# @kirstenalana on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/BZuzU9cFh-S
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/2430197-kirstenalana-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/cb24f45221.jpg
- **Posted:** 2017-10-02T03:54:40.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Kirsten Alana (@KirstenAlana) — https://gondola.cc/KirstenAlana

## Caption

With #CaliforniaWild officially behind me, or at least the physical travel part of it done and dusted, there’s a bittersweet feeling that’s settled; a reason I’ve dragged out the sharing of my last pieces of content. A suspicion that when I’m really done some kind of bubble will burst. Does this ever happen to you after a trip or job you’re really passionate about?
•
There were times I didn’t think I’d make it through the 19 grueling days of filming, of sharing one vehicle with 4 other people carrying a month’s worth of clothes and equipment, of no days off and no free time and the stress of re-packing to change hotels every night. The pace began to feel like a bitter pill to swallow and the lack of alone time chafed at my introverted spirit.
•
But oh there were such sweet moments too, in this past month of exploring the state of California and its 8 rural regions! There were moments I never wanted to see end. There were new friendships made and old friendships cemented. There were days I could have sworn I’d change my plans without thinking twice, to stay in California, forever. Moments to be so grateful for. And I truly am.
•
As the cliché goes, it was the best of times and it was the worst of times, rolled into one. My biggest takeaway is that the people I shared the journey with, were what ultimately made it worth while. More about them in my next post.
•
First, I wanted to give thanks to some companies that provided goods or equipment I could not have completed the project without: @fujifilmx_us for the X-T2, @gopro for the HERO5 Black, @hydroflask for the water bottle & tumblers, @bose for the noise-canceling headphones, @telecomsquare for the WiFi hotspot, @lifeproof for the waterproof case for my iPhone, @vanguardworld for my bag & the travel tripod I used at Trona Pinnacles, @nantucketlooms for the threads and @clifbar for the road trip sustenance. Those bars are addicting!! Thank you all 🙏🏼 #VisitCalifornia #ThisIsAdventure #ShastaCascade #whiskeytownlake #shotoniphone #dametraveler #wearetravelgirls 📷 by @stuffedsuitcase

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 3,959
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 84

## Tags

shastacascade, visitcalifornia, shotoniphone, californiawild, whiskeytownlake, dametraveler, thisisadventure, wearetravelgirls

---
Copyright (c) Gondola