A woman who has to take a 10-hour round trip to go to the supermarket has revealed the extreme planning that is needed before her journey even begins.
Hilary Messer-Barrow lives in a remote off-grid community.
The 35-year-old moved out to the secluded village when she was 30 and loves the peaceful and quiet life.
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But popping out to the shop if she gets a hankering for a sweet treat or just wants to pick up lunch is quite impossible.
There is no major store nearby, with Hilary and her husband forced to drive 300 miles over two days just to get groceries.
And each journey costs them up to £275.
In a viral TikTok that has 2.5 million views, she shares the extreme preparations required beforehand including an extensive Excel spreadsheet with special categories.
“We make this trip every six to eight weeks on average,” she told What’s The Jam.
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“[My husband and I] take time to prepare a comprehensive grocery list and a list of errands required while we are on our trip.
“We also make sure we have a fully stocked emergency kit in our vehicle in case of breakdown or accident.
“Because the roads are so remote, it is important that we are prepared for the unlikely possibility that we’re stranded for some time.”
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Each journey – with food, gas, and potential accommodations if they stop overnight – costs the couple nearly £1,000.
She said: “In winter, we generally stay overnight as there is very little daylight but in the summer we tend to make the trip in one day.
“[We buy] groceries, food, dog food, and supplies, and just miscellaneous household items like toilet paper, cleaning products, garden supplies.
“The numbers can really vary.
“We have a garden that we rely heavily on in the warmer months and we forage for berries.
“Plus we eat wild meat and fish, which brings down our grocery costs, particularly during the summer.
“Sometimes I make the trip alone and sometimes my husband joins me.
“It depends on our schedules.
“While it’s more work to make the trip alone, I have done it many times and feel very comfortable doing so.”
Thankfully, there’s a big upside.
It is a beautiful journey – which starts from the couple’s home in Beaver Creek in Canada to Whitehorse, Yukon.
She said: “It feels [like] a privilege to make the trip.
“People travel from all over the world to road trip through the Yukon and it’s the journey we get to take to get our groceries.
“While this is a lot of driving in one or sometimes it can take two days, we tend not to drive much at all between trips.
“We can get anywhere else in our community easily by walking, cross-country skiing, and cycling.”
While Hilary says it’s hard for other people to imagine living like this, she and her husband wouldn’t change it for the world.
She added: “The people who live here love where they live and are proud of their community.
“It’s a privilege to be part of the community, and my husband and I remark about how fortunate we feel to live here daily.
“It’s not for everyone, but we certainly love it!”
The video, shared on social media, has gathered over 193,000 likes and 1,700 comments so far with users left baffled.
Sophia said: “How is that even possible to be so remote.”
Kiki added: “Why, and I mean this in an innocently curious way, on EARTH do you live in such a remote place?”
Aldinerd wrote: “Immediately no.”
Lisa commented: “And I complain about my two-hour grocery trip every week, and I’m 10 minutes from the store. Dang!”
Someone else said: “I’d just get a helicopter damn.”
COST BREAKDOWN:
£110 ($200) on gas for the round trip
£110 ($200) on accommodation
£440 (£800) on groceries
£55 ($100) on meals while travelling
£160 ($300) on dog food and supplies
£110 ($200) on miscellaneous household items
TOTAL: £985
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