Time is growing short and we've still found little time for serious training...so be it, it was, more or less, expected.

We've spent a bit of time at 'congregate meals', senior centers, and such during the last few weeks of visiting our parents and their haunts. We've become known as the 'kids' who are taking the 'big walk'. When I commented to one of Dad's frineds that I didn't know if this hike would make me feel younger or older, Joe offered to tell me which it would be.

Spending all that time with the previous generation, seeing their ailments and how they cope, and seeing the still lively sense of humor most have has been an interesting combination of sobering and comforting. It's defnintely increased my appreciation of the opportunity to hike the AT and my desire to succeed. I do still think it will be an unplanned physical failure that will be the killer if there is one.

Happy trails to you.....

Poli has asked that I mention that 'poli, poli' means 'slowly, slowly' in Swahili....something we learned while hiking to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, done a few years ago. Repeating this phrase many times enabled us to accept our limitations regarding speed and to make it to the 19,000'+ peak in spite of being one of the last that morning to do so.

We have almost finished visiting friends and family as we travel across country and have not managed to do much training as we Amtrak and drive to different destinations. Still, we are excited to begin what promises to be a life-changing experience...should we give it the full opportunity by sticking with our plans.

Just for some minor boring statistics, I'm currently fluctuating around 225-230 lbs where, in my distant college years I was 165 during the winter and bulked up to 185 while hauling hay. Those numbers stayed fairly consistent until I passed 40 years and slowly crept up to my current size....adding 8-10" to my waist. This, along with my own non-objective feelings about stamina will be the only measure I expect will indicate whether the elusive 'fountain' is anywhere to be found. Hopefully any small smount of wisdom I've accumulated through the years will not be lost along the way as well. Poli has declined to provide any numbers for your perusal.

Thanks for joining us.