From: none

To: The unknown
Miles today: 0.0

Hi Everyone,I've been postponing this until I feel better, but It finally occured to me that I must get something out, in spite of my condition, to let you all know that I'm safely home. Comfortably in my home with a cup of coffee and sitting at the computer is one of the favorite parts of my day, and so a good time to put a final wrap on all of this.Why I am so slow at figuring out that I've been sick is beyond me, but that seems to be the way it is. Whatever I picked up in Maine seems to be hanging quite persistently with me for the past 3 weeks. There's no energy at all, achy joints and a few other things that have made me think of Lyme Disease, at least as something that needs to be ruled out. I went to a doctor for the usual lab tests yesterday and will return today with a nice little specimen that combined with the results of all the other tests will either result in a diagnosis or still more...tests. If you haven't guessed, I did not summit Katahdin. I did all but 5.2 miles of the AT. My strength had returned enough to do it, or at least I believe so, but the weather wouldn't cooperate and after too many days of sitting around waiting for a good day, I decided to pack it all in. Many of my friends have said that they consider that I completed the thruhike. While kind and loving, it simply isn't true. It's one of those either/or things. You either did it or you didn't. I did not. I think, in terms of effort, my heart and soul were left on the trail and so I'm not particularly disappointed. Also, it occurs to me that rather than being just "another" thruhiker, I now may hold the record for the longest single season section hike in AT history. It's really kind of funny in a black humor sort of way. Others have suggested that I can return to Maine and summit Katahdin next year. I'm not in favor of that. Driving from Wisconsin to Maine just to climb a mountain makes no sense from a pragmatic viewpoint. To me, mountains are just piles of rocks. Climbing one more or one less is unimportant to me. The hike is about the people I met along the way, both on and off the trail. It's also about the people, family and friends (some of whom I've never met), who provided such incredible support during this journey. I feel much more connected to each of you than to a path of rocks and roots, though I find myself drawn in that direction as well. I'm still not certain why I did this. Turning 60 was just an excuse, I think, to do something I've always wanted to do. Something huge. It was for me, for my children, my mother and 5 brothers, for all my friends and family in Danbury, Wisconsin, for all the veterans who couldn't and, largely, just to have one hell of a good time. It was also for all those who played with me on some pretty horrendous basketball and football teams at Webster High School back in the early 60's. This was to have been a win for all of us and by my liberal definition, it was. What's next? 2006 will be about hanging close to Northern Wisconsin. I actually may look for a small job to get me through the winter. I've been thinking of applying at Link Bros.over in Minong. They make that "Jack Links Beef Jerky" that is available everywhere on the Appalachian Trail. I'd kind of like to be the guy that scrapes up the roadkill and delivers it to the processing plant. Working as a security guard at the Hole in the Wall Casino is also a consideration (though they likely aren't the one's considering it), if only they'd let me wear a gun.   Summer will likely involve another thru hike of the Superior Hiking Trail (which is still more gorgeous than 90% of the AT) and Isle Royale, a lot of time floating down the Namekagon and the St.Croix Rivers and just hanging out with family and friends that I missed terribly while on the trail. 2007 may be about another long hike, perhaps the AT,perhaps not. I still want to do the Triple Crown, but it's not that urgent. In terms of unfinished business, I still have a marathon to run and a big cross country ski race to complete before the 3rd of March, 2006...when I turn 61. I also may have to drink a beer, but Frank Gatten sold his bar and I have nowhere to sing Karaoke...thank God for that. Special thanks to BitPusher and CreekDancer for their continued support throughout my adventure. It's possible to have hiked without their help, but no one would have known about it. I had never met either of these people prior to the hike and so their assistance is all the more incredible. Diane Dryden of Shell Lake was most supportive in the stories she wrote of my hike in the Washburn County Register. My good friends at Alley Cats Coffee Shop (purveyors of performance enhancing beverages)in Spooner and the world famous Hole in the Wall Casino in the even more world famous Danbury, Wisconsin were always with me in spirit through the fun times and the difficult. Although I live in Trego, Danbury has always been my spiritual home and always will be. Long live the Kingdom of Danbury, and WEENUG!