For a NEW YEAR

  ONE of A KIND…

 Either of these would be great for boon docking in the Desert!

So for today:

I want to be better and not bitter. I have half-heartedly made New Year’s Resolutions. I do have a goal this year.  I want to Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail (2197miles), there will be some separations, but at least not like me being on a ship in the North Atlantic. LOL. Sherry & I can arrange to see each other during that 6 to 8 months.

Sherry on the AT in Vermont, she was hurting from a strained groin muscle. She had alread thrown her pack down the mountain before she headed down. ;-O

Much depends on completion of a hike like this. It takes determination. There is the chance of accidents, simply a sprained ankle or strained leg muscle can take someone off the trail. Of course weather can be a factor. I have slid my starting date forward a few days but still want to be on the trail before the end of January.

Nimblewill Nomad, right, with Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders, who was 82 when he hiked the AT in 2017. Photo C.M. “The Mayor” Whalen, via Facebook

Grey Beard gave this bit of advice, “Never quit on a bad day!”  I will try to remember that.

I am fairly healthy being 84 this month. At times I think taking 6-8 months out of what life I have left is stupid, but then I think what else am I going to do? I was never a big builder, but 6 months would produce 2 houses. ;-)  BUT I am sure not going to build a house, Sherry won’t let me.  LOL (Plus, last year I finally did not renew my license. ;-).

Many times I have pushed the envelope and succeeded. I won’t mention the times it didn’t work. ;-(

This attempt is more than I have ever taken on, when you consider the age thing.

In the past few years men 81, 82 and 83 have successfully hiked the AT, but the last two men were real hiking enthusiasts. The 82 year man had also canoed the entire Mississippi River. The 83 year old guy had thru hike the AT before. The last time he walked 250 miles to get to the trail, then hiked the 2197 miles on the trail. I have never done anything close to those accomplishments, but I still want to give it a good try.

Above is Professor Gordon, Me, Fred Brannen, and son Mark. Beginning the 100 mile Wilderness, Mark (the youngest), was the only one to complete that hike.

I don’t have a good track record lately. You probably remember a few months ago I planned to backpack 100 miles as a trial run and made it 15 miles.  LOL So I admit, honestly my chances of completing this are small.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Many people laugh at this COVID thing. 'It is only a bad cold or the FLU,' tis said,  But my bout with Covid last year did sap my strength, but my endurance is coming back I think.