Got my first Uber EVER right to here. West Mombasha Road and the AT.  It’s 9AM and approaching 80 degrees already. Should I be doing this? Then came the rocks.  And more rocks. Rocks like I had never seen in quite this much consistently before. They say PA is all rocks. Well, NY is all […]

* This post was sitting in my Draft folder! I edited a little and here… I have plenty if special shoes. Plenty of everything necessary for the Trail. Plenty of gumption. Gumption, good word that.  I’ve been to the back doc. He gave me nerve pain medication. It sort of works. Makes me sleep better […]

I’m back on the Trail!!!!!! Well, not right now, actually. Right now I’m sitting in my air conditioned living room on a very comfy couch, (Do real men use the word “comfy?”) legs propped up. I had my first real hike since May. It was terrific! My friend John and I, parked my car at […]

I am experiencing both. Through my glute and all the way to my big toe.  I bounced for 5 hours riding in the back of a shuttle van across central Namibia. (I know. That’s like complaining about Disneyland. Spoiled brat that I am.)  I’m pretty sure I compressed and aggravated my Sciatic Nerve. It has […]

My grandfather, John David Derstine, built the original section of this cabin, on Pecks Pond, in 1929. He camped all over the area to find the best location.  The sun rises just to the left of the view from that screened in porch and the full moon comes up directly over the water in the […]

I’ve walked 342.4 miles of the Appalachian Trail. I’ve done four days on the Trail, but I’ve yet to come off the Trail for supplies, and gone back to continue to hike.  I’m going to hike all of the state of New York in one go. Ten days on the Trail. My first re-supply hike, […]

I know, I know. Sleeping Beauty again. Well, I have to complete this trilogy. This is the third post. The celebration post! She finished the Appalachian Trail! Ok, let’s backtrack a little. Here she is on Day 1.  Here she was the day before yesterday!!! Finished!!!!!! What an accomplishment! Lucky me, I got to witness […]

In mid November of last year, I was on an overnight hike on the Appalachian Trail, with my high school friend John. We were on our way to meet another old friend, Gates, later that day.  I had just made the decision to Section Hike the entire Trail. My 4 day walk of the state […]

I used to be completely annoyed by the British. It was just one of my prejudices shattered. I went to London.  I used to think all white South Africans were racist haters. I went to South Africa.  I used to think all of Ireland was dangerous. The Irish were just violent people. I went to […]

Well, this is different! We were packed and ready to go to Bantry Bay. My father in law, Uwe, sent a Whatsapp. Turns out there’s no water at his house! We were going to spend the last few days there, wanting to have some time with him. He just turned 80.  He started his business […]