What do you think?

 Memorable Automobiles from The Past:

 1962 Aston Martin

For today:

There are times it is not wise to be frank with someone. You have heard the short story of the slightly over weight wife who puts on a new dress and turns to ask her husband, “Does this dress make me look fat?” ......... He must weigh his answer.

If you have a boss that you KNOW ‘expects’ a ‘Yes Man’, and you are asked to go over a proposal of his. After reading it you KNOW enacting this proposal at this time, will absolutely NOT WORK, you are put in a very awkward position to say the least.

Concerning my desire to hike the AT.

Some people who know me will say ‘GO FOR IT!’

A few say, remember you are in your 80s now, it MIGHT be time to settle down. (Not wanting to hurt my feelings)

NOTE: Most of us like ‘YES-people’ especially when we have what WE KNOW (THINK) is a great idea.

Others ask, “What would you do if you fall, or worse?”

Note her pack, now you  know how good that water felt!

Since our friends know we have hiked most of the AT have asked: Is it dangerous? Do hikers carry weapons? What about bears?

Dangers:

I have heard the best place to have a heart attack is on the golf course, there is usually a Doctor around. ;-)  Well on the AT many times there is a nurse around (within 30 miles or a day or two) Lots of nurses and some doctors hike the trail.

WE KNOW of a lady who fell and broke her hip. She was in a hospital within 24 hours. Another with frost-bite and the same lady later with a sprained ankle, both times she was in a hospital in less than 24 hours.

Once I found a tick in my privates. I developed the symptoms and worried about ‘Lyme Disease’. I went to an emergency room in N. Adams, Massachusetts and was seen within 3 minutes (that was a shocker I would have waited at least 2 hours down south.) I did not have Lyme.

So medical help is NOT a BIG problem. Usually there is a highway, path, fire road, park road or country road every 10-20 miles EXCEPT the last 100 miles, called the 100 mile wilderness.

About bears: WE saw only 2 bears in nearly 1900 miles. We met one kid in the Smokies who had a tug-of-war with a bear about his pack, he lost but no injuries. He said the bear just drug the pack about 50 feet from him and destroyed it. The bear ate all his food and meds (Ibuprophen etc) then walked off. Other hikers shared their food and He walked to  a main road and replenished.

About weapons, I have never 'known' a hiker with a fire arm. No one wants the extra 2 pounds or so. Some carry ‘pepper spray’ and MOST have a knife of some kind.

About me ‘n the 2190 mile hike on the AT. I have very little worry about my safety, it is my physical stamina.

Shipslog

PS:  My last experiment has my pack down to less than 25 pounds. I HOPE to make it lighter. (I can always hope!)