The Sun is a Compass
Caroline Van Hemert
Caroline
and husband Patrick dreamed of making a 4,000 mile journey across the
Alaskan Wilderness for many years. The time finally came to set out
with the plan of traveling only by boat, skis or on foot. They set
off from Bellingham Washington, with the hope of reaching Kotzebue on
the western side of Alaska six months later. Caroline had just
finished a Ph.D. but was unsure where she wanted to go with her
career as a scientist. She felt a need to reconnect with nature and
appreciate why she wanted to be a biologist in the first place after
spending numerous years doing lab work.
Along
the way, the couple encountered caribou herds, numerous bears and
migrating birds. There was also a close encounter with a black bear
who seemed eager to stalk the intrepid travelers. Luckily for them he
lost interest after a while and disappeared. The couple also met some
fascinating and generous people along the way, living in vast but
changing environments. I can't imagine having the confidence to
undertake an adventure across 4,000 miles of some of the most remote
territory. But Caroline and Patrick seemed to thrive in the
challenging and isolated environment.
The
Sun is a Compass,
is not just a recap of a physical trek in the wilderness; it is also
a journey of heart and mind. One which made me want to head out into
nature and enjoy what's around. It will no doubt encouraged other
readers to see and experience the beauty of nature that we so often
take for granted.
Thanks
to Little Brown Spark for allowing me to read this in exchange for an
honest review.
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