Ever since I read the book Walk Across America, I wanted to be free and self discovering like Peter Jenkins. Yeah, I know, the image that the book constructed in my mind is more picturesque than what reality would provide me. But it is still nice to dream.
Fast forward to the present, January 2018, 35'ish years later, the itch returned with more urgency.
Throughout the years, my itch for competition was soothed with: Racing mountain bike on some of Wisconsin's most scenic single track; Competing with shooting in the IDPA with a talented group of LE and regular Joe's; Raced my sailboat-Zero Balance on Geneva Lake with the Keelboat club; and dove (literally) into triathlons and had a blast. The last 2 I was blessed to share with my wife!
Withe exception of sailing, I was never destined to be anything more than a middle of the pack finisher. My goals usually involved the competitors near me-catch the person in front of me, stay ahead of the person behind me and/or end with an exciting sprint to the finish line with the person next to me.
With the passing of my dad in 2016, the wisdom that is to come with age became muddled. And nurtured doubt. Questions became more frequent and the answers became more sparse.
But the one thing that the past sporting events had in common was-I had wonderful, happy people near me to keep me pushing. I'm sure the backpacking community is filled with the same type of wonderful people, only on this journey-I will be on my own.
I was afraid to say "I want to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail this summer." If I said this aloud, someone may hear me. If that someone does hears me, it becomes real. And if it becomes real-I may fail. I'm not the person I was before, my body is feeling it's wear.
But here I am. I'm throwing it out and announcing to the world (or anybody that will listen):
"I will hike a section of the Appalachian Trail this summer!"
There it is, I said it!
Let the adventures begin...
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