 Expedition Journal--August 7Alex PerryHere we are in Bettles, which seems very different from the life we have been living the past few weeks. To talk to other people, make calls home, and especially watching "The Mission" all seem like rude intrusions to the peace I've grown used to. We got up and broke camp at 9:45 a.m. We made good time, floating the 13 miles into Bettles in two and a half hours. The low-pressure weather is back, and it has been raining all day. We arrived in Bettles at 12:15 p.m., and did a very efficient de-rig and re-org(anize). It was very strange to be back, and we ate chicken for dinner, a luxury I didn't know I had missed so much. I left Deb's glacier gloves on the gravel bar where we unloaded. After dinner, Peter and I walked back and found them, along with having a nice talk and reflecting about how we felt. We both agreed that the feeling was one of great accomplishment and excitement about the opportunities the trip still offered, but also a feeling of contentment, having planned and executed a major trip without the guidance of parents. Hey Deb, if you are reading this and still haven't located your gloves, they are in the front of your teal blue day pack with the flares. By the way, it was very hard keeping a straight face while pranking you. I'm sorry. I almost forgot to mention my favorite happening for today: eating Hostess Cupcakes: I was in heaven!
Rachel Flood Returning to civilization after being immersed in the wilderness is a hard thing to do. As we paddled into Bettles this afternoon and I saw the planes and the rooftops, my first reaction was that of joy. WE MADE IT!!! We survived the mosquitoes, the rain, the wind--and did it all without any problems. Then reality started to sink in. We're back. We're back to a world full of chaos and distractions that divert our attention from the simple things in life that we have come accustomed to not taking for granted in the last couple of weeks. In order to make the transition not only smoother but worthwhile, it is now the time to think of all that has been learned and how I can apply my experience to my life back home. So what have I learned? I've learned to be prepared, knowing at every moment where my raingear is. I have learned to be organized, streamlining all of my belongings so that they fit neatly into my pack. I have learned to trust my friends and to take chances on new people. I have learned to live simply.
Thoughts for the Year
Vanessa Bacher
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