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Quote from odd man out: “I found this guide to camping on the TMB. Camping is possible in France, but not anywhere you want, but this site could help you plan. nomadswithapurpose.com/tour-du-mont-blanc-camping/ An advantage of the Italian Refuges in the Dolomites and the huts in Sweden is that they are obligated to accommodate you, even if they are full and you don't have a reservation (but you may get a place on the floor somewhere). ” Better a spot on the floor than a spot in the dungeon. I'm …

I got a free ticket to the Cincy Zoo with my last donation. Plus a $20 gift certificate after two yearly donations and another $40 gift certificate after the 6th yearly donation. With the Reds on a 10-game winning streak, I'd gladly accept tickets to a game.

I may have just fallen into at least a taste of the Tour du Mont Blanc in 2024. My sister lives in Siena Italy. My wife and I decided that we're ready for another visit next year as a 60th birthday present to ourselves. I booked an Airbnb in Siena to coincide with the July 2nd Palio horse race so we can see a running while my sister still lives there. The Airbnb has a few extra beds so I asked my daughter if she'd like to plan a visit. Turns out, she has an entire planning spreadsheet for hiking…

Quote from Trillium: “Walked up to the local pool complex this morning to drop something off to the Aquatics Manager. Staff were working on getting it ready to open this weekend. A duck family, Mama and 7 baby ducklings have taken up residence. Staff had procured new lane lines yesterday and were putting them into the 50 meter. Mama and the babies just hopped over them. Well, one or two of the ducklings had a little trouble and Mom had to give them a boost. Sorry I didn't take a picture but they…

Khakis. Jake, from State Farm

A friend just sent me an update stating that there is no camping between Tanyard Gap and Deep Gap just north of Hot Springs NC due to aggressive bear activity. Tanyard Gap is right at the old highway bridge crossing Route 25 and Deep Gap is just before the Route 70 road crossing in Allen Gap. Glad I made it through these sections before Yogi became smarter than the average bear. Granted, I still have to hike the 2nd half of the Smokies but bear cables are available. Up north, I heard that there'…

Quote from LIhikers: “As of right now we're thinking that doing the C+O and Gap will be our first post retirement adventure. I've ordered the new trail guide but We still don't know if we want to walk or cycle the 333 miles of DC to Pittsburg but are pretty well decided to do it this coming fall. It would be a great way to spent leaf peeping season. ” Just make sure to add the 'h' to Pittsburgh before you get to Point State Park at the end of the GAP. They're pretty sensitive about it. I'll be c…

I had a chance to look back at my hiking mileage summary spreadsheet yesterday and it's been a while since I did anything over 15 miles in a day. Between the Whites and the Smokies, my daily mileage has been in the 10-12 mile range. The last two big days were Hot Springs to Allen Gap and Carvers Gap to Mountain Harbour Hostel. Glad to see this ol' body can still churn out miles when needed. Then again, these three hikes were all day hikes with a cooked meal and a bed at the end of the day. There…

Congrats! Like OMO, I'm in the home stretch and can't wait to take a new position with lousy pay but 365 vacation days.

Quote from jimmyjam: “My wife's health has continued to decline. She has early onset Alzheimer's. It's horrible. She was diagnosed with "white matter disease" in 2009 and officially Alzheimer's in December 2013. I can be a caretaker no longer. I am placing her in Memory Care in a few weeks. It's best for both of us. I will get back to living and hiking and everything else once she is adjusted to her new situation. ” My wife and I (mostly my wife) took care of her father as he struggled with deme…

Quote from LIhikers: “The inside of the covered wagon looks very inviting. ” A mini-split AC / heater, microwave, fridge, USB chargers in the headboard shelf lamps, and towels for the nearby bathhouse. All this and I didn't have to worry about flaming arrows. Glamping at it's finest.

Sunday April 30th My calf and quad muscles were knotted up on the drive home and into Monday. Just to make it interesting, I had a business trip that started on Monday which gave me the opportunity to walk through the Cincinnati and Minneapolis / St. Paul airports as well as the Mall of America. By Tuesday, the knots were almost gone and I could start thinking about the last 10 miles of this section. The plan is to visit my son in Franklin over the July 4th weekend and pick a good day to hike fr…

Saturday April 29th Up at 06:30 to chow down breakfast and load my pack with hydration and snacks. It was a short 25-minute drive up Fontana Dam where Nancy Hoch from the Hike Inn was waiting for me. She shuttled me down to Stecoah Gap so I could take as much time as I wanted to hike back to my vehicle. And what a good decision that was! More on that later. appalachiantrailcafe.net/index…cc9c33817b9b4f68781229650 I hit the trail a few minutes before 08:00. The initial climb out of the gap and up…

Friday April 28th, 2023 With 26 orphan miles left in this section, I promised myself that I would return to western North Carolina and knock them off in two section hikes. This weekend was going to be the harder of the two - the 16.1 miles from Stecoah Gap to Fontana Dam. I worked until 11:00, then made the 6-hour drive to the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge near Stecoah Gap. And now I can say that I have slept in a covered wagon. appalachiantrailcafe.net/index…cc9c33817b9b4f68781229650 appalachiant…

Quote from odd man out: “Quote from Astro: “If around US-81 and Duncannon probably not too far from the AT. ” yes. The AT follows the Ridge at the top of this screenshot. This is where the Susquehanna crosses the mountains. It's one of those ancient rivers in the east. ” I have a book on the history of the Susquehanna River where the author claims that there is evidence that the river originally flowed south to north. I miss the 'ol Susquehanna. I don't miss living next to Three Mile Island.

Quote from StalkingTortoise: “Quote from StalkingTortoise: “My motorcycle club is holding a rally in Stecoah at the end of April so I'm going to head down there and knock off the 15 miles between Stecoah Gap and Fontana Dam. Then I plan on making a slight detour on the way to my son's September wedding in Charlotte and hike the 10 miles from Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Bald. Might end up being a 25-mile year. ” I love it when a plan comes together. Drove down Friday afternoon, enjoyed dinner and …

Gee... I was just there yesterday. They have the area torn up pretty good. Hard to imagine what it will look like when Route 143 is three lanes and the hiker / beast bridge is complete.appalachiantrailcafe.net/index…cc9c33817b9b4f68781229650

Follow your doctor's / physical terrorist's orders and don't rush it. The body will heal if you don't aggravate the injury further. Best wishes for a full recovery. If you want to know what NOT to do, I'd be happy to share how my hiking partner Sox is responding to his ACL / MCL tears. Trying to do too much too quick has set his recovery back. I may be hiking solo in 2023 AND 2024 if he doesn't back off.

Quote from odd man out: “I'll also be in that neighborhood in My. We driving down to Raleigh to see the new grandson for Mothers day. We'll then go to visit "almost" daughter and grandson in Charlotte, and come home via Ashville and Cincinnati. ” Stopping in Cincy or just passing through?

I'd like to visit Everest's Base Camp, but I have no interest in going any further. The Death Zone skeers me!