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[Hound of Ulster]

Hi all, as the title says, I've started to compile a bucket list, but I've only one item on it.

I bought an Audiobook, don't really know why I bought it, but I did. It's called AWOL on the Appalachian Trail.

It blew me away........

I plan to celebrate my 50th Birthday in style......

Ok so I'm 46 now, 27 stone and I'm giving myself 4 years to prepare for this.

I'm going to do the Appalachian Trail. It's a Hike in America for those of you that don't know, it is 2172 miles long and goes from Georgia State to Maine.

It should take between 4-6 months to complete the Thru Trek.

It's a challenge I know, but I need to do this otherwise Ill have kicked the proverbial bucket before I hit 50. 

Hound of Ulster

[Big Dod]

44 myself.

Inca Trail, ending at Machu Picchu, has to be done...

But before that, 12 day paramotoring course at http://www.mahonyaviation.com/paramotoring.html, then buy one of these

Followed by an AFF course at http://www.freefalluniversity.co.uk/beginners-skydiving/accelerated-freefall/ leading to a winfsuit flight..

A friend of mine lives in Lyngen in Norway which just happens to be where all those nuts throw themselves of high things. 
May be time for a long overdue catchup

Come to think of it, a paramotor flight around Machu Picchu would be cool

[Matthew]

Fair play to you hound, that sounds fantastic.

[MG1]

Fair play guys two epic journeys.

[RedLeader]

Great stuff Hound. Everyone needs a goal to look forward to. You'll need lots of hiking training, we'll come along for moral support, any excuse for a trip to the hills

[whoRya]

Early days I know but have you thought much about what you'll do in the intervening years?  Moyle Way/West Highland Way/TGOC/Pennine Way/Coast to Coast etc.?  You could have a whole heap of fun over the next few years, whilst claiming a lot of achievements along the way.

[Rumblebum]

Early days I know but have you thought much about what you'll do in the intervening years?  Moyle Way/West Highland Way/TGOC/Pennine Way/Coast to Coast etc.?  You could have a whole heap of fun over the next few years, whilst claiming a lot of achievements along the way.

TGOC, as soon as Flipmeb reads that hel be sending you a PM to get her booked!

[Wolf_Larson]

That will be amazing !

 Good luck

[whoRya]

Early days I know but have you thought much about what you'll do in the intervening years?  Moyle Way/West Highland Way/TGOC/Pennine Way/Coast to Coast etc.?  You could have a whole heap of fun over the next few years, whilst claiming a lot of achievements along the way.

TGOC, as soon as Flipmeb reads that hel be sending you a PM to get her booked!

"Flipmeb" ?! You are soooo 2011.

[Typo-On]

Lol

[andymcinroy]

Hound,

Be sure to read 'A Walk in the Woods' by Bill Bryson. He mentions the different tactics to use if chased by a bear while on the AT.

For a grizzly bear you must climb a tree while for a black bear you must play dead on the ground. He stresses the importance of getting this the right way around otherwise you may find yourself fighting a bear in a tree.

He also tells of a character known as Grandma Gates who walks the trail in a pair of sneakers. Another poor soul gets so institutionalised on the AT that at the end he simply turns around and starts back down  the 2000miles again (he may well still be on it).

Good luck with your plans. I would dearly love to do this. The advice to get on a few long distance trails over the next few years is very good. I can personally recommend the West Highland Way. However, I suspect that something like the Southern Upland Way will give you a better feeling for isolation / scale of the AT. The Kungsleden in Sweden may be the closest thing in Europe to the challenge of the AT and might be worth a try in the few years you have to plan the big one.

Keep us posted of your preparations. 
 

[Hound of Ulster]

Thanks one and all, 

I am at the early stages of planning, so all information gratefully received and filed away for future use.

The next few years will be exciting, I suppose my job as a bus driver taking elderly and ill clients to hospital, day care etc has in away spurred me on, the other half has hit 50 already ( peeps I didn't say that OK) and so I'm looking at where I am in life.

I'm on the hunt for a 9-5 type job, even 7-4 ish would be great to give me the time to train.

First mad..... Scrub that, ANOTHER mad thing I've done is sign up to the North Down Coastal Challenge a 60 mile bike ride this June to get me started.

I'll keep you all posted on how it all goes, Time to Live Life to the Full and leave the worrying to somebody else.

HoU

[Kayakgirl]

I've entered into the 10k coastal Runher at the end of May. Did the 5k last year. We were talking in work about taking the youth group on the AT as it would be great as a cross community project, so watch this space as it might be on our to do list too.
Also want to do the Inca and Great Wall.

[Hound of Ulster]

Kayakgirl, will be interested in any info if and when you decide to do it.

Right item 2 for my Bucket List is this...,.

A 500 mile walk …. the ultimate relaxation!

El Camino de Santiago – the ancient route across Spain.

If I can do this in 2/3 years I should be on target for AT in 4 years time.
A girl called Eimear is giving some talks around the country on it, I dropped some of the details on the FB page, costs a tenner £8.00 if you pre book, but I didn't put in any links RedLeader.

[Wolf_Larson]

Camping and walking round inishkea island after reading, paddle a long way round Ireland by jasper Winn 

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