After nearly four days camped on the rocky banks of the Susitna River, watching the water line slowly creep closer to our rig due to intermittent rain fall, we are back on the road and headed to Wasilla. When traveling long term it is important to remember to stop and sit a wile. For us this means finding a place that is quiet but still has good cell reception. Although it is sometimes tempting to push forward and see absolutely everything it is necessary to sometimes just slow down.
Our break over the long Memorial Day Weekend was important to getting much needed work and rest done. For me that meant tens of thousands of words written, blogs updated, Newsletters prepared, and generally catching up with projects, friends, family, and even a few fans. For the driver, it meant a rest from the constant roll over not always stellar roads.
The Susitna River area was a great place for us to stop and recharge, mentally, physically, and literally as the long days of sunlight that normally keep our batteries charged were veiled by clouds and rain filled skies. Sitting in a quiet, if busy due to the long weekend, space you can crank up the generator and top up batteries that are seeing heavy use.
Along with the chance to top up batteries, and just be still for a bit, the Sustina River offered beautiful vistas of its ever changing shoreline. When the sun was out it played on the waters surface, like children in a school yard, bouncing happily from wave top, to fast running current and back again. The area we camped at is just before you cross the bridge heading west toward Anchorage and is accessed by a dirt and gravel road full of pot holes that crosses a dry creek bed before opening up onto the rock strewn river flats. Although this was a beautiful setting and a wonderful jumping off point, we were mindful of the power of nature and were reminded of its devastating power by the carcass of a moose and calf that at some point had been washed into the racing river, or fallen through the ice at some point last year. When we first entered the already busy river bed we were careful to choose a spot at the crest of the rivers edge turning the rig around so that it faced the road out in case river levels rose to high. Since the expanse of the river flats is very wide with and has a slow rise we simply kept one eye on the water and the other on the weather app. Since we knew that we would be leaving early Tuesday morning we then moved the rig slightly higher and a little closer to the exit to avoid any issues for our departure.
It is sometimes hard to balance everything in life. Whether it is work and family obligations, or time exploring and still working to provide some modest income, there is always give and take. In our fast paced world it is often tempting to push forward moving to the next event, challenge, goal, or site, but sometimes we need to remember that it is not just alright to stop and regroup, it is necessary. We need to find time in our hectic schedules to feed out body, soul, and spirit.
In life watch the river. Watch as the cares, responsibilities, and chores ebb and flow and find the spot where you can rest balanced between the changing levels of life's onward flow. Find the time to see the sun reflected on even troubled currents and wonder at the power of the life you live. Perhaps we cannot always control the course the river takes, or stop the inevitable changes that are wrought over time, but we can remember to appreciate the days we are given and remember that sometimes it is a good thing to stop and wait.
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