|
|
|
|
I began my journey with a Northern bound team of seven (see photo 001); there was a Southern bound team of eight as well. In my group, I was the youngest (49 yrs), while my partner was 63 yrs old! I was one of four rookies going north, for a total 67 miles, from Catawba to Roanoke, VA. Actually, this was their second trip along the AT, having participated in a four day stint in Georgia, back in April. Their intention is to continue in spring where they left off. Some of the planned sites include the Shenandoah Valley and Harpers Ferry, so it should be pretty! I did it for the personal challenge and to learn enough to instruct the boys in my son's Boy Scout Troop on what NOT to do! Man! Did I learn some valuable lessons! I also learned about the proper equipment to bring and how to use it, e.g. water filtering devices and camp stoves. Much of the days began at 7:00 or 7:30 am and didn't end until we arrived at the appointed destination, eg. 5 miles, 9 miles or even 13 miles away. The seven days the trip took were long, but once I passed the halfway mark, I knew things would get better. (see attached itinerary). I'm getting into this gradually, with small purchases through Campmor or REI Outlet or whatever anyone wants to give me. Apparently, camping gear can be given away, like exercise equipment. On Sunday, I spent the good part of the day in prayer, singing songs and reflecting on how fortunate I was to be enjoying this great country, supported by the love of my family and my God! I would recommend this to anyone who needs to get away from their rut, take stock on what they have and reassess their priorities in life! Thanks again for the opportunity to share! -Frank |
Send mail to
Webmaster with questions or comments about this web site.
|
