Today was the day that marked the beginning of our journey. Our Yukon adventure is to last 8 days (24th – 2nd). I was/am extremely excited; one of those excited feelings that you get before you swim with sharks – you know you will be safe. You know that this will be extremely thrilling, but you also know that the nerves are there. It is an awkward feeling, but also a tad comforting. I know that I will miss my family like crazy, and I will be so happy to be home, but my goal is to just focus in on the now, and live in the moment. Here is how my first day played out!
I slept in this morning knowing that I would be having some early ones later on in the week. My dad surprised me with bacon and eggs, which I REALLY appreciated. I tried to spend as much time with my family as possible! I finished some few last-minute packing things and continued on! I was really excited to get going, so I had a smile on my face all day. How can you not be excited, though! This is what we have been working up to this entire year - $25,000, fundraisers galore, countless hours of researching for the hundred essays and reflections… we have come so far, and fought so hard for this cause and trip. It’s just really exciting and makes me soo proud of our effortsJ.
4:30 rolled around and I met my dad with my gear at St. Edward. By now the nerves kicked in. I really wanted to get to the Yukon, but I would miss my family! I hugged and kissed them bye – saying, “See ya later, alligator,” This would be the longest I would ever be away from my sisters and parents, which was an interesting twist. I left onto the bus and sat beside Hannah. I waved bye to my fam-jam, and left for the road.
The bus ride didn’t at all seem like 5 hours to Edmonton, it felt more like 1!!Time flies when you’re having funJ. We played Telestrations, told funny jokes and riddles, and played 2 Truths 1 Lie! I learned a lot about some people through those games! The seats on the bus were pretty comfortable, except for the prickly head rest covers! I was still glad that they weren’t school bus seats, though. I remembered being back in Edmonton in the Ikea parking lot picking up my new puppy, Ruby! That sounds really sketchy, but trust me, there are a lot more things behind it that make sense! I started to get tired when the sun set, but people were still ‘yammering’, as Hannah would say! I decided to wait until we passed Edmonton to fall asleep. I had the entire seat to myself, which was a lot easier to sleep with! My legs were getting freezing, so I snuggled up into a tiny ball. I fell asleep for 10 minutes off and on because I was just so cold. It reminded me of Blue Mountain! I remember telling myself a dumb thing in my head, “The nights are the hardest – you can’t sleep, it feels like the Arctic, and the bumps suck.” I usually wouldn’t say that because it’s so negative and weirs, but I guess I was really tired and grouchy…. I tested out probably 60 different position, but the best one I found was when I pulled my bunny hug around my legs, put one arm behind my back, and rested my head (tucked away in my hood) under my arm. It seems very odd, but it was the best I could do! I’d rather be uncomfortable than not go to the Yukon, so…yeahJ. I think I fell asleep for a good 6 hours or so, until we were at Whitecourt to pick up Bill. He looks a lot different than I pictured him. I thought that he would be like the BFG (Big Friendly Giant), not like Santa Claus! It was weird seeing him because he looked so different in my head – I didn’t mind though! We eventually left Whitecourt at about 2 am and I went back to sleep. It was a bit easier this time because I knew what I was doing (haha!) I woke up at about 5 am BC time and 6 am SK time.
This day was extremely exhilarating for me! I was a bit sad to leave my loved ones, and a tad nervous of the unknown, but I kept telling myself that this is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I told myself that I would have a good time, and I know I will, because “Those who say they can and those who say they can’t are both usually right.” I learned so much about my classmates, the terrain differences between Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC, and really saw all of our efforts come together. In the end, I learned the power that we have instilled within us.