A new goal

[Captain Kidd]

I'm still working on plans for a cruise, but our schedule is so full right now. I may be able to get it in after Easter. If I go to Florida, I really don't want to wait til summer. If I have to wait, I likely will try to do something in the north.

In the meantime, I've gotten this huge urge to go backpacking. I've done some though it's been many years. I've talked to my brother (3 years younger). We did some in our teen years. He likes the idea of redoing one of our trips that we made to the AT in the Shenandoah National Park (we grew up in VA). It's called the Rip Rap Trail and is a loop about 10 miles long with an elevation gain of about 2000 feet. With some training, I believe we could do that. He's coming off a serious hamstring injury where he fell and tore it almost completely loose of his hip!!!! So he has some serious rehab to do. He's up to walking 2 miles a day. I've picked up my pace of exercise in order to get in condition. Living in Chattanooga means I have lots of mountain trails that I can train on as well.

I came across a brand new Granite Gear Blaze 60L on Marketplace that I bought along with two trekking poles. I have enough other gear. In fact, I still have the pack I used as a teenager!

Our plan is to do a trip this fall.

my brother

You cannot view this attachment.

me

You cannot view this attachment.

my brother's leg after accident

You cannot view this attachment.

Granite Gear Blaze 60L

You cannot view this attachment.

Black Diamond trekking poles

You cannot view this attachment.

[Wolverine]

Do it Capt! We're not getting younger. I planned on a backpack trip after I retired, but Covid hit 6 months later, then after 4 previous operations the doc said a knee replacement was needed. Now it's worse than before the operation, so I never went. I planned a bicycle trip along the Outer Banks in 2024, but my friend backed out when his daughter's due date fell on that week. Didn't get a chance to go last year either. I'm planning to do it this fall and hoping everything works out. 🤞