Most days of our travels in Alaska, we chose our adventures. There were some days filled with travel to get us from one place to another, but for the most part, we had options even during the section of our trip that was more structured. But the first day of that portion was more scheduled than most. It seemed a bit more touristy than I prefer. Maybe it seemed more pronounced because I was coming off the remote experience of flying north of the Arctic Circle and driving back on the Dalton Highway then strolling through trees with reindeer. But I soon learned that I could meander on my own when I wanted and engage with people when I wanted, which was the perfect mix to enhance the experience, not just that day, but throughout the trip. 

It’s not that I don’t like people. I really do. I enjoy learning where people are from, why they’re traveling, what their interests and experiences are, etc. I always find things in common with people. And I am often intrigued and challenged by our differences. But sometimes people are too much for me. Too peopley. Fortunately, in Alaska, there are a lot of places to step away from people. Even when I was physically on a boat, I could usually step away. Not everyone wanted to stand on the decks, especially on the chilly or rainy days. I didn’t go to Alaska to sit inside. I didn’t care what the weather was. I was going to find a way to enjoy the weather no matter what it was. To me, just seeing the scenery in a different way as the weather changed was enough to justify a little bit of discomfort. 

But on this particular day, the rain stopped, and the sun shone as we moved down the river. My favorite parts were smack in the middle of the touristy stuff. I loved watching the seaplane take off and land in front of us. The barking sled dogs made me smile, especially the little puppy that tripped over the log. I was in awe for the first of many times as I learned about survival skills used through the years. I was in Alaska in the easy part of the year. I won’t ever experience the harshest, darkest, coldest months in the remote areas. People who live in those areas today inspire me. Those who were first to settle in or travel through those areas years ago amaze me. 

I learned a lot that day, throughout the touristy stuff. There were gems to mine, and I didn’t have to work as hard to find them as I did to find those tiny flecks of gold that were intentionally planted in that dirt we sifted as if we were on a true gold mining expedition. The kind of mining that was most productive was in my own perspective and attitude. I saw the grumpy people. You know, the ones who decided to have a bad day before they even left the hotel. They were determined. Well, so was I. And it wasn’t that I was determined to have a great day. Sometimes it’s just as counterproductive to have a roses and rainbows attitude as a ditches and mudpies attitude, because neither reflects reality. Instead, if we just keep our eyes and ears open, if we stay on high alert and pay attention to what’s around us, we’ll notice some mesmerizing details and learn some interesting facts. We’ll get to step into experiences we’d otherwise miss. 

At the end of the day, I was both full and tired. I might not have chosen the activities that day, but I chose to accept the day, and I’m thankful for all it gave me.