Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis

With Cushy back in the fold, we're finding more ways to do this hike. Having done Moosilauke, we had to fill in our ten-mile gap AFTER the British Open. We worked it out.

Then, most surprising to me, Kinsman blew me away. What a blast.

We also had the chance to meet the Wander Women and a terrific young man who played guitar for us.

We're in New Hampshire and starting to put together our highlight reel. We've also run into an old friend and teamed up again.

The trail has already lived up to expectations, something that I was concerned wouldn't happen for me the second time around.

One more thing. I've added to my falls collection!

Trigger and I have been separated and are now reunited. I definitely hike better with him!

Vermont has been great training for our upcoming adventures in the Whites and beyond.

In this episode, we also chat with a SOBO hiker, a "hidden" hostel owner, and discuss giardia with a young woman who plaited the SOBOer's hair. Only on the Appalachian Trail!

Vermont has provided us with mud, mozzies, and views from the top of mountains.

We've been hiking for 20 straight days and I took the decision to take a zero, splitting with Trigger for about four days. We'll get back together on Sunday.

Vermont has warmed us up for the adventures in New Hampshire and Maine, so I'm sure I'll one day be grateful for these extra climbs!!

We've had visitors this week. One had a shirt for me while Trigger's boys drove 16 hours to hike seven miles with us.

The heat in New England has been stifling and certainly took a toll on us. However, the further north we go, the cooler the temperatures should be.

No more immediate visitors so we have an opportunity to put in more good miles in the coming days.

Still pushing on and now into Massachusetts and past 1550 miles.

We're managing our reduced mileage and taking several breaks during the day is helping us conserve our energy.

I've now lost about 35 lbs while Trigger has dropped over 40 lbs.

With two-thirds of the trail under our feet, the humidity and heat has cranked up to shorten our days. We still aim to finish in the last week of August, but we can see a tougher profile ahead.

These past few days have been impacted by, particularly, the humidity and we've come to terms that those 20-milers are a thing of the past.

That said, we've been blessed by friends, new and old.

I had a brief day of doubt this week as my body appeared to rebel about the miles I was doing. I soon got over it but even wondered if Lyme Disease was a possibility.

I also got the great chance to meet face to face with our very own Dr Lynne, as well as her husband, Bob, and a listener, Eric Gross Jr.

Rain slowed us a little last week but the weather is looking good for the coming days.

We've been incredibly lucky with our management of rain so far but, as with all things, this, too, shall end.

The rain is upon us and making the New York rocks slicker and far more dangerous.

We have a quandary, in that there are blue-blazes to avoid the rocks but we want to stick with the white blazes as long as we possibly can. This purist streak may well be tested soon.

Old friends reunited and new friends met. The trail continues to provide us with serendipitous moments that are the real Trail Magic.

Sharing the trail with Trigger, Dodger Dog, Cushy, and a new friend, Barb, has been a delight.

I'm fulfilling my desire to watch the last round of each of the Major Golf Championships and zeroing for that purpose today.

We'll be back at it tomorrow. Here we come New York.