The Appalachian Trail

The longest marked foot path in the world. And people from all over the globe come to take the challenge of a ‘Thru HIke’,  The Thru hiker is a person who hikes the entire 2176-2200 miles in one season. Hikers start in the South, at Springer Mountain as early as Feb/Mar. It normally takes 6 months for a thru hike.  We unfortunately could not make it in one season. We did it over a period of a few years. The most we hiked in a summer was 925 miles.

(This is Cricket, a sweetie. She solo hiked 2080 miles to here, she is starting the 100 mile wilderness, we gave her a ride from a hostel to the trail head)

It is an experience. You meet people who have dedicated their lives to keeping the trail clear of dead falls and erosion.

People of all ages hike. I think we met folks from at least 8 countries.

 

(The Wanderer)

Tradition is to pick a trail name or someone will give you one. WE called our selves the Overland Hermits. We met Lady Godiva, Sir John, Papa Smurf, Tin Man, Locomotive, Tank, Gordie, Just Ray & Willy, ‘In-tents’ and Boats. I had a list of everyone we met. hundreds of names. 2000+ start the trip about 1/3 make it.

Ahhh and there was Mooseburger, the smartest man who ever lived. I could never repeat the tales he told of his escapades. Mooseburger was originally from Germany. One of his tales, if the president needed help, he flew Air Force one to pick him up, so you see why he was ‘the smartest man ever to live.  We met him on different years, in different states but made sure the second year we did not over night with him. (smile) (MB was a nice guy but full of himself)

 

Sir Richard from England.

I misplaced the trail names, but both are solo thru hikers.

This is ‘In-Tents’, not intense he said. He was in Vermont and planned to make it all the way.

These guys look fresh. They are from North Carolina. they flew in to hike the 100 mile wilderness. We gave them a ride to the trail head also.

This is Bill Irwin and his beautiful wife Debra. We had dinner with them in Bangor. Bill is the only Blind person to do a thru hike.    http://billirwin.com/  Before his death last year Bill was an international Motivational Speaker. I ignorantly invited he and Debra out to dinner and they accepted.  What an exceptional man he was.

As a whole, the quality of folks you meet on the trail is exceptional.

Nite Shipslog

PS: TODAY we are volunteering at Son Marks  house in Palm Bay.  It is almost finished and ready to list for sale. I have found a piece of property we might look at. Just saying, and it needs tons of work. Just down my alley.

 

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This looks like another early three wheeler with round doors.  (note the trunk on top)