Going on a Bear Hunt?!

This was my conversation not too long ago with my husband when discussing essentials for the expedition rapidly approaching in T-minus two weeks...

Me: What about a knife for me? One that cuts/dices/opens cans and can be at my side in a flick-of-a-wrist?

Him: Ya, you'll have that. You'll also need to bring a shotgun.

Me: A shotgun? Why in the world would I marry such a big, strong, gun-toting-westerner if I needed to be the one carrying the shotgun? I am proud to hand that task over to you.

Him: Well, that's OK but what happens when I'm miles under the water and a bear comes into camp looking for food?

Me: Can't I just point him in your direction and say, "See that big guy, there in the wet suit? He's the one you want!"

Him: Ha!

Me: No, really is this just one of those things where you say something like, "You know you really should learn to shoot my bow. What if the world ends tomorrow and your only option for food for you and the baby is with a bow and arrow?" Is this one of those situations? Cause if it is, I'll gladly take my chances.

Him: I wish I were joking.

And that was it. Sent me straight into a massive panic. That night (not surprisingly) I had numerous nightmares about altercations with large animals as I fought to protect my baby bear cub. That and the phrase, "Don't let the dingos eat your baby!" was set on a continuous reel running through my head for hours.

Needless to say, as we count down the hours I'm teetering on the nervous side and slowly crawling to the excited side. We'll see if we survive. We'll see if we never come home. That's the one catchphrase that has me in a bit of a panic..."We'll see".

I guess we will, I guess we will.

Testing...1...2...3...

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. ~ Helen Keller

3 years ago when I promised to love and support my husband accompanying him wherever he'd go- no one told me that would include following him over 5,000 miles to the Yukon (yes, that's Canada my friends) to mine for gold. How did I get conned into that? *Side note: did you know that a synonym for "con" is "gold brick?" I did! You can't fool me karma. I know the symbolism in that. The irony is not lost on me.

For years the men in his family have talked and dreamed of this expedition. Last year for about a month they made the first trek out to the beautiful country.

It was like being in the dark ages. No phone, no email. We waited (sometimes not so patiently) for any word from the boys as they worked and dredged (literally) through the terrain. I was like a schoolgirl at Christmas when he came home. I vowed to never let that much time go by without being with him. And now, I may have to eat my words.

The boys (Dax and Chase) have been asked to once again make the voyage again to British Columbia, Canada, only this time (along with their wives and babies) stay for possibly the whole mining season.




Breathe.



Camping... Tents... Dirt... Cold... Mesquitos? Bears?!

These are just the few things that run through my mind. How/ where do I begin? How does one go about attempting a feat this big? The answer: one small, slow, agonizing step at a time.

Which brings us to last weekend. Here is test #1. Today's adventure is to investigate how to set up the tent, ensure that it is indeed large enough for our clan and foresee any unknown kinks before the big day (which is quickly approaching...AHHH!) Don't worry, I took copious notes.
The tip top of the list was...DIRT! So much dirt. Dirt in the clothes, in the hair- on the face. Dirt in the bed. On the baby (gasp!). Dirt in places there shouldn't be dirt. Thankfully, this would be the desert so my constant variable is not so constant and I have to hope that the further north we travel the less dirt we encounter (a girl can dream anyway).


I have to say, the baby did quite well. He was warm and happy (again, this is the desert so I don't put too much stock in the temperature trial).
We slept well. Protected by our defender and friend, the incredible Mr. Chaunch. Truth be told, he protected us so well that the first night we didn't sleep as well due to his constant barking and growling at every little thing. But we made up for it the second night.
We were warm and toasty (the canvas tents have a fantastic steel stoves to add to the warmth) and made it out in one piece.
Once again we'll work out a few more kinks and in the process pacify my fears a little more one step at a time.