An Epic Journey Part I

Sometimes an epic journey begins and we find ourselves completely unaware that we have struck out on the trail.  Sometimes the journey is planned for years in advance and we are well aware when, after years in the making, we have finally set out.  My career in law enforcement was an epic and amazing journey that took me places I couldn’t have imagined prior to embarking upon it.  As far as journeys go, it most certainly fell into the first category.  In. other words, I was clueless to the fact that I had begun what would become an epic journey.  Additionally, most of the time while I was on the journey, I was unaware that this great and momentous adventure was under way and would someday draw to a close.  Recently, my wife and I began a journey that falls into the second category. We headed to Alaska on a cruise.  As I began writing, we were stopped briefly in Jacksonville visiting a friend who kindly agreed to take us to the airport at some ridiculous hour.  Thus began what should be classified as a journey of epic proportions if for no other reason than the roughly 7,600 miles that it will took us (combined total of driving, flying and cruising).  Attempting to capture this journey in a short blog post seems nearly impossible, so bear with me as I cover this in two chapters.

My goal with this post is to chronicle our journey to Alaska, and in doing so share the value of allowing ourselves to rest, recharge and rebound from life and its unending challenges.  To begin with, I’m going to take a moment to address a common myth that I have heard a thousand times in the last couple of years, and even, at one point believed myself.  I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone say a version of the following “What do you mean you are “busy”?  You are retired!”  In expressing that sentiment, those folks are sharing the idea that retirement equates to sitting still and doing nothing.  Retirement is a movement to another chapter.  If you are exceptionally lucky and have planned well, that chapter is of your own making.  It does not mean that you aren’t busy, it does mean that you are busy with what you want to be busy with.  I have a part time job with a first responder organization where I love serving.  I work with amazing people and for bosses who I greatly respect and to whom I’m dedicated.  I also have family, exercise, household responsibilities, woodworking as folks want/need items that I can make, hobbies and a blog.  My situation is not unusual.  For example, one of my best friends (blackwaterimages.com) is busier than I am.  A talented photographer, avid outdoorsman, dedicated husband, dedicated athlete and skilled handyman, this retired cop also maintains two houses, does maintenance at an apartment complex, builds wheelchair ramps for the disadvantaged, and maintains lawns.  He makes me look positively lazy.  But he is busy because he wants to be busy and is busy doing what he wants to do.  He also takes the time to recharge.  He cycles, swims, kayaks, skis, hikes and loves to camp.

I have not always been disciplined enough to take the time to recharge and rebound.  I was the guy who didn’t burn enough leave time so I was perpetually in a “use it or lose it” situation at work.  If I was away from work, I rarely disengaged (especially in the later part of my career).  I always had my phone, always kept up with what was going on and frequently found myself reading and responding to work email while away from work.  None of that was good for me. I have however finally reached the point in my life where I recognize that fact.  I also recognize that if you love what you do, are driven, dedicated and involved, in this world of hyper-connectivity it is profoundly difficult to disconnect.  But disconnecting is vital to recharging and rebounding (resilience).  I am now learning (thanks to the patience of my boss and Dr. O’Dare-blog interview forthcoming) about resilience.  One of the things I have gleaned so far is that we should approach resilience in a mindful, intentional and purposeful manner.  That means everyone, especially warrior servants should build times into their lives that focus on recharging and rebounding from life’s challenges, stresses and daily drudgeries.  Periodically we should all consider some sort of epic journey that transports us from our daily routine, scenery and comfort zone.  Plan recharging that ranges from routine to epic.  But, take care to plan something and do some self-care.  Doing this can help make us more resilient people and therefore lead to healthier lives and retirements.

The first leg of this epic journey was driving.  It was marked by an uneventful lope down Interstate 10 and into the Jacksonville metropolitan area.  We spent a relaxing day and two nights (well one and a half) with a dear friend who kindly agreed to drive us to the airport at the obscene hour of 3:00am.  Of course, that meant we were awake, well, at least vertical well before that time.  What followed was an awful and arduous leg of the journey.  Baggage check.  TSA.  Wait.  Wait some more.  Board aircraft.  Wait.  Fly to Atlanta.  Wait.  Board aircraft.  Squeeze into a middle seat too small for an average adult.  Wait.  Fly to Seattle.  At the end of my endurance, finally get extricated from my tiny, cramped perch.  Baggage claim.  Find the cruise transportation official and get vague instructions.  Wait. Wait even longer.  What is this?  Why do they seem incredibly disorganized and scattered?  Finally.  Board shuttle to port.  No, wait…too many people for this shuttle.  They counted wrong.  Wait some more.  More confusion.  Finally.  Our shuttle.  On to the port.  I’m hungry.  I’m sleep deprived.  Arrive at port.  Security.  Papers…finally!  Board the ship!  Wait?  Where are our bags?  They arrive piecemeal over the next three hours.  The bag containing my camera gear being the last to arrive and thusly briefly convincing me that it was lost.  Finally…payoff.  We are under way.  I suppose in hindsight that I might find myself appreciating the wonderous splendor of the Alaskan wildlands even more after some travel adversity.  Although that may be true, I could have done without any of it. 

Our cruise was booked with Norwegian on the Bliss.  Everything about this ship was grand.  Very large and well-appointed it was well suited for a trek through the fjords to this land of rugged beauty.  There are large numbers of excellent viewing opportunities inside and on the decks of this grand ship.  Spacious enough so that passengers don’t trip over each other and amenities that should be engaging for most people while at sea.  After we found food, had a refreshing beverage and got settled in our pleasant cabin, we discussed our long-awaited shore excursions.  When not contemplating going ashore or actually ashore, we spent the vast majority of our time gazing out the spacious windows at breathtaking scenery.  It seemed as though even the longer stints at sea held our attention with migrating whales, captivating vistas and fiery sunsets.

Our first trip ashore found us in Sitka, Alaska.  The morning was breathtakingly clear, sunny and brisk.  We piled aboard a large catamaran for whale and otter watching.  Surrounded by snowcapped mountains that seems to drop directly off into a sun kissed bay, we were not disappointed and were treated to multiple mother/baby humpback sightings and a few grey whale sightings.    Before heading back ashore, we caught sight of a large group of sea otters.  Even with my long lens, we were forced to stay far enough away so that the pictures were not excellent, but all certainly captured our hearts as well as those who remained on deck (quite cold by that time).  

We bid goodbye to the whales and otters and came ashore to be whisked off to a bear rescue facility and a raptor sanctuary.  Both offered unparalleled opportunities to see and photograph these majestic animals safely while at a distance that made for exquisite photographs.  Of all the places we visited on this trip, the city of Sitka was the most beautiful, clean, picturesque of the entire trip.  Clearly still a functional working town, it has also adapted to the influx of cruise ship tourists without losing its heart and soul.  And we could not have been there on a more beautiful day.

When next we made port, it was Juneau.  Our excursion was a hike here and started fairly early in the morning.  As flatlanders from the lowest of the lower 48, we took care to dress in accordance with the 38-degree rainy conditions.  Then we left the shift in search of our excursion which consisted of a hike to the Mendenhall Glacier.  Our guide for the hike was an insightful, bright and capable young man named Max.  He kept a solid pace while not overworking folks like me and pausing to provide us relevant and interesting information about the Tongas National Forest.  This temperate rain forest lived up to its title as a rain forest.  It rained or sleeted on us most of the way through this strenuous hike.  But, that did not detract in any way from the other worldly sights in the forest.  The forest floor was carpeted with mosses, fallen trees, skunk cabbage and a wide assortment of conifers.  It was tattooed with creeks and streams that fed waterfalls and lakes.  Multiple times we topped out on ridges and were treated to the type of breathtaking vistas that grace the front of postcards and creep into the imagination after a good book.  When we finally reached the peak where we overlooked what is left of the glacier, the view was breathtaking and inspirational.  More than worth the time, expense and trouble to climb to that point.  I only wish we had been able to linger before making the trek back down the mountain in the sleet.

To be continued.