Week 5… Life is short, Live it!

After our trip to the Arctic Ocean, we went back to Dawson City and stayed at the Yukon River campground for three days. It was nice to sit and relax and we even ran into Barb and Steve in town Sunday night.

Barb & Steve are the couple we ran into with the flat tire right after we had our flat tire. We were able to help them out and get them back on the road. Barb dubbed us the “Road Angels” but we were just doing what we hoped someone would do for us.

When we were driving Barb back to her husband, we talked about how we all ended up on the trek to Tuktoyaktuk. We told her how we had come to planning our year trip and how the death of my dad kind of expedited our decision to hit the road. She shared with us that they had lost their only daughter last June. After a few miles of other talk, she continued to tell us that Erin had been killed by a predatory black bear. They had moved to Alaska in 1981, they had raised Erin to hike, and paddle and be in the wilderness. She was a bright young 28 year old geologist and a predatory black bear took her life.

Barb & Steve are on the road to just get away. We gave them hugs, listened to them and are heartbroken over their loss. We have no clue what losing a child feels like and we don’t pretend to know. The loss of my older brother and losing my Dad to cancer 5 1/2 years ago still hurts so we know there are no words to say to comfort them. What some people don’t understand is that when you lose a loved one, you don’t want to hear that there is a plan, it happened for a reason or God doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle. You are sad, you are angry and there is no reason good enough to explain your pain. This sweet couple that we met on the side of the road one rainy night over flat tires are grieving. They are a year into grieving for their beautiful daughter. Craig and I are still grieving for an amazing dad and brother. Time helps a little, but it doesn’t take it away.

We ran into Barb & Steve again in Dawson City and were more than happy to go for a beer with them.We went to the Downtown Hotel and they got to witness us doing the famous Sour Toe Cocktail and they sneakily picked up the tab for the night. It was a really fun night. A few tears were shed but we continually have to remind ourselves that their daughter Erin, and my Dad, would want us to be doing what we are doing…seeking out new adventures, meeting new people and living life to the fullest. Barb & Steve have started a memorial fund for their daughter. Please check it out and consider donating www.erinkjohnson.com. We are so glad we met them and we look forward to meeting up with them again when we get to their area.

We hoped to hear from our cyclist friends when they returned from Tuk but they must’ve had a change of plans and stayed a bit longer. We left Dawson Wednesday morning and drove the Top of the World Highway. It was overcast and rainy but still a beautiful drive.

We stopped in Chicken for lunch and we were going to have one beer at the saloon but ended up staying for three nights because when they offer free camping behind the bar you stay. The staff there were great and had fun stories about living in Chicken. Each night brought in fellow travelers with their own unique stories. We learned a little about panning for gold, we drove up to historic Eagle, we got to see underwear being shot out of a cannon, and I even saw a Mama moose with her baby running through the parking lot this morning.

Our days tend to run together and we don’t even really know what the date is most of the time. We are enjoying every minute it. This week once again reminded us how short life is and to just live it. So if us doing the Sour Toe cocktail shot and and leaving underwear in Chicken sounds crazy to you then good, we are on the right track!

Off to Fairbanks…