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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

It’s almost time to head home. Well, not really home. This is where I have lived for the last 18 years, but it still doesn’t feel like home.  I’m absolutely at home there. Yolande has…

Ignore my last post… That settles it. Linda reminded me today!  Very early in my hiking history, I went on my first training hike with a used backpack I had just purchased on EBay. I…

That’s me. Boom.  That’s my Trail name.   I love trees.  These are just some of the varieties of the Baobab. I love this tree.  Then there are Giant Sequoias.  Amazing, wouldn’t you say? Magnificent…