What is life but one Grand Adventure...

One year ago today I started this blog. I was preparing to leave my beautiful island home in South Carolina for a little adventure to Alaska. I didn't really know what was coming next, but I was ready for something completely different. And I can definitely say that I found it. 

View from the top of a ridge on the Carlana Lake Trail

Yes my 6 month adventure completely changed my life, but isn't that what adventures are supposed to do. I was subbing at a school yesterday and one of the other teachers was asking me about my life and pretty much thought I was completely crazy. Her questions were something along the lines of:  You moved all they way across the country alone? Your parents are okay with that? How could you possibly move to a new place not knowing anyone there?  

These are all questions that I have heard many times. I mean I've lived in 4 different states and 5 different towns in the past 3 years...so I've heard most of them before. That is the reaction that I get from most people...that I'm crazy. I get it, it was a stretch for sure to move 4,000 miles away from my family and friends to a place where I didn't know anyone. But the great thing is...there are new people there, you make new friends. 

As far as are my parents okay with it...it wasn't there decision. I'm very thankful that my parents have always been supportive of whatever I have wanted to do. But even if they hadn't been supportive, it's still my life and my decisions to make. And I made the decision long ago I never wanted to live a boring life. So yes for me that means that I moved to Alaska, it doesn't mean that I don't miss my family and that we aren't still close. It just means that mine is a little different from yours. 

That is why when recently a friend of my parents from home tagged me in a Facebook post as one of his inspirations to remember to live an adventurous life, it was really refreshing (thanks Steve). One, its always nice to know that you can be an inspiration to anyone, no matter what their age. I mean that's why I want to be a teacher, to inspire the next generation to love the natural world and adventure the way that someone once did for me. Two, it's also nice to know there are other people who get the same feeling that you do when you take risks to not have a boring life. 

Yes this blog entry has been a little different from the other ones about my adventure. But I'm happy to know that it doesn't end any time soon. I plan on inspiring as many people as possible to live a crazy and adventurous life. I'm not telling all of you that you should leave everything and move to Alaska, although you should all visit! But you should do things that make you enjoy your life.

An adventurous life does not necessarily mean climbing mountains, swimming with sharks, or jumping off cliffs. It means risking yourself by leaving a piece of you behind everywhere you go along the way.

This is one of my favorite quotes that I have ever read! Yes I have done a couple of those crazy adventurous things. But I've also left a part of myself every single place that I've been, and I've replaced it with a small piece of that place. Because to include another adventure quote: "We must take adventures to know where we truly belong." Every single adventure makes you who you are!

Keep in mind, watching a sunrise and sunset can be a great adventure. It all depends how you look at it. My life isn't an adventure because I live in Alaska, there are many people that live here who live boring lives. My life is an adventure because I refuse to let it be boring! It's a choice that I make everyday. Because as Eleanor Roosevelt said "The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, and to reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience." 

So I hope this post inspires you a little, even if it is just to see the adventure in your everyday life. I also challenge you to take some of the big adventures. They might even change your life, mine did. A year ago when I started this blog I never thought I'd still be in Alaska. And I couldn't have imagined that my life would be anywhere close to how Amazing it is today! 

And now I'll leave you with a few of my favorite adventures New and Old, Big and Small! 

Fishing with Kayln, Ben, and Chris when I lived in NC

Getting to swim with this 12 foot Tiger Shark in Bimini

Dancing my way through the Color run with Ann and Scott

Releasing my Green Sea Turtle babies with Ann

Exploring Jekyll Island with Carly, E-fay, and McNaughty

Making it to the Redwoods

Everyday rainbows with Ann and Scott

Sarah's bachelorette party at Disney

Exploring Yosemite National Park 

Watching sunset from the top of Cadillac Mountain in Arcadia National Park

Ziplinning in the Alaskan Rainforest

Exploring MBSP with Tristan and the SC tree 

Finding my first Chiton

Meeting the Bullpen Cop in Boston!

Don't live the same year 75 times and call it a life! 

-Robert Sharma

Home Part 2...

After a week of resting I had some wonderful friends come to visit me in Savannah. I met Kat and her twin sister Elizabeth when I first started at Edisto Beach State Park. Kat was also a ranger, but shortly after I got there she moved to Chester State Park.

Me, Kat, and Elizabeth

They met me at my mother's boyfriends house for a beautiful afternoon in the South Carolina Lowcountry. We spent the afternoon on a boat ride. We visited monkey island (yes there are actual monkeys there), glimpsed Edisto and Hunting Island, and saw some cute little dolphins. Then we had a wonderful Low Country Boil. This for those of you that don't know is a wonderful mixture of spices, shrimp, corn, potatoes, and ours contained sausage. 

Tybee Lighthouse

Then we headed back to Savannah to spend a wonderful day on Tybee. The sun was out and some more of our friends were coming into town for the wedding. So that night we had a cookout with all of them at the house that they rented. 

Pat and Little Noah

Friday was time for the rehearsal and dinner. We had a lovely time at dinner at North Beach Grill then headed to Bennies for Karaoke and some time with family who had just arrived. It was so nice to spend some time on Tybee again.

Saturday was wedding day. It was a beautiful ceremony full of so much love. I didn't trip walking down the aisle and I made it through my speech! My little sister made an absolute beautiful bride and brought everyone to tears with the amazing vows that she wrote. I am so happy to have gained more family that day, I gained 2 new big brothers and a wonderful new little sister! Preston and Sarah are so great for each other and I wish them nothing but the best.  

  

Me, Rebekah, and Ashley

Tristan at Fort Pulaski

Sunday and Monday were our last 2 days in Savannah. Tristan and I said our goodbyes to all of Preston's family and then did a little exploring. Sunday we went to Fort Pulaski on Tybee Island and a wonderful walk on the beach. We found some great shells for our shell collection and watched a beautiful sunset. 

Tristan with a Horeshoe Crab

On Monday we visited the 4-H center where I used to work and said hello to all the staff. We also played with some of my favorite cuties. Tristan got to hold his first snake (Monty the python), we visited with Zoe (my sea turtle baby I took care of when I worked there), and played in the touch tank. It was great to get to introduce Tristan to all of the cool animals that we don't see in Alaska. 

After the 4-H center we headed to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. We spent about 2 hours driving the 3 mile road looking for wildlife. We found so many alligators, even a mama and some babies. We also spotted tons of birds, once again Tristan was so excited to see all the wildlife that was all new for him.

Savannah NWR

Tuesday we headed to Myrtle Beach, because no trip to the east coast is complete for me without a stop over there. Tristan had some amazing SC BBQ, which was the one thing on his list of things he wanted to do. I'd say he enjoyed it since we came home with 3 bottles of sauce. 

Pitcher Plants

While in Myrtle we spent some time with Ann and Scott. We visited Lewis Ocean Bay Preserve and found venus fly traps, pitcher plants, and the Red-cockaded woodpecker. We also spent time at both Myrtle Beach and Huntington Beach State Parks. 

Venus Fly Traps

The Venus Fly Traps turned out to be Tristan's favorite part of the whole trip! Which I understand, they were so cool to see in the wild. Plus they don't grow anywhere else in the world other than in Carolina Bays in North and South Carolina. 

It was so nice to visit with my friends in Myrtle and to be around the park for a few days! I have missed all of them. It was so wonderful to show Tristan all of the things that I love about the area! We got to help out with the Amazing Race which is still one of my favorite events that the park puts on. Who knows...maybe we will even compete in it next year! 

The SC tree at MBSP

After the race we headed back to Va. We spent a couple days at home visiting with my dad and other friends and family. Thank you to Gayle for the fried chicken and pineapple cake. We also spent an evening with dad narrowing down the boxes to bring me here in Alaska. 

Finally on March 9th we got on a plane and headed back home to Ketchikan. I had a wonderful time back on the east coast. I'm so glad I got to do so much and see so many people. But we were very happy to be back home in our sleepy little Alaskan town. Thank you to everyone who made my trip home so great! 

Atalya at HBSP