tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post886267979325259355..comments2023-12-28T21:22:10.935-07:00Comments on Jill Outside: Adventures in solitudeJill Homerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983065990450931943noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-40302143689905052552008-09-29T02:39:00.000-06:002008-09-29T02:39:00.000-06:00Wow. These are some great comments to come home to...Wow. These are some great comments to come home to. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and sending your well-wishes. It reminds me why this blog is so valuable to me. Thanks again.Jill Homerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02983065990450931943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-40261207145682065092008-09-28T15:03:00.000-06:002008-09-28T15:03:00.000-06:00Jill,Just was think about you and your big trip. ...Jill,<BR/><BR/>Just was think about you and your big trip. Hope you are safe and having the time of your life.<BR/><BR/>BobAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00412024216105325907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-12849142672914406682008-09-28T02:38:00.000-06:002008-09-28T02:38:00.000-06:00The muse was definitely moving you when you wrote ...The muse was definitely moving you when you wrote this: beautiful! I hope you're having the kind of trip you hoped for, whether it means the wind at your back and bluebird skies or rain & sleet in your face. Thank you for sharing your inspiration with us!nollijhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11249385586041451353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-12832708883956609052008-09-26T13:30:00.000-06:002008-09-26T13:30:00.000-06:00I love your photos and your writing, Jill. This po...I love your photos and your writing, Jill. This post should be up there on your best posts list. I really admire your soul-baring writing. I've been in AK three years, too. I've written the novel I always wanted to write (still working on it)and so I think of AK as my muse, too. There is an incomparable rawness here that you can't really find in the Lower 48. It turns your head around, and you want to experience it as much as possible. You've taken that to a whole new level. I saw you pedal across the lake and away on the Iditarod trail last year and it was truly inspiring to see you riding out into all that wilderness on a bike! Hope this trip in Canada is a fun one! With time, everything else will sort itself out. Sometimes my biggest flaw is my desire to push for results and finality when that is just not possible. Drift, wait, obey (I Ching) and keep peddling!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-41201906502762699242008-09-26T10:18:00.000-06:002008-09-26T10:18:00.000-06:00Thanks Jill for the beautiful writing and photogra...Thanks Jill for the beautiful writing and photography; and for the inner peace and questioning you convey. What is not our life but the dynamic between finding and living in varying amounts of peace and introspection?<BR/><BR/>Best wishes on your ride and future.<BR/><BR/>cheers,<BR/>LauraLMaddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05488873225407986758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-55913961087813448152008-09-26T08:36:00.000-06:002008-09-26T08:36:00.000-06:00Ain't bikes grand? All that spinning is like some ...Ain't bikes grand? All that spinning is like some sort of mantra, clearing your head of clutter, making way for insight and brilliance.<BR/>Just yesterday a friend thanked me for getting him out on a fifty miler. He had been having some emotional problems and could,nt quite figure out why. The ride helped him realize that he had only now started to fully grieve his wife's death a couple of years ago, now that his kids finally seem alright. <BR/>I'm glad you are writing again. If Alaska does that for you, God bless her.Craig, The Flanders Fat Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07440903092957497625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-66970393297617444092008-09-26T08:19:00.000-06:002008-09-26T08:19:00.000-06:00Jill - I just found your blog and all I have to sa...Jill - I just found your blog and all I have to say is "Wow!" <BR/><BR/>You're living my dream. You're living the life I wish I would have chosen for my path in life. <BR/><BR/>"Most (wo)men, even in this comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with the factitious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life that its finer fruits cannot be plucked by them." - Thoreau<BR/><BR/>You keep on plucking Jill!<BR/><BR/>Aaron<BR/>http://spiritofthenorthwoods.blogspot.comNorthWoodsGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17745894893872741701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-67216773312123426872008-09-26T06:32:00.000-06:002008-09-26T06:32:00.000-06:00Jill - as someone who has been doing a fair bit of...Jill - as someone who has been doing a fair bit of "searching," I really relate to this post. Nicely executed. I find life has two distinct phases - contentedness and searching, although they can intermix. While often painful, the searching times are - by and large - the most interesting.<BR/><BR/>You're getting me stoked on biking. I'm kind of put it aside this summer for hiking, mountaineering and skiing, but am quite stoked to pick it up again when the time is right.<BR/><BR/>Good look, happy travels.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-25109354791262462722008-09-26T00:39:00.000-06:002008-09-26T00:39:00.000-06:00I am so jealous, Jill. You found your muse.I am so jealous, Jill. You found your muse.shawnkieltyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18414687355264886702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-23474812988765042482008-09-26T00:32:00.000-06:002008-09-26T00:32:00.000-06:00"Alaska is my muse." Great line.I've always thoug..."Alaska is my muse." Great line.<BR/><BR/>I've always thought that nothing can make a person happier than a place that inspires them. My wife and I moved out here to Colorado from Minneapolis about 9 years ago. I'd wanted to live out here my whole life, and as soon as we actually moved here into our own place, I realized I was HOME.<BR/><BR/>My wife would like to move back, to be closer to family, but she knows I can't leave. I miss the city of Minneapolis a lot - my favorite coffee shops (including Caribou Coffe - inspired by Alaska! - hmmm....), all the lakes, the bike paths everywhere, the vibrant downtown and uptown scenes, the liberal politics and culture, being closer to family, etc. I miss all of that, and the lack of all that are things I disdain about Colorado Springs (though neighboring Manitou Springs, where we actually live, is awesome). But the mountains here inspire me everyday, and I never stopped being in awe. Basically, as corny as it sounds, Colorado completes me.<BR/><BR/>Earlier tonight I was talking about possibly moving on to Idaho, Utah or Oregon. Karen simply said to me, "You'll never leave Colorado." As soon as she said, I knew she was right.<BR/><BR/>I hope things work out with you and Geoff, but make sure you commit to what makes you happiest. It may be that special person, but it could be that special place that makes you even happier. It sounds like that's what both of you need to figure out.Fonkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04504462046067745769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-47497421916061210052008-09-25T22:39:00.000-06:002008-09-25T22:39:00.000-06:00Jill,You're on the way as I write this, but I want...Jill,<BR/>You're on the way as I write this, but I want to thank you for this blog entry.<BR/>I retired from the US Army in March of '98 after twenty years of moving around. Debi and I got here in the Summer of '99 while cruising in a 20-ft sailboat. Haven't left yet.<BR/>This is the place to reinvent yourself, to open your eyes and heart to the creative within you. I have been reading that in your entries. I hope that you can find your path during this trip. If not, then the road lies ever onward.<BR/>Grace on you,<BR/>Hunter<BR/>KetchikanHunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15665859950228150235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-69431981721607507242008-09-25T22:10:00.000-06:002008-09-25T22:10:00.000-06:00Wow that was some post.Wow that was some post.MzunguErikihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11798367115574846469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-64177492222103331342008-09-25T20:15:00.000-06:002008-09-25T20:15:00.000-06:00Good luck on your trip. I can't wait for the pics...Good luck on your trip. I can't wait for the pics and stories of your adventureAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-83734909006415510692008-09-25T18:26:00.000-06:002008-09-25T18:26:00.000-06:00Good luck on your adventure. Sounds like you need...Good luck on your adventure. Sounds like you need some time to think things out. You will do well in what ever you do.<BR/><BR/>Take care.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-79617534616765344682008-09-25T15:48:00.000-06:002008-09-25T15:48:00.000-06:00Jill,Best of luck to you. Still love your writing...Jill,<BR/><BR/>Best of luck to you. Still love your writing and photography. You capture nuances in everything that you observe.<BR/><BR/>Keep exploring in every way (says the slave to the desk and day job). Sighing wistfully...<BR/><BR/>VA BikerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-39981831116045273412008-09-25T14:36:00.000-06:002008-09-25T14:36:00.000-06:00Good luck, Jill."Alaska is my muse." - I love that...Good luck, Jill.<BR/>"Alaska is my muse." - I love that statement. A heavenly muse.Murtuzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11316950100071988219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-79811973978125614712008-09-25T13:21:00.000-06:002008-09-25T13:21:00.000-06:00Great post Jill - and good luck on the ride! It&#...Great post Jill - and good luck on the ride! It's just past 12:15 now so you should be on the ferry. Hugs to S&T - I miss them and the Yukon already so I feel for some of what you are describing in terms of your love for Alaska. I hope you find some solace in your aloneness along the Alaska Highway.Jennoithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03200703483030319387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-90476657184920168822008-09-25T12:35:00.000-06:002008-09-25T12:35:00.000-06:00Great blog post. Good luck on the journey; I'm lo...Great blog post. Good luck on the journey; I'm looking forward to reading about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-7678684006516612632008-09-25T12:07:00.000-06:002008-09-25T12:07:00.000-06:00It's good to have time apart to consider these big...It's good to have time apart to consider these big issues, I think. Sometimes proximity clouds judgment.<BR/><BR/>My then-boyfriend of 3 years and I went through a time that sounds similar to your current circumstance...oh, 16 years ago, or so. I was the one who wanted to leave Bethel (AK), and I did, heading for Santa Fe. A year and a half later, I was living on the Navajo reservation in AZ, and my old boyfriend was my new husband. Who would have thought? Not me. Now, sixteen years later, we're back in AK (well, we were back seven years ago.)<BR/><BR/>Oh...our honeymoon was spent mountain biking in Moab ;)<BR/><BR/>Good luck to you. I don't know if your path will lead to maintaining the old relationship, or heading in a different direction. Regardless, life will be good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-79951102501734380502008-09-25T11:52:00.000-06:002008-09-25T11:52:00.000-06:00Three days without your Blog! I don't know what I ...Three days without your Blog! I don't know what I will do. Be safe and may the wind always blow fromthe rear. Don't run from your fears, embrace the next chapter in your life. The GSMNP could be your next adventure. <BR/>http://loveandtwowheels.blogspot.com/Slow Riderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04798160131957850483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-25449902507591979572008-09-25T11:49:00.000-06:002008-09-25T11:49:00.000-06:00Jill, I'll be thinking about you on your adventure...Jill, I'll be thinking about you on your adventure. I was going to give you some advice about finding a guy who is there for you because you truly deserve that, but what do I know? It would be tough to be a girl in your shoes trying to find a man who understands your drive. Accept the Good. You deserve it all. and be safe!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-59100791263498605972008-09-25T10:26:00.000-06:002008-09-25T10:26:00.000-06:00Wow... Your photos are always great but those are ...Wow... Your photos are always great but those are just spectacular.1234567890https://www.blogger.com/profile/07066624997554342571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-1116335077652110372008-09-25T10:09:00.000-06:002008-09-25T10:09:00.000-06:00Good luck and be safe! I can't wait to hear all ab...Good luck and be safe! I can't wait to hear all about your adventure!Kristina P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16144488639100871226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-79114471648236606932008-09-25T09:44:00.000-06:002008-09-25T09:44:00.000-06:00Be safe. Enjoy the solitude. Good luck.Be safe. Enjoy the solitude. Good luck.nicolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634572672852445923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-35863660513266319272008-09-25T09:00:00.000-06:002008-09-25T09:00:00.000-06:00As someone who's left Alaska while still being mad...As someone who's left Alaska while still being madly in love with it, I can tell you: You take it with you. Once you live there, no matter where you go, you still have that part of you. I left for all sorts of reasons: school, career, sun, family... and have never regretted it, despite missing Alaska every day. But I see everything just a little bit differently now, and live a little bit differently, too. And granted, once I get these adventures done with, I'll probably look to go back. But just know, no matter where you are, you don't lose the muse!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com