When Alan and I began using the alphabet to set the course for our adventures, I wanted a way to keep track of which letters we had already used. We decided to begin each date by photographing ourselves while holding the current letter. I made a set of signs by attaching vinyl stencils to colorful poster board. We keep the full set of letters in a large zip lock baggie, in my car. This way, they are ready to detour at all times, to any place that we decide to discover. Eventually I will decorate these signs a little more, but I wanted something simple to get started. I am thinking as we complete an adventure, we will sign them with the location and/or activity that we did and the date.
The fun part about using the letters is that people often ask us why we are holding them up. By nature, Alan is an introvert and fairly quiet. As he shares his passion for our travels and our relationship with others, I have watched him change. I am always surprised by peoples interest. Both young and older people approach us, married or single. Once people catch on to our antics, they often offer additional ideas for the area that we are exploring! In turn, if we find other traveler’s along the way, we have been able to offer suggestions for great places to explore.
What other ways could you think of to document the letter you are currently working on?