The Duchess Guide

Ketchikan Rainboot Race

May 23, 2013

It’s Friday Fashion here at the Duchess Guide, and since I was in Ketchikan last week, I thought this might be a good time to discuss what one might wear to prepare themselves for a visit to Ketchikan. You know how much I love my boots, they’re a necessity here in Alaska, but what would you wear if you arrived in Ketchikan and discovered the locals needed you, yes you, to help them in their Guinness Book of World Records attempt for “Largest Rainboot Race?”

Why you’d don your rainboots, naturally!

When competing in the rainboot race, you really only need one thing… A sense of adventure. Okay, and the rainboots. I saw all manner of rainboots as over twelve hundred locals assembled on a hill to start the race off right. There was all manner of rain apparel, too.

Ketchikan broke the Guinness Book of World Records for most participants in a Rainboot Race on Saturday, May 18th, 2013.

The starting gun blasted and the herds of Ketchikans marched forward; left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot in our quest to victory. And the sun gods smiled on us for those forty-five minutes as the clouds miraculously parted and the sun shone across the southeast. It was beautiful. And I was lucky I was able to help Ketchikan, Alaska beat the Guinness Book of World Records for most participants in a Rainboot race at 1,976. Way to go, Ketchikan!

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Duchess Digest for Single Minded Women

May 22, 2013

My Duchess Digest column for Single Minded Women.com is a continuation on travelling to Alaska by air, by sea and by land. We already covered how to get to Alaska by air, so this week it was time to discuss travel by sea. I was lucky enough to travel to Alaska last fall via the Alaska Marine Highway System ferries from Bellingham, Washington to Haines, Alaska with all manner of stops in ports along the way.

You can read about travel to Alaska by sea here.

Holland America cruise ship gently, silently leaving the town of Ketchikan to continue cruising the Inside Passage.

Also, there are a variety of cruise options. Last week when I was visiting Ketchikan, Alaska on business, there were numerous Holland-America ships, Celebrity Cruise lines and Carnival cruise lines all lining the docks of the city. These boats are MASSIVE and pretty spectacular to see. I got some amazing shots of the majestic Holland-America ship departing the Ketchikan waterfront during a dinner appointment. It was pretty special to see.

Heading out into the Inside Passage.

You have options, so explore which option is right for you. But if you ever have the chance, I can’t recommend cruising the Inside Passage of Alaska enough. There are truly magical channels of water and sights of glaciers. You may even have the opportunity to see a whale …

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Two-steps to Adventure

May 21, 2013

It’s time to take two steps to adventure. It’s time to go explore places and things and experiences you’ve always wanted to try. There’s an old story of a warrior who travelled across the sea to fight a foreign enemy. When his ships landed on the beach, he gave the order to burn them. His soldiers were confused – why burn their only way home? So they would have no outs. They were committed to the experience they were about to have. They would win, or they would die, but they would not go back.

I’m not suggesting you light your car on fire or commit arson, but I am suggesting you start asking yourself some tough questions and then making some real commitments. Life is too short to not be who you really are and not to try for the experiences you really want to live.

As Dr. Seuss said, “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

I can imagine the first viewers of Dr. Seuss’s art and rhymes weren’t immediately mesmerized. There was nothing else out there quite like his surrealist, colorful books of poetic art. But he was himself and he made his art anyway.

Quote and illustration from Dr. Seuss (http://www.seussville.com/#/author )

How about Ray Troll? Not sure who he is? Does this ring any bells?

One of Troll’s irreverent and fun fish inspired prints. (photo from Ray Troll’s site: http://www.trollart.com/trollart_toplinks/galleries/randomhumor/pages/013.html )

At my conference in Ketchikan last week, we got to hear a presentation from Mr. Troll and it was pretty cool to see this Ketchikan, Alaska artist doing his art, living his passion and making a living from it. I really appreciate people who do what they love and make a living in a unique way.

Both Mr. Troll and Dr. Seuss have their own unique style, both are unlike any others. Which means they were first at what they did. Which also means it took conviction and a spirit of adventure to keep doing what they loved in the style that they believed in. It’s the only way they could live.

What do you love?

Is it art? Writing? Photography? Quilting? Ice-skating? Hogging? There’s a reality show for quite literally everything now, which means chances are good someone else shares your passion for whatever strange and unique thing makes your creativity blossom. What is your passion and how can you contribute that to the world? What adventures lie ahead for you in devoting more of your time and resources to living and being authentically you?

Here are two simple steps for seeking more adventure in your daily life – and living your unique story.

What makes you jealous? Sounds like a funny place to start but if hearing someone talk of an experience or activity they’re doing makes you a little green with envy, you might take a moment to explore that further. Perhaps the tinge of jealousy is a little nudge from the authentic you saying, “what’s that all about?” “Why aren’t we trying that (it’s talking to you)?” “How might we try that?”
Start Before You Think You Are Ready. Ask anyone with kids and I guarantee you the vast majority of them will tell you that they were not ready to have kids when they did. Ask your parents and I bet they’ll even tell you they weren’t ready to have you when they found out you were coming anyway. Kids are a great example of starting before you’re ready. Hopefully you’re not so unprepared you’re in trouble. But most parents find a way to make it work because once you’re on your way, that ship is burning on the shore. It’s too late to turn back. As Tim Gunn would say, it’s “Make it Work,” time. So why not try this with your adventures. If you’ve always wanted to take a trip but you’re worried to go alone, just book it. Maybe you’ll find someone to join you, maybe you won’t, but as a single woman I can tell you that for too long, I let lack of a travel partner hold me back from exploring. Until one day I wanted to go to Ireland so badly, I stopped waiting for anyone to join me, and just went anyway. I’ve since done numerous trips all around the world on my own and guess what? It’s fun and I’m still alive to tell you about it.

Try these two steps and start your own adventure. Again, it doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, pilot’s license or cooking class, it just matters that you keep exploring and trying out new passions and experiences.

Who knows? You just may discover you’re the next Dr. Seuss.

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Adventure is Yours.

May 20, 2013

A life without adventure is really no life at all. I’ve long had a knack for exploring and adventure that has fueled my writing and driven my life forward in all kinds of directions. I’ve had my fair share of sticky situations, too. But that’s part of the fun.

Last week I was in Ketchikan, Alaska for a work conference and I wanted to take every advantage I could to go explore. I know I already live in Alaska, but it’s a big state with a very unique set of towns and geography from coast to coast.

Alone, or with others, there are always opportunities to explore. What are some adventures you’ve always wanted to try? Maybe they’re small, like trying a new restraint in town you’ve been wanting to go to for a long time. Maybe they’re bigger, like a sea kayaking trip. What form your adventure takes is immaterial, it’s the follow through of experiencing it, of challenging yourself, of trying new things that matters. Do it now. There is no time like the present. Schedule it, plan it, take a step toward doing it – just do it.

We’ll be exploring ways to start your adventures throughout the week, as well as sharing some stories and pictures of Ketchikan, Alaska.

Until then, forget “safety,” and go be notorious. Go try something fun and don’t wait for anyone’s company or permission to go live your unique adventure.