The Diaries is made possible by Diaries Plus members. And guess what? That could be you. That's right.

If you're enjoying our regular episodes, shorts, interviews, our and then what series on public lands, or a mix of it all, please consider becoming a Diaries Plus member.

It's ad-free listening, but maybe more importantly, it's about knowing that you've stepped up to support

something you believe is worthwhile and the delight of something you want to see in your feed,

something you believe needs to be there because that's how Diaries Plus members feel.

Compower the show. The link is in the show notes. Thank you.

Everything stolen in the night. My stomach sank as I stared at the empty space where my rig had been. I was 1800 kilometers into a 3,000 kilometer journey down the Pacific coast, alone with no map, no plan, and now, no bike.

This wasn't just a logistical problem.

It was the final gut-wrenching blow to the fragile sense of security I'd been clinging to

since the start of this trip.

But before I tell you how I got out of that mess, let me take you back to the start.

Four months earlier, I had been on the west coast of Canada, Vancouver Island,

grappling with the fallout of a seven-year relationship that had ended in heartbreak.

I thought I would marry him.

He was my best friend, after all. Instead, I found myself with no partner, no home, and barely enough savings to scrape by. Those first few weeks were a blur. My life felt like a jigsaw puzzle with no picture on the box,

just pieces scattered everywhere with no clear sense of how they were supposed to fit together.

One thing became clear. I needed to leave. Not just the apartment we shared, but my comfort zone entirely.

I picked up Cheryl Strade's Wild one evening, a book that had been gathering dust on my shelf.

As I turned its pages, I got lost in the allure of the trail.

I admired the leap of face she took and the strength she found from within.

A thought took hold of me.

I could do this.

...