A bunch of you are keeping a secret.

It's true. My discovery of this has been almost glacial in it's arrival, but it is a gift with many surprises.

This is relating to my swing through Canada and Alaska last summer. It wasn't a solo canoe trip, but it was many miles spent in delightful isolation, this being due to the fact the sat radio I paid for didn't work way up there. And for much of the trip I drove in silence. While underway there were plenty of distractions to occupy my days, and such it wasn't until after I returned the real effect of this trip settled in. I draw a comparison to you folks that go OUT THERE with no contact with others for days, weeks and sometimes even months. You guys know what I am just finding out. That being OUT THERE can be life-changing. Now it can be different things to different people at different times, but I keep seeing many things that are sometimes long gone chapters of my life suddenly reappear out of nowhere. Sometimes they are viewed through a different lens, and the effect can be positive, negative, or both. Sometimes it can be shocking - I said Holy S*** right out loud driving through Wakefield when I realized a habit of Chick's that I had never noticed. Sometimes now I see issues that were enormous at the time actually had no relevance at all. Other miniscule details long forgotten were due much more. And, on one occasion, the re-dux of a relationship required a phone call, an apology, and a fresh start.

I keep seeing just how important that trip was. Most discoveries were good - a couple not so much. End result? I just processed a bunch of my life into those little folders where they can lie undetected now. Compartmentalized. I never felt there was anything out there, just waiting. Had I not gone, I never would have made some discoveries. This was in August/September. A bunch of little things that used to annoy me I just laugh about now. It's like a streamlined trip right to the big light in the sky. All I have to do do now is get up and figure out if I want to ride my bike, go fishing, go canoeing, ride my ATV's, or as of a week ago, race on my new slot car set. And I just processed cancer right out of my vernacular. I don't care anymore. Not negative at all. I'll make and keep my Dr's appointments. That's it. It will change, but right now, I don't care. it's bliss.

So the secret is out. I won't tell, at least not very much. But, it is looking like this little trip I took will rank right up there on life's little list of experiences. I never saw this coming, but I will be forever grateful I went.

If you have never done this you HAVE to. And see the Icefields Parkway.

Marvelous post. Thanks for sharing. And yes, the Parkway is worth a trip. Enjoy. (Was a slot car nut in my youth)

I still have some slot cars and track from 55 years ago. Why? I have no idea. Got them when we cleaned out my dads house.
Jim

I was big into them through high school and in college a couple of roommates had them so we made a big track, got dunk and destroyed it. Short version. Always knew I'd get a big, permanent 1/32 scale 14' x 20' track when I get to Michigan. BIG basement. In the interim, with the kids out and pool table dusty I ordered the longest track that will fit on a 4 x 8 surface. 61 feet.

Keeled Over said:

And see the Icefields Parkway.

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My first visit to the Athabasca Glacier was in 1960 at that time there was a small parking area right off the highway, from the lot it was a few hundred feet to the face of the glacier. The second visit in the mid 90's was a shock to see how far away the front edge was and I would imagine it's a VERY long way back from the highway now.

Here is a pic taken in 1958 (not mine), apparently it is moving back about 5 metres per year on average

It wasn't a solo canoe trip, but it was many miles spent in delightful isolation,

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In my experience, there's nothing like unplugging from modern society on a solo trip. Somewhere around day 3 or 4, you'll either become very lonely or very liberated. Either, I suppose, could be life changing but I'm pleased to see that your experience was for the better.

Keep up the great attitude. I just scheduled my cancer cells' date with destiny (radiation Feb 26th to kill those little... oops, can't use those words here)

Gamma1214 said:

In my experience, there's nothing like unplugging from modern society on a solo trip. Somewhere around day 3 or 4, you'll either become very lonely or very liberated. Either, I suppose, could be life changing but I'm pleased to see that your experience was for the better.

Keep up the great attitude. I just scheduled my cancer cells' date with destiny (radiation Feb 26th to kill those little... oops, can't use those words here)

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We'll just call them...........sob's. Stay strong and always remember, F cancer.

I've so far only done days... don't have the time yet for weeks or months. but yes... the isolation is like REM sleep... it allows you to process things. A friend of mine claimed to have been one of the first Continental Divide Trail thru hikers, before it was really finished, doing so in part to get the Vietnam War out of his system. One of the AT's first thru hikers was Earl Shaffer, who did the same, for his war (WW2). Dick Proenneke started his 30some year life in his Alaskan cabin after nearly losing his eyesight. No one regrets their time alone in the woods. there's medicine there. John Muir said "go softly, alone" and "going to the woods is going home.

Glad you found something.

Seeker said:

A friend of mine claimed to have been one of the first Continental Divide Trail thru hikers, before it was really finished, doing so in part to get the Vietnam War out of his system. One of the AT's first thru hikers was Earl Shaffer, who did the same, for his war (WW2).

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Grandma Gatewood was a well-known multi-time thru-hiker and advocate of the AT. I read a book about her recently, and she had a terribly abusive husband. Woods are good for healing the soul. Modern medicine sure helps with cancer though.

F cancer indeed! Best wishes for those grappling with it.

Days and weeks alone with your own thoughts is definitely a different experience to what most of us experience in our daily lives. On my multi-week solo trips I'd often find my mind picking a problem and working it over for 2-3 days until it was either resolved or deemed unsolvable. Then my mind would go to something else. This usually wasn't something I'd do consciously, it was just running in the background most of the time.

The results of deeply exploring these 'problems' didn't always result in an outcome I was happy with and sometimes I had to face some uncomfortable truths but that's not always a bad thing.

Even when the trips were over I had no desire to rush back into civilization and return to distractions. I would relish the multi-day return drives, often with no radio, to think about what I'd just been through and to think about what I wanted to change when I got home.

I was always shocked how quickly things returned to 'normal' once home and many of my well thought out plans fizzled with the routine of daily life and my mental energies refocused on work and daily distractions. But there were still changes in thought that stick with me to this day and affect how I live my life.

The experience is something very difficult to explain. I hope I get to experience it again.

Alan