My hike sponsored by Goodwill.

As I began collecting gear for this trip, I saw my bank account drop. Dramatically. 

I am happy to put money into sleeping bags, stoves, or packs. They are a great investment. I can use them for trips after this. Clothes are a completely different story. I will probably not wear these after, when they smell to high heaven. So when I walked through REI and saw prices of $60-$90 a little tear formed in my eye, and my stubbornness kicked in.

I would thrift for all the clothes I could find.

Luckily, I have been training for this moment for years. My sisters taught me the tricks to thrifting at a young age, and I have honed those skills for years. I used REI's free internet to search for a thrift store. I struck gold.

Right around the block was a gem made for me. The goodwill that was organized with an activewear section. Thank God. I found two REI short sleeve shirts, two long sleeve shirts, and one pair of base layer pants. I got them all for $20. 

For some reason this really solidified my belief in the trip. Everyone says hike your own hike, but this was one of the first times I felt I was.

I continue to thrift and recently found my desert shirt. I will keep my eyes open, but I also realize some things are worth the money. It is always the balance of wallet vs quality.

Until next time, 

Shelly

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to our blog!

This is the place where you can see what Emily and I are up to on the trail. For now you can see how we are preparing.

Feel free to check out our pages about us, our gear, our food, and how you can join us!

We have spent months skyping, texting, and calling trying to plan what we have so far. We still have a ways to go, but things are coming together. The gear is coming in, the plans are being set, and it is becoming more and more real.

The next step. Learning how to blog. Like everything else it will take time to get perfect, but we hope this blog will serve as a way for you to walk with us. We also hope this blog will be a great piece for reflection at the end of this journey.

We look forward to you joining us on this adventure!

- E & S