An emailer (and fellow hiker) recently asked me this question: "hey spanky.... i heard that there is alot of yellow blazing going on w/ you!!! whats up with that man??? are you even a thru-hiker....Natural

LOL... yes, it's true! I knew going onto the A.T. this year - that there was a real possibility that I was going to have to deviate from the purity that is "thru-hiking!"

And, because my whole hike this year, was based more on "hiking on behalf of fathers" and not necessarily "thru-hiking", I had to adjust my itinerary to match my public commitments toward speaking engagements and the such...

Man, I sure missed all of you though!!!

Anyways, I ended up dropping off the trail at New York border in order to help my son move to Ft. Knox, Ky and to move my whole family from St. Simons Island, GA to Bowling Green, Ky. too! Wow! What a wild and crazy year this has been!

I have had some wonderful emails from several fellow hikers since I have gone "astray!" But, the memories are indeed, a wonderful treasure trove - and, more than a little tearful too!

I am now speaking at men's conferences and the such... and am preparing for a large conference to take place in the first quarter of 2009. I hope that my dear wife will join me as I attempt to finish hiking the A.T. by section hiking beginnning 2009.

I will start at Kent, CT and work my way SOBO. Did you make it all the way? I sure hope so!

I am also posting this on a public forum so you all will know that I wasn't swallowed up by a bear or something!

Best wishes and hopefully, will see you down the trail again!

Spanky
http://www.codybateman.org