The Garden of the Mind

It was about fourteen years ago that the idea was planted.

 My parents, brother, and I all vacationed in New Hampshire with my sister-in-law's family to celebrate graduations and other various reasons to get away. We had a great time, playing card games, listening to music, eating great food, and enjoying the small village life of New England.

Alas, it all came to an end and all left, except that my parents and I had no rush to get home.

 So, where do you go in New Hampshire with spare time on your hands? Why, the beautiful White Mountains and its star, Mount Washington.

Picture I took in 2001 during AT hike in NH of Mt Washington

We did the whole tourist drive up to the top, had our picture taken at the peak, and then decided to take a stroll outside the "tourist" zone. We decided to hike to the next peak over, Mount Monroe. It was a fairly easy hike, over the cog railway, and to the peak.

 It was the return trip that got hairy.

 About halfway back, we found out why Mount Washington is called home of the worst weather in the world. Suddenly a deluge of rain came upon us, firing lightning shots at us on "machine gun" mode! We made our fastest pace back up Mount Washington praying intently for survival.

 We survived.

 And I was hooked.

 As Mr. Roger's says, "ideas can grow in the garden of your mind", the seed was planted.

 In 2000, I told my parents I would be hiking the whole Appalachian Trail, southbound, starting in June 2001.

 And I began my preparations...