It was June last year when I first read about the Appalachian Trail. There was a holiday review in the paper about a two week section hike of this huge trail in America and at first I was intrigued then interested and finally hooked! Now anyone who knows me knows that two week holidays aren't my thing. I haven't been on a proper holiday in a long long time and so therefore I wasn't really interested in the two week aspect of it, once I knew what it was all about I wanted to do the whole thing!
Over the next few months I started researching the trail; reading articles, watching YouTube videos and generally gaining as much information as I could. I didn't tell anyone properly until October, it was exciting to think about but really still a dream, it was hard to even imagine the enormity of it all. Once id started telling people, I carried on researching and waited for the flaw in my plan to become evident but strangely it didn't appear and come December I started the on line application for a US visa. An Esta allows 3 month travel but because the trail was 2189 miles long and would take between 5 and 7 months I obviously needed longer so a B2 visa was needed. The form took ages to fill in and there were many parts I had no answers to but my sister helped me and I completed as much as I could and set an interview date for January 19.
Over the Christmas period I put it on the backseat a bit, I was a bit concerned about whether I'd qualify for a visa so I thought I would wait until after the interview before going any further although I did get a few trail related presents; a new watch, a Swiss Army knife (which has been invaluable) and a first aid kit (which thankfully so far hasn't been needed) and a new camera.
By the time Jan 19 came round I had read up so much about the interview process that I had convinced myself they were never going to give me the visa I needed, that's the pessimist in me! I travelled to London by train arriving at Kings Cross two and a half hours before my interview so decided to walk to the Embassy (I mean walking was what it was all about, wasn't it?!). When I finally arrived there, still nearly an hour early, the queue outside must have been 250 people so I registered and thankfully they didn't turn me away and joined the queue. One hour later I was being ushered through security and made my way to reception where I was given a number and then had to wait in a huge room and watch this big screen for your number and which window you had to go to! That initial call was a few basic questions and then you had to sit and wait to be called again. Finally, nearly three hours after I'd started to queue my second call came, again you were called to a window and the guy asked me why I wanted to travel to America so I told him and he said 'a couple of my buddies are doing that this year, you might see them'; at that point I realised I'd been worrying about nothing! A couple of questions later and he informed me my application was successful and enjoy my visit to the States! I was gobsmacked, I couldn't believe I'd been worrying so much, job done, visa secured. Now there really was nothing stopping me!!
In between work over the next couple of months I researched and bought lots of equipment including a bio lite stove which runs on twigs only and does work very well as a phone charger aswell but unfortunately is a bit heavy! I'm sticking with it though, in getting used to the weight in my bag. I also purchased a hammock and tarp from DD Hammocks, I'd made the bold decision to not go with a tent (varying degrees of success and failure as you've already read) and I'm still not sure it was the right decision but the new under quilt I have bought could save the day. Hopefully.
Other bits and bobs were attained but I couldn't decide whether to get a new backpack or stick with the trusty old thing which I'd had for years and had served me well in South Africa. So on February 10 i caught the train to Nottingham to check out a few camping stores and see what they had to offer. To be honest that part of the day was a complete failure as they didn't have what I was after so I came back empty handed. However, I'd been looking at flights online for a while but because I wanted to fly into Atlanta and fly out from up north I hadn't found anything suitable and my neighbours daughter told me to try Trailfinders who also had a store in Nottingham. I went in with the sole intention of just enquiring but after half an hour I came out of the place with a flight booked for March 22! I'd done it, the final big part of the plan was complete, £705 spent on an open return and I was on my way to America for the first time in my life!!
I then registered with the AT Conservancy to start the approach trail on March 24 and they sent me my Thru Hiker hangtag. After yet more online research I decided to get a new backpack and ordered an Osprey Atmos 65 which I have been very pleased with. Even now a month into the adventure I'm still learning things about my purchase. Some might say it's too big but I'm happy with it and that's the main thing. I then confirmed with my employer my plans, handed my notice in and the rest you know if you've been reading my blog.
So there it is, the story of how I came to be walking through the Appalachian mountains. I hope that's answered any questions you might have had about why I'm here doing what I'm doing. Some might say it's a mid life crisis, I would prefer to call it one last hurrah before I'm too old to enjoy such a trip but having met many people who are much older than me doing the same thing who knows??
What I would say is that so far it's been hard work, probably one of the hardest physical things I've done in my life, however also one of the most enjoyable and rewarding and I'm so pleased I read about the Appalachian Trail when I did. And if any one of you reading this fancy a life change, be it a new job, a long holiday or something completely different don't be scared, be brave, go for it, you only live once, believe me you won't regret it. I don't.
007
Licensed to Hike!
Great reading mate.keep us updated
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