It has been several months since we first got the idea of this online chronicle of our retirement travel adventures, which we call “As We Wonder,” so it’s probably a good time to give you an update on where we are in preparation for the day we hit the road and begin a huge adventure. Thanks, as always, for joining us, and I would love it if you also joined us on YouTube and subscribed to our videos there.
Busy around the home
Our plan is to rent our house out, starting in January, 2023. Needless to say, we are semi-frantically trying to get ready for that major upheaval. Purging is happening, slowly, and other preparations, an endless list of preparations. Bev has been in this house for twenty years. I’ve been here for twelve. We have a ton of work to do by January. Enough said.
How is Bev’s training coming along?
The physical training for a 2,650 mile hike is underway and going well. Bev has most of the gear she will need. Now it’s a matter of preparing her body. We go on hikes each weekend, and she will have a major shakedown hike, about 100-miles, in late August/early September. She is planning two more of those between now and September.
Once the winter weather arrives here in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, it will be very difficult for her to get any mountain training in, so after October she will have to train locally carrying a full backpack.
In November, the online lottery happens, with names being drawn for starting times on the Pacific Crest Trail. Fifty hikers are allowed to start the Trail each day. Bev is hoping to get a starting date in Mid-March, 2023. That would give her time to finish the 700-mile desert section before the real heat begins there, and finish the entire hike before the Fall rains hit the Cascade Mountains of Washington.
Of course, all weather is a roll of the dice, so there are no guarantees that one starting date is better than another.
My travel plans after Bev completes the Pacific Crest Trail
I’m not sure what my plan is once Bev finishes her epic journey, but I’m fairly certain it will be one of three things:
- Walk across the country
- Bike across the country
- Visit 48 states on a moped
I have a year to make up my mind, and a lot will depend on what type of physical shape I am in, this time next year. I have begun yoga again, and I’m increasing my distance walking daily. We shall see, as the months unfold, if this 73-year-old body can be transformed into a hiking, biking, or moped shape. LOL
In the meantime
We will be filming all of the other local walks/hikes we take, bringing you all along on our journeys, and we want to tell you, in advance, that we appreciate you taking this journey with us. Follow us on YouTube, please, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. It really would help us if you could do that.
I will also, at some point in the next couple months, be introducing my Patreon page to you all, asking any of you who feel so inclined to support us as patrons, but those details will have to wait for another day.
Until then, I hope this finds you well, and I truly do thank you for your following and your friendship
Lil Sis, I’m leaning more towards biking the country now, but the same applies, and if we do that, NC will be on my radar, and you will be the main reason for that visit. Thanks for the info on that book. I’ll look it up. And hugs heading your way, dear friend.
Been needing and wanting to get back into the ol’ blogging routine 😎 I left my job at the end of April (I do that: my multipotentialite self just doesn’t fit that well into capitalist society. I am, once and for all, figuring it out and not going to work for everyone else: it never works out more than a couple years, I swear, lol) and it’s been a hectic couple of months: some video gigs for one of the contract jobs I do, building my website, family stuff, cat stuff) but I’m finally getting into more of a routine.
That said, other than Bev hiking the PCT, my fav part of this post is you musing about walking across the country. I have often thought I’d like to do that. We have a house full of critters (and a special needs one at that) and a very elderly mother in law, and so we’re staying put for awhile. I was in 7th grade when I discovered a book by Rob Sweetgall who walked through every single state in his Rockport shoes. Ever since I read that, I have loved, loved, loved to walk. I looked for the title of it just now; I think it’s out of print. It’s called “Fitness Walking” and he goes all into detail about Gore-Tex and his Rockports. He walked the country a total of 11 times!
If you walk the country, you’ll need places to stay. Of COURSE you should come by to NC! We’ve been wanting to travel to the PNW to see you and Bev for awhile. One of these years. Yep…one of these years. Haha.
My old body agrees with you, Rolly; still, I’m looking for a challenge and to push myself, so I’m still not sure what I’ll do. I have over a year to figure it out. Thanks for the input, buddy.
I would go with the mo per Bill maybe an electric model.
Linda, the stories never leave my head. As for living to be 100, that sounds exhausting. LOL I don’t want to be mowing a lawn at 100. 🙂 Happy 4th to you, dear friend, and thank you!
Liz, truthfully, I think getting the house ready is much more daunting than any journey I might go on. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by.
Hi Audrey! It should take between two and three months. It actually would be a pretty relaxing trip if it weren’t for the Rocky Mountains. 🙂
One of my husband’s cousins rode her bike from across the country. I forget how long it took her. She went with a group–both biking and hiking sound really challenging to me–an e-bike would make it much easier I think–Take care–
I admire your spirit of adventure and I look forward to hearing which of the three options you choose. Sorting a house for rental sounds like a mammoth task in itself.
Bill, I hope you still have a bunch of story ideas in your head, because I’m pretty sure you and Bev are going to live to be 100. I can’t begin to express how much I admire both of you.
Bill, I honestly can’t decide which I want to do, but I am leaning towards bicycling…with an ebike, of course. There are so many fascinating new products hitting the market, and I would love to ride one of them across the country. Rest assured, we will go to Mass., so plan on a visit.
Thank you Sue! I must admit, the preparation and the planning for such an undertaking is something I really enjoy, so this next year will be very enjoyable for me, even before we take our first steps. 🙂 I hope all is well with you. Hugs coming your way.
Misbah, I am certain you still look lovely, a few extra pounds or not. Just don’t let it become a habit. 🙂 Thank you always. My positive attitude is for everyone and for my own survival. I never want to return to the dark days of twenty years ago. my friend.
Blessings always
Hello, Mr. Bill.
Bike and walk across the country, visit 48 states on a moped. You are an inspiration, Mr. Bill. I am very happy for you and your wife that you are on your path to discovering all the magnificent wonders of our world. It sounds so fascinating. You’re both quite lucky to have each other. I pray that God bless you and your family with eternal happiness and success.
Stress has caused me to gain a few pounds in recent months. When I’m tense, I eat a lot. Lol! Finally, I’ve prepared myself not to get stressed over things that are beyond my control. I’ve started to exercise, not much, but doing.
I’m controlling my diet and drinking a lot of green tea. I want my metabolism to work as fast as possible. I, too, want to be as lively as you when I reach my 70s, some 40 years later 😉
I admire your positive attitude towards life. Best wishes to you and your family.
Blessings always!
I so enjoyed walking with you both on your YouTube update, and there is so much preparation that you are both doing for this hike.. I hope Bev gets a slot so she doesn’t have that desert heat….
I feel very excited for you both Bill…
Sending you both warm hugs my friend. <3
Interesting options for you, post Bev’s PCT adventure. I was not aware that a moped tour of the lower 48 was being considered? Very interesting. No matter what you wind up doing you and Bev have an ambitious next couple of years. Planned. And to that I say good for you.
Marlene, our only hope regarding gas prices is that we won’t be doing any of this for another seven months. Hopefully, sanity at the gas pump will arrive by then.
Thanks, John! Gotta keep moving, or someone will start throwing dirt over my lifeless body LOL.
This sure is some serious planning for Bev’s epic journey, and beyond. You are making a big move by renting out the house but that’s a good move if you will be away for an extended period. Thank you for the update and good luck.
Love the update. But, oh, I feel like high gas prices may knock your future decision down to a logical choice of two. I’m just teasing, of course.
Thank you for your thoughts, Denise. You are correct about the hips. Maybe I’ll compromise and get an electric bike, do a little pedal-assist exercise. 🙂 I have time to think about it and plan.
This is all so incredibly ambitious. I’m not sure I could endure such training or even walk across country. You may have new hips but they will wear out like anything else mechanical. Perhaps a moped is the best bet.