Ashley Hable would tell you that she has been “stuck” on a team with me for the past six months. It started on Team Two, then we were reunited on Shebrews, and for the last three months of our journey, she is blessed to be with me on our new team Almost Heavmn. 

During all this time, I have only seen her wear her big pack ONCE. It didn’t matter that it would distribute the weight to her hips and make it easier to carry. She was determined to wrap her two twig arms around her black airporter and carry that thing as far as was necessary. 

The crazy thing is some men in the different countries would have pity on her and carry it for her! This drove me crazy who prefers the tough love approach. “Don’t carry that for her! She needs to gain some muscles!” Is what I usually wanted to tell at them, but it was futile. They wanted to be chivalrous and caring. Bleh. 

We just got to our city in Turkey. As we got off the bus, we knew our hostel was close enough to walk and that a taxi wouldn’t be necessary. However, the distance was just too great for the toothpick arms. 

As she unzipped her black airporter, I could hardly believe my eyes. I had no idea her big pack was BLUE! Out came the shoulder straps and Ashley donned her backpack for the SECOND time since the beginning of the race. I was determined to document this moment so it would be preserved for generations to come. 

Amid her throwing dirty glares at me while I filmed her, I noted that the pack fit like a glove against her back. For the first time on the Race, she looked like a real backpacker and not a hot mess carrying a sack of bricks. She looked like someone who knew how to bargain for tuk-tuk deals and know where to find the best currency exchange place.

They say that the Race changes you. I promise you I bear witness to this fact in the case of Ashley. She was utterly transformed before my eyes in A SINGLE MOMENT.

I’m proud of you, Ashley. Receive my love! :)