The Whole Wide World

I woke up today to an email from Snacks. For those that don’t know who that is, he was my hiking partner on the Appalachian Trail and we became the best of friends. We’ve kept in touch since we parted ways at the end of the hike in December 2021. After the hike he went on to get his CDL and started over the road trucking. His email was a quick note to let me know he’d just run a load from North Carolina to Ohio and on the way he passed some of the highway motels and restaurants that we’d stopped at on our hike. Getting an email from Snacks is always a heart warming moment for me. It’s also a reminder of all the wonderful friends I’ve made along the way on my adventures and in turn, a reminder that there are sure to be more of those connections as my travels continue. I feel so lucky and grateful for that.

I also had a message from my Nana in Virginia, which was equally as lovely of a moment for me. It is not easy to be so far away from family and friends, but I am grateful for the technology that keeps us in touch. My strong, beautiful cousin recently brought gorgeous twins into the world, Lydia and Adam. It makes my heart so happy to know that my Nana is there experiencing the joy of holding her great-grand babies.

On station today, everyone was busy getting ready for the incoming flight, which was scheduled to land at 7PM this evening. First it was delayed for take off due to unfavorable weather in New Zealand and then later in the afternoon it was rescheduled for another attempt tomorrow. With the temperatures dropping here this evening, all we can do is wait to see if conditions will be favorable, or if it will be delayed yet again. Today is supposedly the only ‘fair’ weather window this week, with temperatures predicted to drop again. Anything over -40F and it’s a no go for the planes. All we can do is wait and see.

The lounge area we created in the store for the winter season was dismantled today, along with the lounge area in Gallagher’s and the back of the galley. When the first plane finally does arrive, our family dining table in the galley will also be dismantled into the normal smaller seating areas. All bittersweet reminders of the winter season coming to a close. I’ll say once again, it feels like it went by SO quickly. My Nana included a reminder in her message that as one adventure comes to a close, it means it’s time to move onto the next adventure. Wise words from a wise Nana, and she stirred a little bit of excitement in my cuppa. It’s almost time to move onto the next adventure and to be grateful for a very special year on the ice.