I start hiking in a short while.  Finishing up lunch with my trail angel, Nick Rathert, at Barrington Brewery.

Planning to do just a few miles to the first shelter tonight.  Tomorrow will be 14+ miles in a heat wave! ☀️

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. – Walt Disney

Today I head back to the AT for another section.  This time it’s Great Barrington, Mass to Deleware Water Gap (236 miles).  Plans to do Maine and New Hampshire this year changed, but then it’s all about being flexible.  Assuming I finish this section (~7/29) I will have completed 750 miles of the AT, 1/3 of the trail. You should see daily posts from me for the rest of July! 🚶🏻

Here’s a watercolor of the east coast countryside to get started.  It’s a Puff Button original.

Walked through the WUSM campus on the way to the Metrolink to get to the airport.

And by the way, I’m done packing.

If you’re not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you’re not a conservative at forty, you have no brain. – Winston Churchill

Took a training hike today in Forest Park with my new ULA pack.  Walked 6+ miles in the heat.  It’s going to take a bit to get my trail legs back, but I still have a few weeks.  I leave for Maine on July 6th!

Time is very slow for those who wait, Very fast for those who are scared, Very long for those who lament, Very short for those who celebrate, But for those who love, time is eternal. – William Shakespeare 

I’m currently sitting under the roof of the tower on the top of Clingmans Dome waiting for a storm to pass.  It’s at 2024 m, that’s 6,640 ft, the highest spot on the AT.

I’m in Eastern Tennessee for a regatta and came out early to day hike. Geez, I need my trail legs back!

I ran into “Pan” a NOBO flip-flopper who did Katahdin to Daleville last summer.  She knew lots of my SOBO friends from VT and Mass.  It was great to bring back memories of old friends.

“A dream is a wish your heart makes.”  Walt Disney

Regatta in Charlotte was cancelled due to weather, so took off to visit my old friend, the Appalachian Trail at Sam’s Gap on the NC/TN border. Unfortunately, it was too late in the day to meet any thru-hikers. Stay warm my friends. It got down below freezing at night. 

 
Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. – Will Rogers.