While ending our trip is a little bittersweet, we both still feel like it’s the right thing to do at the right time. John is itching to get back to his engineering projects and I’m ready to have a stable location and an income.
After combing the country for a year, we decided that we want to move to Chattanooga, TN. It’s an up-and-coming young tech town with affordable housing and an accessible city center. Plus, it’s one of the best places in the country for climbers, with climbing areas like Obed, Red River Gorge, T-Wall, Foster Falls, and Sunset Rock nearby.
We decided we eventually want to build our own house, and seriously considered buying this property in Southwest Chattanooga. Maybe after we live there for a while…
Trying to rejoin the real world, however, has proven somewhat difficult in the area of credit. Turns out people are reluctant to rent a property to you or give you a loan if your current income is $0/month. As a result, it took some finagling before the Toyota dealership would give me a loan.
Which leads me to my latest big change… I bought a new car! I had been eyeing sporty hatchbacks, such as the Prius C and the Honda Fit, but neither is available in manual. In the end, I came across the beautiful – and completely underrated – Scion iM and fell in love.
My new baby 🙂
At this point, we are back in Austin for a few weeks while we get our stuff, say our goodbyes, and wrap up loose ends. Then, it’s goodbye Austin and hello Chattanooga!
On our way back to Austin, we stopped at the only climbing area in the state of Mississippi, where John climbed this epic roof crack.
So many loose ends!
You guys went on a climbing trip around the country, and didn’t even make it to Yosemite?!
Does this mean this is the end of the blog?
Most importantly, what will come of Ludwig?!
I know! We had so many plans to hit up the west coast, but it just felt like the right time to stop.
I’ll keep updating the blog on occasion, like some reflective thoughts and maybe a forum to document the building of our house if we end up doing that. Although maybe I would have to rename it the Un-wayward Climbers or something…
As for Ludwig, we were initially planning to sell him, but we are far too attached now. We’re planning on keeping the van for weekend trips to all the many climbing areas near Chattanooga.
Yay! Congrats on your beautiful shiny red hatchback and in picking a place to live! Will def come to visit! : ) miss you a lot.
Hi Lauren! Congrats on your new car, your new life, and your new move to TN! Glad to see you are so happy:)
Congrats! Glad you are well supplied to start the next adventure. And I <3 Chattanooga too. Seems like a fantastic and fun next step!
Thanks for the update!! Alaska is incredible! You should add Mt. Denali to your climbing bucket list….. Tom
Congrats! Chatt is awesome!!
I noticed you left out my second favorite bouldering area which happens to be right outside of Chattanooga: Little Rock City! Please tell me you got a little bouldering in while you were there? 🙂
Like HP40, it’s sandstone but it’s got more than just slopers. It’s amazing and is technically located on (and owned by?) a golf course. If you haven’t been, you need to go! Lots of boulders, in every grade.
http://www.outdoorchattanooga.com/land/the-stone-fort-little-rock-city-bouldering
https://www.mountainproject.com/v/stone-fort-aka-little-rock-city/106031921
AND… you’re 1.5-2 hours from HP40. So jealous!!!
Yes! If you ever want to climb at either of them, I am always game! There is soon much climbing near Chatt.