Part 1: The Epic Countdown Begins
In just 8 days, we're on the brink of an adventure of mythical proportions – one that has been meticulously plotted since the bygone days of November 2022. Believe me when I say, those 10 months felt longer than a lumberjack's beard. Our mission? Nothing short of conquering all 8 of Alaska's National Parks in a mere 3 weeks. Some scoffed, they called it impossible, like trying to arm-wrestle a moose with a limp spaghetti noodle. But for us, it was a challenge too delicious to resist.
The saga started when I unearthed JJ's ancient, dust-covered dry-erase board.
It became our cartographic canvas, our battle plan for this epic quest. Picture those medieval maps with foreboding inscriptions like "Here be dragons." Well, in our case, the dragons were seaplane and day trip companies, notorious for taking leisurely 4-day hiatuses before replying to reservation requests! This is 2023, WTAH? An uncharted realm for me, accustomed to the rapidity of booking a hotel room with the click of an icon!
With my colorful calendar now a Jackson Pollock-esque masterpiece of confusion, I had a daunting task. Blank spots needed filling, hotels required rearranging, and flights to what seemed like the ends of the Earth needed booking. In a stroke of brilliance (or so I thought), I managed to book a seaplane trip to Katmai National Park twice. Double the bear-viewing excitement, right? Well, not so fast! The ominous cancellation policy reared its head, but to my astonishment, the company
granted a 100% refund. Cue the happy dance!
With the expedition gaining momentum, I decided it was high time to silence the anxiety that had me leaping at shadows like a caffeinated kangaroo. I figured, if I'm going to conquer Alaska, I must first conquer my own nerves. So, I dusted off my trusty yoga mat, which had been moonlighting as a welcome mat for our mailman, and resumed my daily yoga practice. Inhaling
confidence, exhaling panic – I was gearing up for the adventure of a lifetime.
Stay tuned for Part 2 next week to see what my new favorite National Park is now.