper ahead of me and he moved into the right lane. I thought he was moving over to make a right-hand turn. I had slowed down but as soon as I passed him, the lights and siren went on.

I pulled over, he approached my window and the following conversation ensued.

Locked Out

Two weeks ago I locked my keys in the trunk of my car. All the car doors were locked. It's an easy enough mistake to make. I think. It was the end of the day (Friday, no less) and I was headed home. I opened my trunk with the remote to dump the myriad of things (book bag, lunch bag, coats, gloves, scarfs and who knows what else) that I carry each day into the trunk. Everything went in the trunk. This is what I do everyday; I toss everything in the trunk before grabbing my purse and keys.

More Driving Challenges

Two weekends ago, Fairbanks got dumped on snow wise. Some reports say up to 18 inches. All I know is that my car looked like this one morning, and this was after I had cleared it off the night before.

My advice: don't drop your keys in the snow -- they are almost impossible to find. And should you lock your keys in the trunk of your car...well, that's a story for another post.

Driving

Before getting to Fairbanks I anticipated going through driving withdrawals. I like to drive. Period. I know it's not the environmentally correct position to hold, but I do. If I have to drive 30-40 minutes to my job, sign me up! Road trip for 8+ hours? I'm there. Driving is my thing. It's not just the cliche of "feeling free" that I like. I actually like the act of driving. I like feeling the car respond to the pressure I apply to the gas peddle. I like the discordance of watching the scenery speed by while everything in the bubble of the car moves in slow motion, comparatively.

Weekend Recap

-- Took photo documentation of Denali only to find out it isn't Denali. Curses!

Neither of these peaks is Denali.

-- Checked out walking trails at UAF campus only to discover that I have no idea how to dress for hiking in -1 weather. My ass was frozen.

View from UAF

-- Was told the Northern Lights were out so I dashed outside in my long underwear, boots and jacket faster than you can say "Maker's Mark" where I stood for 10 minutes, waiting. Oh, the ecstasy of sweet anticipation! Only to then hear that, right, can't see them in Fairbanks tonight due to the fog. You could only see them from the town of North Pole. It was -10.

One Week

It's been one week since I arrived in Fairbanks. It feels much longer than that -- like dog years. But in the best of ways. I couldn't be happier to be here. Perhaps it's the novelty of a new place and meeting new people, but I like it here. I haven't been homesick in the least. I'm sure that'll change at some point, but honestly between email, phone, text and facebook, to a large degree interactions with my friends isn't vastly different from when I'm in California. I can easily go for months between seeing certain friends and family. Seeing people in the Bay Area can actually be hard! Heck, for some people, despite living only 20 miles away, I'm on a once every 6 months schedule! Four months between visits will be an anomaly.