Journalling has been a longtime favourite activity of mine to collect my thoughts mentally and physically. I love flipping through pages of words I wrote months or years ago for some insight into who I was then or what a new experience felt like at the time. Of course, I scribbled down the details of my first night camping in the SUV. Here is what I wrote!

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May 25 10:48PM

It’s windy, I hear a coyote - I think. I have barely one bar of service so my window cover is off to hopefully help the little phone waves get through. But I feel seen -maybe my one neighbour can see me journaling in here.

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I’ve never even slept in a car before. Just plenty of tent camping. Will I be hot or cold? Right now my feet feel incredibly toasty and I’m thankful for my much too big for this tiny space duvet.

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This fear I’m feeling is familiar. It’s the same fear I felt on my first night on the Santa Catalina Trail. My first solo thru-hike. My first ever solo trip. What is with these crazy ideas I have?

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Anyway - the point is… I love camping and I love hiking and I love doing both of those things solo. Those first night jitters went away and were replaced with a love for the experience. So I have to assume the same will happen with this.

So I am excited to wake up tomorrow with a new found sense of security and confidence.

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I am sure it will waver from time to time. And I worry a little that the constant alertness I must maintain will wear on me. But I’ve very quickly come to understand the safety protocols people take on the road.

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I’d feel a little better if I had service inside my vehicle, but I am surrounded by three ways to get back on the highway and I’m facing the official exit. I have a neighbour and can see a nice home down the river. I know there are a couple of farms up the road and a provincial campground nearby. So… I guess that’s all. Wish me luck. I am thankful to have my loved ones tonight to keep me ‘text-company’ so I’ll open my door one last time to get that sweet, sweet cell service. :)

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Goodnight