Oregon
Plans for my little trip up north are going very smoothly. My mom, a second grade teacher, is on Summer break and will be driving me to Crater Lake, Oregon on Wednesday, Aug. 6th. I'll arrive late that evening and meet up with Adam who is now aprox. 2 weeks ahead of schedule. He broke his daily record of miles walked, up to 35 miles! He amazes me. And because of the fires, a friend he's met on the trail from England and himself resorted to hitchiking around the flames. Last we spoke was a couple days ago. The two of them were staying with a couple that opens their home to passerbys and hikers to eat, shower, use the phone, etc. Unfortunetly, he wasn't able to retrieve two packages of food he'd mailed out to himself because they were in areas affected by the fires, so he's been trying to get them sent back to Arizona with little to no luck. He'd gained quite a bit of weight in preparation for the trip (the heaviest he's been in over ten years!) and has now dropped down to 140 lbs... mind you, he's nearly 6 ft. tall. So he's needing to bulk up, and I pray he can get some meat on him for those days of walking that he doesn't have much food. Yesterday I received in the mail a package from him consisting of: one sleeping bag (a 300 dollar down to keep me warm in the possible snow), 3 pair of trail socks, a vile of liquid soap, and a note of tips on how to pack and what to bring. What I REALLY need is a Northface sweater/jacket, and pair of high quality hiking boots, preferably Keens, which will put me back quite a bit money wise (the trip ultimately will cost very little, but it's the closing of the cafe for a 7 day period that really worries me), so if ANYONE can help by donating any amount of money whatsoever I will be FOREVER grateful, REALLY! ANY bit helps, and I promise to return the favour in any way I can. Even if you just come in to buy some coffee, it'll go towards paying the bills and put my nerves at ease, making the trip much more peaceful and less stressful. If any of you are in a comfortable place, financially, I'd LOVE to have a couple material items on my list purchased for me even. As I mentioned before, the jacket and shoes are a must. I'll be wearing the same clothes for aprox. a weeks time. I don't think I'll be walking any more than 60 miles or so, but that's all up to the conditions of the trail, and my physical abilities. What we don't walk, we'll be hitchiking or catching the greyhound. At the end of our mini-journey, Adams father will be picking us up from Prescott, AZ somewhere either in Oregon or Northern California. Aside from worrying about the cafe being closed for so long, I'm SO ready for this! It's due time I had myself a little outdoor fun, and no better person to do it with than my boyfriend, Adam.
I also talked to my mom about moving. I'm hoping to sell the cafe for a good chunk of money, giving everything but 10k to her, and using that to get my life started in Arizona some time next year. Nervous as hell, but it's due time I leave this area and experience some new things elsewhere. I don't plan on being there forever... I love the central coast! But I love Adam even more; we'll find our place, somewhere. For now... I'm enjoying my place here as much as possible (though at times, difficult). It'll just be nice to be living with him again.
I also talked to my mom about moving. I'm hoping to sell the cafe for a good chunk of money, giving everything but 10k to her, and using that to get my life started in Arizona some time next year. Nervous as hell, but it's due time I leave this area and experience some new things elsewhere. I don't plan on being there forever... I love the central coast! But I love Adam even more; we'll find our place, somewhere. For now... I'm enjoying my place here as much as possible (though at times, difficult). It'll just be nice to be living with him again.