Pain, Trials & Realizations .... Moving Forward on plan

Moving into my new body shell as it changes has been .... interesting.

This morning, I awake to something new .... knee joint discomfort.
Good thing!  I was waiting for this day.  Do I start taking Vitamin "I" or rest as my body acclimates?   The questions begin, lol.

I'm going rest first as pills are 2nd to my last resort. 
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food", I understand.

Which brings me to a very good point in this journey quest, that if only after 2 continuous days of walking on a flat treadmill, for over 10,000 steps each day, (roughly 3.5 miles each day right now), I am slower and in discomfort .... how will I handle the trail as I acclimate to it?  One moment at a time will be my answer - pure joy! :)

I guess I'll find out when I get there.  I'm learning to fly.  Thanks Tom Petty.

*********

Another odd thing appeared twice from two different sources as well yesterday: Death on the Trail.
Apparently, a man (trail name: Open Mike) passed away on the trail in 2011.  I first read of it as I finished up the book: "Appalachian Trials" by Zach Davis, and I'll say that I did not see that coming.

Later in the day, I then read of others named Mike, that also passed on the trail in the past 6 days and in the past few years.
I'm glad my given name is Pete.  Nick Named: Zak
Trail blessed: Kindle  - as I like fires from spark to blaze.
(for the record, I was Kindle {circa: 2004} before Amazon used it for books which was Nov 19, 2007 for their Kindle launch)  Reason I know: 11/19 is my younger  brothers birthday - it stuck out from memory and I dealt with A LOT of hiker trash talk about me being electronics in the woods (especially when I did not carry electronics in the woods).  Hikers are odd for sure, I am one too.

Thanks to the trash talk, McGuinness was added to my hiking handle to cause a pause in others thinking.  To date, it has worked.

I added: McGuinness for the love of beer and the possibility of wearing a Kilt, hiking as a Highlander - Go Radford Rowdy Red! lol.

Back to death by hiking:
I was not searching for it, I was looking for "under ware" brands preferred by male hikers, not death.  I guess that is the ultimate in pain relief, none.  In each of the 3 "Mike" A.T. Death cases, seems they miscalculated a move and it was their last. Happens.

So, it opened up my mind to consider that my affairs best be in order before I begin my April 2020 trek.  I found my guide:
"I'm Dead, Now What?" by Peter Pauper Press.

Now this is not the first time I've had to consider myself deceased and then work the time line backwards to my present life to construct my last wishes.   I think I've mentioned that I'm former Navy.  Being dead first in order to perform under extreme pressures for the ship in battle conditions was a thought process I've taken myself thru before.  Ain't Skeered.  Just a responsibility I need to uphold myself to by being accountable for myself to and thru the end. Shit happens then we all end up dead eventually.  Just a fact.

********

Then comes today. 
I wake in pain .... nothing new, just a new normal day!  :)

Communication has begun with some in my life who are encouraging me to do this hike, FINALLY!  I think they were tired of my Springer Fever moments each year for the past 2 dozen.

I found my library saved: Seems, when I have a notion for a future event in my life, (aka: a Dream), I collect data to signify the time spent thinking thru the event, long before it happens.

Well, It appears that the last time I was getting Springer Fever, was between 2004 and 2009.  Yep, 5 years I mentioned I was going to do the trail ..... life got in the way.  I was as close as I could be back then.  Meeting the rock stars: Baltimore Jack on Fathers Day 2006 at Angels Rest in Pearisburg Virginia, (R.I.P. dude). Then there was Trail Daze: A.W.O.L. , Lion King, What?, Persistent and Certain to name a few. Trail pros in my eyes.

I was still too far from hiking as I still needed to eat and pay bills back then.  Working for a University Library, I was reading everything I could find and I also picked up some materials (Books, Mags, DVD's, etc) to review to keep me close to my dream.
I also did several hikes to McAfee Knob including the day I met a 76 yo man (On his Birthday) who's father bulldosed the initial path to that outcropping.  Seen the pictures of the Model T ford on the Knob and the bulldozer ON the knob as well.   He was a HOOT! 
I know I have the pictures of the day on a stored drive somewhere.
Memories.   I know I can do this.

Last but not least: I figured out how the beautiful Yellow Book, Appalachian Trials entered my life.
Final page: Printed in Lexington, KY (02 March 2014)

I was working for Amazon Fulfillment in Lexington.
I was J.O.B. at the time (Just Over Broke) and still very much disabled.  I know that "Picking and Stowing" kicked my ass.
Keeping up with their insane "quotas" had me working overtime in the Book Printing area of the facility to make up time by placing newly printed books on the shelves for pickup.
Most all of the books were print on demand, so they were sold before I could place them to be picked up for packaging.
I must have been thinking "March 4th!" and had Springer Fever for Zach Davis' book would have caught my eyes as I most likely had to place several copies on the shelves in various cubbies.  I would write down the titles of books that interested me and then later I would purchase those titles from home, usually to arrive the next day. 

Yeah, working within the belly of the A-Z beast was a great LAST employment job.  The speed was not difficult, the recovery was.
Night shift also ages one quicker I believe.  Body clock gets all wonked.

Anyhoo .... enough of that.  I'm planning a life time "Epic Shit" Adventure!   ESA .... hmmm.  EEEE Sah!  Needs refining. :)

*********

I'm monitoring my health closely as I've begun training for this ESA. My son Zack purchased BioStraps for Penny Grateful and I.

It's a Sleep Tracker and Health & Activity troubleshooter.
Hacking my body to see where I need to adjust its Biometrics.  lol

Moving Forward.

~ Kindle




 

Waking up, feeling a little bit different.... same pain, different 'tude.

It was pleasant waking up to a gentle rainfall outside.  We've been in a drought as of late and are presently in a Burn Ban until December. 

Don't want the Daniel Boone National Forest to burn more than it has in the RRG (Red River Gorge) which is a few miles down the country road from us.

Life seems a bit different now that I have set a date to start the trail and picked a starting point.
Logistics are what I am going thru right now so that I can collectively create a "wish list" of items needed for this journey.  Timing of costs is my next concern for it is the exact concern of my wife's.

I've been handling the budget and such as we've both been labeled disabled. 
Cash is a concern as it should be for her.  Dr's still are a part of our lives but Insurance is limited.
We both are doing our best to work with the bodies we have and the Ins. systems as it changes.

Disability:
Unable to do what we used to for the labor force. Out of place on this mountainside where we recover or continue as is.  In a way it is freedom ..... in another way, a cage.  We just keep moving forward.

Her's from Cancer and mine from a physically hard life to date.  Arthritic spine that snap, crackles and pops, and for many years I thought the sound was coming from my cereal bowl, lol.

Anyway, I'll be back to crunching the data on my screen to formulate a guess-ta-mate plan for this journey.  I understand that it cannot be too rigid but it has to hold some structure for my sanity.
I'm a technician ..... I have to have some edge of my unknown to believe in.  Base line, so to say.

HMOH and truly enjoy it, including this line for line data entry for myself.

Possibly, some day it will matter to me to re-read it all.

Keeping it simple, keeping it positive and I will keep moving forward, always forward.

Kindle

Appalachian trials..... I have a date and starting place :)

Today was an emotional roller coaster day ..... glad I had it.

Without getting deep into details, I love my wife Annette more than I love myself.  Our discussions about this crazy excursion proved how much she loves me.... it came thru her chemo brain, unfiltered words.   Some words hurt deeply and others enraged me.... I need to walk a long distance to figure out why I need to walk a long distance.

I love you Babe.... I'm thankful you deal with me straight and have a "NO BULLSHIT" rule that I can support.

*********

I had a normal pain day....numb arms, left leg today and a deep lower back issue.  Pain makes me behave more like an asshole than I can seem to control.  One of the reasons I care to hike the A.T.

Later in the day, I was better counseled by the book "appalachian trials" by Zach Davis.

The book cover explains that it is: "a psychological and emotional guide to successfully thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail."

Doing the exercises and being honest with myself about the tougher questions I need answered.   

"Seems that the best strategy to stave off separation anxiety is to do your best damn job to enjoy the trail as much as possible - your ultimate goal anyway."   pg 47

Enjoy the trail as much as possible .... Ok. 
Right now, I'm enjoying the process.  The day was going to arrive where I started to dissect the data to produce an accurate plan so that I can begin to compute costs of how I desire to enjoy the trail.

Well, the process began on Saturday, October 19th, 2019 when I was given the OK to hike by my best friend, wife and life partner in sauntering.... I would be sauntering alone if I was to do it at all.

My son and daughter understand that I should not go though existence with the final thought that I did not attempt to accomplish a dream.   If you have read my journal this far, you might have caught on that I'm a dreamer.  Many of my dreams have materialized and I am a firm believer that many more will continue to materialize for me.  I'm good at it and I work at it.

That A. T. "Seed" was a thought delivered to me by EM1 Scott Ensell while we both served on the USS KittyHawk.   (circa: 1987)

A resurgence of this seed appeared when I worked an 11 year stint for Radford University, McConnell Library.  The trail runs near this quaint hamlet and the Library I served had maps for about 300 miles of the "Virginia Blues".

Feeling that that was the time I should section hike, I did just that.
Starting with Campbell Shelter and the Pig Farm Campsite, McAfee knob drew me in deeper into considering a long term hike.

30 mile stretch from Dragons Tooth to Daleville, VA has felt my feet trod on it's surfaces and body did drink from it's springs.
Lightning dancing on ridges, downpours and deluges - drought and trail magic .... I got a taste.  It was all good.

A few Trail Daze Events in Damascus, VA had me win a few prizes from Backpacker magazine.  (Day backpack, Italian custom hiking shoes and widgets are the most memorable - all have been replaced).
I got to meet some of the Trail Journals hiking rock stars of the times too.   All of these memories get me to this day in 2019, 19 years after I started that job for the Library, still no more accomplished a hiker than those days.   Most of my gear needs updating.....if I would have not noticed, 19 years brings with it major advances in technology and weight / costs too.
I like my opportunities to walk in 2020 with a ultra light or hopefully hyper light setup.

But if nothing was to change but my personal body weight, I do believe I will never have to carry my fat ass up a hill heavier with a full pack than my personal body weight is today without one.

I can only believe.

*****
The plan:   Starting on Saturday, April 18th, 2020, I will leave the A.T. Train Stop and begin walking South to Roanoke, VA.

I placed it online and in my being. 
As Jean Luc Piccard would say..... "Make it so." 

Leg 1 of my Triple Frog, Cool Breeze Itinerary. NY to VA.

Leg 2 will see me at the very same starting point in NY going North to Maine and the final frog leg will be from Roanoke to Georgia before my 60th birthday and the 2020 Presidential Election.

Continuing a daily blog: so far so good.
Just registered my hike with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
Here's the link: https://atcamp.org/index.cfm

Much to do, much to consider, much to allow.
Moving forward, always forward.

Kindle McG, and happy is he.  :)

Trail Journals has a new writer:  Me.

So, What's Changed? Everything.......

If you have virgin eyes, my blog might not be suitable for you...
Just saying.

I came to the realization earlier this month that age 60 will eventually get to my time line continuum.
Just like my vector lines on my trading screen, price (life) will meet time and visa versa. So will I meet time, time and time again.   

I trust we all agree that time is relative.  So then, the same can be held for age.  For that: "Shift" needs to Happen.

I purchased a SOBO AT guide in PDF form recently from A.W.O.L.
I had personally asked him for one at a Trail Days many moon ago.... back then, PDF's were new and non-developed.   Time had to pass for my request and I'm thankful for David's efforts and skill in producing an AWESOME guide product.

Now that I have that PDF, I've begun the arduous task of parsing & using the data, line for line, for my SOBO, NOBO, SOBO Cool Breeze itinerary.  Reading it as I create my journey on paper, or should I correctly state, on screen right now. I'm giddy with excitement to begin and continue.

So with bandwidth provided by WiFi hotspots (4 of them) via 3 different carriers, channeled thru a Linux Pi-Hole, I now can research and comment more frequently.  Thank you Zack for making this a reality for me.   Awesome network you made.
Stronger than A-Z or the Gov, (which I'm told are the same, lol). Thank you as well for allowing me to interject from time to time with it's construction.  You, my son, ARE a Genius.... and a great White Hat. :) 
(& might I add, "gloating", you did it without a degree - just by reading the books and applying the knowledge.  Skills rule!) 

Soapbox moment:
Diploma's yellow like the piss poor performance of many that do not know HOW to learn. 
Knowledge is not powerful, Applied Knowledge is.
I'm done with this for now... It might pop up again.  Fair warning.

Health? I'm disabled and sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Two months now, I've done crunches and gravity leg lifts to construct my core area.  I call it my: Morning Mat Work before my coffee each day.  I needed a prize to perform and coffee worked.
Having a stronger core has allowed for my hips and pelvic area to allow for longer walks on my very level treadmill that I use.

As the winter winds appear, I have a stepper and an rower to use too for cardio.  Building slowly to losing the pack weight before I purchase anything for this trek.  I already understand that the only way to prep for hiking is to hike.  I have a 22 acre mountain behind the house here to practice in the spring when it's slippery.
My April 15th start date should give me a good month to practice here and down the road in the Daniel Boone Forest on trails to get my trail dancing feet and legs ready for the adventure.

So now, gravity helps align my arthritic spine each morning before coffee.  I'm not pain free at all.  Pain is normal and constant most days, so either I live with it or I let it rule.  It will not rule.
I can thank the "Welcome to Marwen" Movie for that.

Money?  It will need to materialize as well.  I should be able to fund my trek as I walk each month with FX trading and my monthly stipend, but it's the upfront costs that will be a titch problematic up until April 15th.   I'll chart that out soon to perform this with the frugal pocketbook & budget that I have.

Today, I'm resting from my Friday and Saturday walks, crunches and yard cardio.....the leaves are clogging the ditch and rain is forecast to arrive.....finally. 

I'm also going to commit to write on this blog to craft my skill and structure my voice in text.  I have a USN language. 
Fuck is a descriptive word in my past vocations, and I use it.
I was a technician:  Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, Network, Telephone, Voicemail ..... I've heard and shared many descriptive words along my paths.
I'm starting with freedom of speech and with that comes the responsibility and accountability to myself and my readers.
Each can place their own meanings to those words the same as I.
Change the channel if you care.  I will grow forward.

As I move forward, I will work on toning down my use of the vulgar (as society has claimed I do) to possibly produce a book from this rambling I am laying out on this screen for Google to store.  If you are following still, hopefully you will notice the change. 

As a Car Plate front plate shared recently: "EXCUSE ME! I was not aware that it was my responsibility for YOUR JOY today."

Enjoy the day, I'll do my best to do the same.

OK to hike the Appalachian "Trials"

As I've mentioned before, quite a while back.... I've hiked the ENTIRE width of the Appalachian Trail! :)

Well, today (October 19, 2019) I was given the OK by my cancer recovering hiking partner to go for my dream.  Hike the Appalachian Trail in 3 (three) 700+ mile sections called the Cool Breeze.
She will support me from home, where ever that happens to be when I attempt my goal.
It comes to reason, the radiation has had it's toll on her hip and until it is replaced, hiking is out of the question especially when walking is sometimes an issue.  Especially down hill.

So, starting from here with nothing but knowledge, skill and a few books to re-read, I begin.
To the Trail lives.  I trust that soon it will become: On the Trail and then After the Trail for a bit.

After I was given the verbal support I needed from Penny Grateful, I opened up two books:
my Author Autographed version of "Living a Dream" by Paralee Dawson and "Appalachian Trials" by Zach Davis.
Paralee reminded me that she too has a bad spine and started at an older age (I'm 59 in a few days) and Zach reminded me that I needed a "WHY" for the times I might (and most likely will) want to quit.

So, I got on the treadmill this Saturday to think of my "WHY" and I walked for and hour.  Flat, slight incline with numb arms and legs from my very restless night sleeping.  Yee Haw!   Just another "New Normal" day.  :)

I started out with performing Zach's request on page 29: Commit responses to writing. Do it NOW!
He was serious.  No Bullshit and not kidding.  So I obliged.  Eye opening for sure.

I'm also being encouraged by Zach to blog every day.  Since I have started this blog for the reason, it's time I add to it monthly, weekly or daily..... (not every six months to a year) we shall see.

What did I come up with for reasons to hike the AT?  Of the 24 I wrote down while walking, here are a few that shine for me.....

• I want to (not have to)
• The dream "seed" was planted while I was stationed on the USS KittyHawk in overhaul in Philly by the 1st Class Electrician I was replacing - Scott's dream to forget the Shitty Kitty.  I too desire to forget not only the Kitty but also many other 11 yr, 2 month and 4 days of my USN service to our country,  (1978-1990)  Wow, 32 years goes by quick when life takes over.
• I desire the challenges even with my disabled body.
• Accomplishing this goal will be something to smile about.
• My Body's Aching and My time is at hand.....walk on down a country road like my childhood.
• Hot Air for a Cool Breeze......did you exchange a walk on part in a war for a lead roll in a cage?
• The Journey.

Thank you A.W.O.L. for selling me the PDF that I desired to create (back in @ 2003) for this journey. Your work will make mine so much easier now.

As time had it, I gave away most ALL of my gear to a young teen who needed time with his Mom in the woods to break from the craziness called life in Kentucky.  His Mom, former Army, enjoyed the equipment as well.  3 hammocks, tarps, packs and odds and ends to make their weekend trips enjoyable and safer in the Daniel Boone National Forest which surrounds us here.

The power of NOW is that I begin with MAJOR changes in technology and gear that is lighter for my saunter in the woods.   I'm 208# as of yesterday.... still 50+ pounds over what I desire to be and that encourages me to know I will loose my pack weight.  I "SHOULD" never be this heavy with a full pack EVER.   But if I am, my frame can get me along if need be.  I am sure of it.

GOAL:  

Starting on April 15th 2020 and finishing before Election Day 2020: Thru-Hike the AT in 3 sections.
I'll begin sorting out my itinerary soon.....If possible, I will finish on my 60th Birthday.

Writing it down sure adds a little pressure I was not expecting.  I should do it before life takes me to the West Coast to retire on a weed farm, not a farm of weeds. lol

Let's see what tomorrow brings.  

Keep it simple, keep it positive and keep moving forward, always forward.

~ Kindle

Long overdue thanks

I've begun the process of getting my affairs in order.  The long story short of it is that "I" need to deal with my shit before someone else is forced to toss it all away.
Many dreams have materialized and now only a few that I care to hold onto remain.

I understand that those in Norway and Sweden have it as a life time task, when age 50 or so, get your affairs in order.  Seems logical and common sense.

It started with a humorous book entitled: "I'M DEAD. NOW WHAT?  Important information about My Belongings, Business Affairs, and Wishes."

Accounts are updated, machines are updated, phones are updated.....brain, not so much. :)

Now as life is flowing easier from time to time, (2 forward, 1 back kind of frequency), Penny Grateful and I are finding what we love to do together and we go for it.  Her giggles and smiles are priceless.  I get to witness them daily.

So on to the gist of this post:
Thank you, everyone who has helped me along the way.
I trust that I did not burden anyone with my odd ways.

And the best part of getting my affairs in order, you might ask?
By the end of it, a new corporation is in the seed stages.
Travel the world and spread joy and smiles.
Seeing where the trons I trade become the cash that carries us around the world.

Sweet Dreams for sure. :)

So..the month begins like any other... except

Ah, October.
Buddy Orion is in the sky.

....
Well, the above was set in October 2018.  Seems I've been vacant.

Today was a new normal.
Shingles head, ear and jaw pain.
Sores on my arms from either the Shingles or Poison Oak.
Twisted my right knee somehow in my tossing and turning sleep.
A mess but enjoying the day.

It's been a year plus since my neck plunked in place.
Some days it misses that and will give me fitz but all in all, it is what it is.
Much has stayed the same, much has changed as change is the only constant.

Newest dream rocket cast to the universe....travel.
The vehicle to fuel the travel has been created.
Now it's time to heal the body more, get a few more pounds off and get it ready for the rigors of our future adventures! 
Route 66 for a month is the next planning. 
Chicago to L.A. and finishing it off with going to a live show of the Price is Right.
Come back home via Denver and K.C. 
That long of a drive requires a better muscle tone from my frame. 
I've tested it recently and it failed. 
1500 miles and I'm still feeling it 2 weeks later.

Lord knows, my body needs a rest and rebuild.  :)

I'll catch up soon.
Kindle.