Article in Sidetracked Magazine /February 19, 2019 by Caroline Van Hemert

I have a short piece coming out in the current issue of Sidetracked. For anyone who isn’t familiar with this adventure/travel outlet, it’s a beautifully designed magazine full of photographs and stories sure to inspire wanderlust. You can find more information here: https://sidetracked.bigcartel.com/product/sidetracked-volume-14

Sneak preview:

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Our first humpback whale of the spring! Spotted from the dinner table, it made us all squeal in excitement. Welcome back from Hawaii, friends!

By all appearances this looks like shameless self-promotion, but Sarah Williams has a great thing going with her Tough Girl podcast and other online resources. For adventurous women, girls, and everyone who needs a bit of inspiration (we all do!), you can find her @toughgirlchallenges and at her website (toughgirlchallenges). We had a fun chat last week—listen to hear behind the scenes details about my journey and The Sun is a Compass AND witness introvert meet extrovert (guess which category I fit into...!😉). http://traffic.libsyn.com/toughgirlchallenges/202_Caroline_van_Hemert.mp3)

On this Earth Day I’m thankful not to be out in the elements but instead cozy inside by the wood stove. It was raging today! 50 knot winds and 10 foot seas. My attempted run turned into a crawl and even our marine-grade wind generator couldn’t handle the strongest gusts. We’ve postponed sailing until Mother Nature decides she’s good and ready for us (hopefully by later this week)!

Can’t pass by these two on the side of the road without stopping! Fellow adventures and fascinating people, Italians @maurizio.belli.18 on their 55-day journey from Fort Yukon. We missed them in Anchorage by a day, but, with their usual generosity, my parents welcomed them in our absence. (There’s nothing better than a Rosie meal after a big trek!) Check out their adventures at www.mauriziobelli.com. Congrats, you two!

Prepping Chaika for another voyage. Our crew is a whole year older, and the boat projects never quite end. So happy to be back on the water in beautiful Lynn Canal. I had a great conversation on KHNS, exploring ideas of migration, personal journeys, adventure parenthood, and the wild places we love. You can listen here: https://khns.org/lynn-canal-voice-caroline-van-hemert. If you’re in Haines, I’ll also be presenting at the public library tonight, April 19th. Hope to see you there!

On the ferry heading back to southeast! We’ll soon be launching in our sailboat (“Chaika”) toward Glacier Bay and beyond. Hoping for fair winds in our future! In the meantime, if you’re in Haines for the weekend please join me 5:30 Friday at the library for a presentation and book signing of The Sun is a Compass.

Do I look starstruck? I am! Terry Tempest Williams has long been both a literary inspiration and a voice of hope. As a fledgling biologist, aspiring writer, and lover of wild places, I first encountered her memoir, Refuge, at a seabird colony where I fell in love with birds, language, and her books. She is every bit as gracious in person as she is on the page.

LA Times Festival of Books! It’s so fun to be here among an incredible crowd of writers and readers! Highlights so far: spending time with a dear childhood friend @lizzy__muffin , hanging with my amazing agent Bonnie @hillnadell, and getting to meet (and hug!) one of my literary idols, Terry Tempest Williams.