A couple of years ago while we were on holiday in San Antonio, Matthew read Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods. He really enjoyed it, so Stephanie and I read it and then Matthew and I half-heartedly made plans to "do that some day". It was the kind of statement you make while lying on a beach chair in the sun reading, while wistfully thinking about how cool that would be. Hmmmm... Amazingly, that day will arrive on March 27, 2013. Now, I realize that this is the kind of "some day" that most people will never have the luxury to find. I am (we are) incredibly lucky to have a chance to do this. Our benefactor - my generous wife Stephanie, is supporting us on this journey. She's staying home with Samantha and working, while Matthew and I wander in the woods for half a year. I am the luckiest guy alive and am continually amazed that she puts up with me. Her only condition: If we start it, we have to finish it - all 2160-ish miles of it. I owe her the world.


We're committed. We have been buying equipment, walked some short (10-12 mile) segments of the AT in New York to see what it looks like, and we have our one-way airline tickets to Atlanta. Stephanie and Samantha will be flying down with us to drop us off at the starting point on Springer Mountain near Atlanta, Georgia and they plan to meet up with us a couple of times on the journey when we are near civilization - once again, supporting us all the way. Have I told you how lucky we are?


I am planning to keep track of where we are on this blog using BlogPress and GPS Location. Between these two apps, I'll be able to save drafts of posts with photos and our position even when we're off the cell network. This will allow anyone to see where we are and what we're doing (at least after I get back near enough to civilization and cell service to post the drafts). Ideally these updates will be daily; it will probably be more like weekly. I guess I'll find out how connected one can be from the wilderness. As I write this in February, it's less than six weeks until we're out there.


The first two posts are just a couple of tests from the AT in early January to try out the software. While doing this, I discovered that BlogPress fails to find your location when you are not on the cell network, so I'll be using the GPS Location app to add coordinates to the posts.


Here's a link to the current weather all along the trail.




Monday, July 15, 2013

Home for the Weekend

July 12-14

Steve picked us up Friday afternoon on a trail crossing about 35 miles from our home and took us home for the weekend. Soooo good to see her again. She then took us back to the trail Monday morning.

Neighbor's comment Saturday: "You know, Keith, you really should shave that beard. It makes you look so old." He's right. It scares me when I see myself in a mirror.

Matthew and I went to an old school barber shop for haircuts and were both asked several times by the barbers if they could at least trim our beards. They do look bad. We only got haircuts. We promised to return in September for haircuts and shaves.



Location:Bronxville, NY
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4 comments:

Unknown said...

NEW FLASH BEWARE
WILD MEN LOOSE IN NEW YORK

July 16, 2013 at 3:12 AM
The English Fells said...

So impressed you guys are still going. Don't let the anti-beard fascists get you down, you can shave it off in time for Movember! Maybe see you later in the year. good luck! Rob

July 16, 2013 at 6:04 PM
jschuchardt said...

Keep 'em: the beards will make it tougher for the black flies (Maine's state bird) to feast on your faces in another month or so. ;-> Jon S.

July 17, 2013 at 2:14 PM
Sam said...

I am impressed that you made it back to the trail after a weekend at home! I am sure the temptation to stay home was more than enticing, especially with this week of intense heat. You guys are doing great! Hang in there, I look forward to you Katahdin moment. I agree, keep the beards, the Maine Black flies are nasty! The less they have to bite, the better for you. And beards are the new power play!

July 18, 2013 at 9:26 AM

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