The Adventures of Blake and Bridget

We’re officially tired of Prescott. It’s April 14 and it’s snowing. Cold. 40 degree high. We’re just not made for this type of environment. We are moving back to Mississippi at the end of this month, driving back the cars with whatever we can stuff in them. We’ve been selling all our things, though, and we’re down to the last couple big items. We wanted to have a final yard sale this weekend, but, alas, the snow. One last kick toward the door.

But at least we want to go through the door. On the other side is family and friends, and the next step to accomplishing our goal of getting to Nicaragua. The month of May will be spent in Mississippi, visiting. We also want to go to the Mark Twain NF in Missouri, backpack around the Ozark foothills in a special space made of memories. But, moving on:

We were accepted to work the Ropes Course at a Kids’ Summer camp in the Adirondacks. We’ll be there June through mid-August, so we’ll be able to beat most of that Mississippi heat. I can’t wait for this next step, the good moments and the bad. It’ll be a growing experience for everyone involved.

We are going to take the megabus to camp, stopping in Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, NYC, and Albany. We’ll spend a few days in Chicago and NYC, as we have friends to visit and places to explore.

On the way back from the camp we’ll stop in NYC again, Boston, Washington DC, then back to Memphis.
After that it’s only a matter of time before we’re ready to jettison for Nicaragua.

So, before we leave, we’ve been accomplishing those last few things:
We went to Fossil Creek one last time, got to swim. Epically beautiful as always. Our friend and her dog made the trip extra enjoyable. I fell and roughed myself up a little bit, but I swear that magical blue water has healing properties. I’ll miss that place.
A little while back we also went to Sedona with said friend and dog. Crossed the Devil’s Bridge and looked out at the red rocks. Another incredible place that I’m glad I experienced.
Now we’re off to Antelope Canyon, Marble Canyon, and hopefully Zion. The weather here is so unpredictable and right now it’s just plain cold. Marble Canyon is the only place that’s going to be bearable at night. We’ll make it work, whatever happens.

Until then, we’re packing up, I’m learning to drive the stick shift (and getting the hang of it), and mentally preparing ourselves.

Here’s to us taking steps, and making the best of whatever comes next.

So, planning for the Nicaragua trip is 99.9% complete. Now it’s just figuring out what to do beforehand to make some extra cash. We listed all sorts of crap on Craigslist and Amazon: hopefully some will sell. It’s finally yard sale season, so we’ll be getting rid of things left and right.

We have both been applying for different jobs in the area, though I have not been as successful. I still have my odd jobs, though. The best part is that I can maintain my webediting job, even in Nicaragua. We have also begun the application process in a lot of camps across the US. We could tutor ceramics, rock climbing, hiking, whatever. Hopefully we’ll be able to find a place that can accomodate us both.

All in all, the goal is to be in Nicaragua by December, if not before. We are going to leave Prescott by May 01. Hopefully, as stated before, we will be heading to work at a camp, where not only will we be getting paid good money, have free room and board, but we’ll be helping others. Can’t beat that.

If not, our options are limited. We COULD keep living here in Prescott, but the job scene is not so good. We COULD go door to door and essentially beg for a job, which I have done many times before, but we don’t want to. So we won’t. We COULD move back to OB and live there for a little while, and we’d definitely find work there. But OB sucks. We would never go back there if our families weren’t there. Regardless, we won’t stay long.

Best case scenario: We work at a kids camp from May to August or September, then go back to OB for a month to visit family, then jet off to Central America.

Wish us luck.

It is mid January. Blake and I live in Prescott, AZ. We like it here, but we don't want to be here forever. It's too cold during the winter, though it's very nice in the summer. ... [Continue reading this entry]