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birding, birds, change, environment, farm, farming, farms, just write, life, love, nature, photography, place, thoughts, travel, traveling, USA, wild, wildlife, writing
We made it back in a 1988 Subaru DL wagon, all the way from Alaska to Vermont with no GPS (not really a problem since we drove on the same road for half the trip) and no cruise control (a bit more of a problem since our right butt-cheeks got sore from continual pressing on the accelerator). Besides the engine’s tendency to overheat, causing us to always have the heat on and the windows rolled down a bit, the trip was smooth–especially after buying two new tires in Whitehorse.
The day before we left Fairbanks, we decided to honor our love through marriage, so on the morning we left the Viking Lodge, we drove back through Tok and, with the town librarian and judge’s assistant as our witnesses, we said our vows and became husband and wife.
The road trip turned into our honeymoon, and as we traveled through the yukon, Jasper and Banff, Idaho, down into Southern Utah, across Colorado and Kansas, and all the way to the east, we reveled in the landscape and sank deeper into our love.
As we drove we saw birds: osprey, bald eagles, ferruginous hawks, geese, arctic tern, grouse, magpies, ravens, chickadees, red-winged blackbirds, swans, ducks, a boreal owl, peregrine falcons, gray jays, blue jays, woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks, and more we left unidentified.
We saw animals: buffalo, moose, elk, caribou, deer, a black wolf, gray fox, coyotes, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and wild horses.
At night we sought out campgrounds, or took a few turns down quiet roads to hidden pull-offs where we could park for the night. In the morning we made chai, ate granola, and packed the car again for the next leg of the journey. Our days were casual with steady driving and spontaneous stops to look at birds, take pictures and stretch our legs.
We spent two days in Southern Utah hiking and climbing before making the final push home, aided with chocolate and maple syrup.
Now we are back in Vermont, living and working on Applecheek Farm in Hyde Park. In the first week we have milked cows, witnessed the birthing of calves, been pooped and peed on, put up a yurt, planned our bean and corn plantings, waited out the rain so we can plow the field, and become part of the daily chore rotation. As the season progresses, we will also be helping to develop the farm’s educational programs, sell food at markets, work in the 2-acre vegetable garden, and of course, with all this milk, we will make ice cream.
I am happy. I am so happy. To be living in a yurt. To be living on a farm. To be living with my love~
Oh Katie, so beautiful…just lovely. Again, we are thrilled for you and Edge.
Love,
Aunt Mary
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Be a ★
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“Sometimes one must be empty before becoming fulfilled. Sometimes one must wait before running breathlessly toward the answer. I am letting go of the panic of wanting to be a certain way. I am learning to accept that my dreams may change and the vision of my future may wobble until it comes to focus on a new light. With these lessons I begin again, and already excitement is growing inside of me.”
– Katie Spring. Sept 11,2009.
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Oh Katie
In all the amazement, excitement and wonder of hearing about your marriage, we forgot to hear the other details of your trip (honeymoon)! The photos are beautiful – this will be our next big slide show.
Our joy for you continues…..
We love you both
Namaste
Mom
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Wow…congratulations to you. What an adventure!
Thank you for sharing this story — and best of luck to you and your husband in the future!
🙂
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I was born in Anchorage and raised in both Vermont and New Hampshire–so this story of yours has some special meaning for Yours Truly. ^_^
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What a wonderful story and a lovely adventure. Gorgeous photos. Something to tell the grandkids!
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It’s hard to believe you could get such differing landscapes in the one journey. Beautiful pics
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Very romantic, my parents eloped and that is my plan as well. Your pictures are beautiful. Taking a long, scenic, and adventurous road trip would be my ideal honeymoon
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awesome. congrats!
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lovely pictures and happy couple ! 😀
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wow….like total wow…what an adventurous life.
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This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve read in a long time! My blessings are with you and your guy. I wish you both all the happiness in the world and I hope it lasts a long long time. 🙂
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I guess congratulations are in order! 🙂 And really beautiful pictures.
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Beautiful post. Congrats on Freshly Pressed.
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lovely pictures as well as the post…what fun lol
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You make life sound wonderful, miraculous, easy and light, oh so light!
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This is a really cool story! Wish you the best!!!
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Congrats on marriage, trip and being freshly pressed!
Chris
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Awww, congratulations!!! Welcome to married life! 🙂
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Very sweet! 🙂
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sounds very romantic! and maybe a little chilly.
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What a great start to marriage, you two! I hope you can continue in your celebrated relationship for many years to come. My wife, Rhoda and I are probably MORE crazy about each other now than when we were first married 19 years ago! Jesus is the reason for this season!
I am putting together our recent travel to Isle Royale, a national park in Michigan that may be close enough for you guys to get away to.
Peace of Christ to ya,
David
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P.S. Haha!! I thought you were eloping with edge (like cutting edge)!! Great name…Edge!
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Congratulations! It all sounds so lovely 🙂
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this warmed my heart. all the best to you both 🙂
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Congratulations. Your trip sounds fabulous…
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Great story. Love the pictures.
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This sounds like heaven to me. Thank you for sharing your story and congratulations on your marriage! Alaska is the *perfect* place to tie the knot! 🙂
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Congratulations! Also congrats on being FP!
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I want to be that person running on the beach. Great post.
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Congrats! Sounds like an idyllic wedding and honeymoon. I actually know someone who lives in Tok….what are the odds of that?!
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What beautiful pictures! I would love to just go on one heck of a road trip with the love of my life–more importantly, I’d love to move to Alaska!
Your story was genuinely heartwarming and I wish you and your new husband all the best!
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so sweet. thank you for sharing.
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Hey there,
Super mega-congratulations on being Fresh Pressed. I’m so glad you were, because finding your blog was awesome – I’ve been reading through your other posts – and I just thought I’d say that your life sounds beautiful, and you have such a lovely voice to convey it in. I just got excited about sun and heat, and some of your posts have made me want chilly weather, blankets, and tea like crazy (which is a huge accomplishment, as I hate winter). I look forward to reading more!
P.S. Big congrats on getting married, too!
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This is beautiful. I love this. My hubs and I were elopers too. I highly recommend it to everyone.
Congratulations on happiness and being Freshly Pressed. Long may you run.
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Sounds very romantic 🙂
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Congratulations!
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Now this is crucial for survival: ice cream! Loved it! Please let me know the taste of that ice cream!
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Mazel tov!
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beautiful. just amazing.
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The photos are beautiful! I’m itching to go on a road trip somewhere, now.
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what a gorgeous story… thanks for sharing 🙂
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Wow… that sounds like an incredible marriage, an incredible “honeymoon,” and an incredible new job. I pretty much envy every part of your life right now. I hope you won’t hold that against me. ;D
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what amazing photos and a wonderful trip! is there anyway to subscribe to your blog via email? xx
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Thank you! There is a “subscribe to feed” button you can click on towards the top of my blog, and from there you should be able to click on a link to set it up to your email.
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wow! congrats!!!!!
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Felicidades Katie y Edge en su nueva vida de matrimonio muchas bendiciones y gracias por compartir su vida con nosotros aca en la finca. Congratulations!!! Great love story.
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Hi katie! I am edge’s cousin that he hasnt seen in aboit a hundred years…but i wanted to say hello and congrstulations! On ur wedding, on the amazing journeys u’ve taken and the adventures to come. We have friends in vermont so if we r there we will love to swing by applecheek!!
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Thank you! You are more than welcome to come see us and check out Applecheek! Let us know when you are in Vermont~
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Nice post, must have been a wonderful trip!
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Great post.
Thank you for spending the time to write, looking forward to the next one.
Good luck with your dreams.
Zach
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Reblogged this on Wild Spring and commented:
{In celebration of National Poetry Month, I’ll be posting a poem each weekday through the rest of April, and I invite you to join me! Leave a link to your poem of the day in the comments section below.}
Though it may not be poetry in the typical sense, today I’m reflecting on my wedding day four years ago when Edge and I eloped in Tok, Alaska.
It was a day filled with wildness and joy~May you find the same today as the songbirds whistle on this spring morning.
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