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Kiley Saunders

On Outdoor Showers and Reading "Hey, I'm Alive" by Helen Klaben

Vanlife Archive

Kiley Saunders author writer journal entry

Yesterday was an absolutely joyous day. While I got very nauseous after my journal entry and upon my second cup of coffee, it turned out to be a fabulous day after resting a bit and burping a lot. Could it be the chicken, eggs, heavy cream that are wholly unrefrigerated? Initiation into the new altitude and climate? Water? Lack of eating altogether? Maybe a combo of everything.


But my hypothesis is— after journaling and prior to my second cup of coffee (which was superfluous and not worth the labor of cleaning and remaking one. Enjoy the one cup of Joe and don't abuse it. Lesson learned.) But there is a kiva on the property. Upon walking in it, I knew because of its similarity to the kiva in Gold Hill.


Those structures promote purge. Like how before any medicine was administered, my body began purging, nauseous just entering ceremony. Of course I didn't bring mom in on this explanation when I called her to tell her I felt queasy. But I think it's the kiva.



In the afternoon I started feeling better. Ate some noodles in the van and walked around the property with Mars. We felt so weak at the beginning of the day, but so strong by the end that I did a workout and some yoga out in the dirt on my mat next to the van. Felt amazing. SO far from how I felt earlier.


A 3:45pm I felt I had lived a great, full day. So I packed a bag and showered in the awesome lime green outdoor shower under the tree on the property. Warm. Private. Good water pressure. You really learn to love good water pressure when you're living on a budget on the road.

Outdoor shower vanlife camping shower

Felt like a billion bucks after I rinsed.


Then I walked into the pool house/clubhouse. There's a pool table, slot machine, party rocker (speaker) couches, and a huge, full bookshelf.


I found a book, that un-coincidentally caught my eye immediately, just from the spine. "Hey, I'm Alive." Title. Survival. Lighthearted yet deep. Helen Klaben. Female author. Hardcover. I pull it off the shelf. Stamped. St. Louis Library, 1964.

Kiley Saunders bookshelf author writing

It's subtitle: "a plane crash in the Yukon... 49 days in the wilderness... A story of faith, courage, and rescue."

Perfect.


Just what I'd been craving.


Almost finished the whole thing last night. Completely chugged it. Will finish today.


She goes to Alaska after finding an ad in the newspaper, someone looking for passenger to split expenses. She goes just because.


Her spirit is awesome. I needed this book so badly.

She finds love in Fairbanks though she was looking simply for experience.... It's always Alaska isn't it?

Kiley Saunders vanlife
This was such a pretty property to stay on but I was kinda getting sex commune vibes so I left lol

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