One clear night in the rugged canyons of north Texas, the concept of Patchwork Canteen began to take shape. Talking around the campfire, it was obvious that Caleb and I shared an exciting urgency to explore the great outdoors. I remember thinking how bizarre it was to feel so perfectly at ease with someone I’d just met, like our souls knew each other before our bodies did. Nearly as soon as that first trip was over, we found ourselves planning a future together. An unspoken bond entwined our hearts, one that promised a life of adventure and a chance to fulfill our dreams. We worked ceaselessly and our evolution continued as we learned and loved. Before long, we were checking off goals that had previously felt like fantasies.
We minimized our belongings to fit in a van and we took off across the lower 48. Those years on the road built resilience and determination within us. I reflect on that time with gratitude and a sincere appreciation for all that we experienced. When our van life suddenly halted due to the second blown engine, we were left in the dirt with nothing to do but look around and figure out what it all meant. We could’ve given it all up in that moment. Pushed this beautiful life, that we had so precariously built, right over the looming edge. Instead we laid on our bellies and looked over it, we stared deep into the abyss of daunting failures and unkept expectations. After our eyes adjusted to the darkness, rolling over revealed a sky full of twinkling stars. Written among them was hope, reminding us that what we wanted for ourselves was more than a dream.
Somehow that led to us walking the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. Trekking across the Appalachian Trail on such a revitalized note, Caleb and I accepted that our journey is far from over. Although every trip must come to an end, for us that only signals the start of another. With over 2,000 miles on our feet, we are still just beginning the walk towards our aspirations.
Without any solid plans of what will come next, we focus our energy on what we can control: creating and sharing our art. We are endlessly humbled and exceedingly grateful to have you along for these adventures.