Just a quick update.

We spent all day yesterday packing up Jack’s apartment. I assumed he had little possessions (as I am the pack rat) but boy was I wrong! Last night we got drinks with some friends at Swift and talked about the trip. It was making me very excited to talk about all of the details. I also got very cute gifts from Deana and Meagan (broaches and a travel journal are a necessity for every trip). So, thank you to them…and also to everyone who came.

This morning we got up early and headed to NJ where we picked up the rental car. It’s a gorgeous brown Rav 4 which interestingly enough smells like root-beer on the inside, which is okay by us since we are such fans of the beverage. We have not picked out a name for our car yet but we will soon…and we will let you know. The only bummer regarding the car is that it will meet it’s maximum mileage before the end of our trip, which means we have to exchange it somewhere along the way for another Rav 4 “or similar”. The Hertz guys told us they want a car with Alaska plates on their lot in NJ and we told them we would do our best.

Jack headed down to Delaware this afternoon to visit his family and spend some time with them which is always great. I unfortunately had to stay in NJ but its for good reason, as my brother returns from his 6 month backpacking trip in Europe this evening! I’m very excited about this and to see him. If you see a brother and sister who appear as emotional wrecks in Newark airport this evening…than thats us. I’m very close with Tim and it will be good to see him for a few days before we head out.

Well I’m off to do some more preparations as you know you can never prepare too much for a trip like this.

It is five days before our departure and I am bundled with emotions. Stuffed into a box neatly wrapped but the ribbon has come undone and sooner or later everything I am feeling will be forced to escape, run rampant and free. The air has a certain electricity about it - anxiousness, similar to Christmas morning.

I spent most of my day reading. I also did laundry and some packing, but that pales in comparison to a good piece of literature. Getting in my “free time” and doing what I love ie: reading, writing and listening to vinyls is important right now as free time may be rare in the upcoming weeks and months. Today I finished reading the Time Travelers Wife – which as I was reading it discovered I didn’t want to end.  I think of Henry and Clare both protagonist and antagonist to each other’s lives, fictional but real and I feel a sadness and longing for them.

One of the cats meow and I am surrounded by the present. What remains on the horizon throws my stomach forward in pure and unabashed expectation.

There’s a reason I brought up this book. The book is about love, not the puppy dog kind or the unrequited but genuine true love. Henry and Clare live their lives in extraordinary conditions. Henry, often absent in the physical form but never from the heart is a time traveler as blessed as he is damned. He lives it all simultaneously – past, present, and future weaving throughout their lives as different versions of himself. It was never easy on them to live like they did, yet they made it work…but that is love.

So what is the point that I am making? I’m sipping on a cold beer which is beading sweat drops onto my writing desk and somewhere in the distance a young dog barks and the train sounds through the woods. It’s hot and humid in July five days before I am to venture on a journey to Alaska – a place I have always envisioned myself as falling in love with. I revere in my childhood dreams and Alaska is my final frontier. And while deep down inside I am excited ad nauseum the very exterior of me remains humbled.

I have this opportunity in my hands, so fragile and delicate that I don’t want to waste a moment of its time nor take it for granted. I don’t want to get my hopes up too high nor do I want to become catatonic at fault of overwhelming emotions. The road ahead is exhilarating but dangerous. Leaving behind our jobs, taking a break from our current lives and the comfortableness that comes with it all is as terrifying as it is inviting. The blandness of routine in the past is met with uncertainty in the present.

I know that this might not be perfect. I know going into this journey that we may want to “kill eachother” as some say or call it quits. But that is life and it is inescapable. However, the very simple act of abandoning all of lifes infinite drawbacks for someone you love is a rare chance which I will glady accept. I know there may be a rough spot or two or the occasional breakdown whether it be mental or automobile related, but we are in this together and it is worth the risk …but that is love.

I started tearing apart my apartment today and putting it in boxes. Also, I am trying to use up as many food products as possible. The result – I made hummus and banana bread today. I think both are pretty tasty. Tomorrow will be more of the same but Priscilla will be over to help. That will be nice.

This past weekend Jack and I sat on a park bench in Astoria Park sharing a snow cone and diligently going over maps in Lonely Planet US and The Milepost Guide 2009. We came up with the itinerary below and used the free AAA TripTik online program to map it all out.

Phase one takes us from New Jersey to Alaska. 8,051 miles equals 144 hours of driving.

Phase two of our trip from Alaska to Delaware 6,627 Miles equals 104 hours of driving.

In total: 14,678 miles and 248 hours of driving! Good thing Hertz offers unlimited mileage.

Recently we went on a pre-road trip, trip…to Trumansburg, New York – a small town 15 minutes outside of downtown Ithaca. We stayed at the McLallen House Bed and Breakfast in the annex apartment which had two adorable bedrooms with antique furniture, and a deck outside which had a very cozy hammock. We went with friends Dan and Diana for the July 4th weekend and took in the breath taking views at Taughannock State Park, the tranquil sunset at the Watkins Glen Marina and some gorgeous waterfalls at Watkins Glen State Park.

On the Fourth we stopped by Farm Sanctuary, the nations largest sanctuary for mistreated & abandoned farm animals for a delicious Vegan BBQ and tour of their facilities, where we got to mingle with cows, goats, and turkeys!  Later on that afternoon we decided to go to two wineries; Castel Grisch and Cascata along the Finger Lake Wine Trail near Watkins Glen. Cascata is hidden up a gravel drive in the back room of a restored victorian home. They offer several delsicious wines, and I ended up  purchasing both the Maggie and the Cranberry Bog Mead. Castel Grisch overlooks a grassy knoll and not only offers wine but authentic German cooking, make sure to try their Ice Wine. And if you stop by Cascata talk to John “The Professor” who will offer you limitless glasses of wine and inappropriate jokes.

On our last day we decided to take a walk along Cornell University’s campus trails – which is a must see with their acres upon acres of undisturbed woods, lilly pond, and botanical gardens. Before heading home we dined at Smart Monkey Cafe which offered a ton of tasty vegetarian dishes (try the eggs florentine) and local organic meat.

The evenings offered a brisk autumnal air, (even though it was the beginning of July!), walking through downtown Ithaca underneath the stars was a refreshing break from the constant hustle and bustle of the city.

Some pictures…full pictures at Flickr!