Like could be said of many good romances, it all started with a Starbucks. Having arrived from my Fairbanks – Seattle – Los Angeles track in October 2017, I was tired and in need of refreshment when I spotted the shop in a corner of the Santiago, Chile, airport. On the one hand, I was a wee bit ashamed to be an American headed for Starbucks, but I was also…
Everyone has a story – – even this bag of Air Canada pretzels. With time being such a peculiar entity, somehow it’s been one month since I left Alaska. My flight path took me from Fairbanks to Seattle, and a few days later I flew from Seattle to Toronto before my long haul flight from Toronto to Santiago. When I fly, I usually hope to either have the seat next…
The winter I lived in an oil camp in Northeast Alberta while working for Conservation Canines was a special one. Not only did I get to drive on ice roads and break trail through thigh deep snow for an adorable yellow lab named Waylon, but I got to be part of a crew that was as “Lord of the Rings” – loving as me. Although the food was delicious and…
Penguins are my friends. Spanish is much more useful than German. Visiting Teri at her Peace Corps assignment and traveling in Mexico during January and February 2017 happened at the best time, as it gave me the chance to learn the traveler’s Spanish that I’d need in Chile that same October. I used it to travel in Chile and Argentina in March and April 2018, and I just finished up…
Friday 1 June 2018, 9:01. Aboard R/V Tiglax at sea: N 53º 52.1916 E 177º 48.2466 After pointing out and identifying another species of bird nesting on Alaska’s North Slope, my first field boss Matt said, “Steph, people pay thousands of dollars to see these birds.” My response? “Oh.” It’s not that I wasn’t excited to be seeing the birds that inhabit a remote landscape; it’s just that birds weren’t…
My relationship with biking and a recent ride
When you grow up in the suburbs of Detroit in the 90s, you grow up a Wings fan. How can you not? While there was never any uncertainty about my team, one drawing I made in 3rd grade cemented my favorite NHL athlete and hockey team in place. We were learning how to draw faces, and our teacher had pictures of Detroit Red Wing hockey players for us to use….
The most exciting news I’ve ever shared: My student loans are paid off!!! (10 years to the day from being offered a scholarship for my freshman year)
Beautiful weather? Check. Bike? Check. Helmet? Check. Wallet, phone, water, and TP? Check. Destination? Unknown! I unlocked the bike from the rack, then re-attached the lock to the rack since I knew I wouldn’t be leaving the bike alone during the day. With a quick glance at my watch to check the time – 11:30 – I was on my way. On my way up the silly hill that doesn’t…
At the start of my sophomore year I made the mistake of buying a ridiculously heavy Mongoose brand bike from a pawn shop. That bike spent most of the year sitting in my dorm room, and I knew it had to go. Fortunately I was able to sell it for a small profit and go buy the quality of bike my genes prefer. Enter May 8, 2009. Walking to Goldstream…