Blue View – Geriatric Backpacking

/
Blue View – Geriatric Backpacking

The Thames Path was sort of a trial run to see whether we could still hike reasonable distances each day for days or weeks at a time, while carrying full packs. Although it wasn't without a few blisters and there were the occasional 'Ibuprofen nights' we had a glorious time, and there was nothing that dissuaded us from trying something more ambitious.

Most of the world’s greatest hikes aren’t this luxurious, however, which begs the question as to whether we're now way too old to sleep on the ground, utilizing only the lightweight backpacking gear we can carry. Will we spend a very long night with throbbing backs, hips and shoulders, then be too 'stove-up' in the morning to get into an upright position or tie our own shoes? Will I be too cranky to live with? Time to find out.

Read More

Blue View – Thames Path Gear List - Revisited

/
Blue View – Thames Path Gear List - Revisited

Now that we've completed the Thames Path, I thought I'd do a review of the gear we thought we needed versus the gear we actually used. There were more than a few things we brought that we didn't need and only a couple of things we had to hunt down and buy while there. Some weren’t too surprising, but there were a few revelations…


Read More

Blue View – Kitting Up For the Thames Path

/
Blue View – Kitting Up For the Thames Path

We've been giving a great deal of thought to the gear, clothing, personal items and electronics we'll need for our month in England. Since we'll have to carry everything we need for the entire month on our backs, we're only bringing the bare essentials. On the other hand, we don't want to forget anything important. First, and most importantly, everything must physically fit into our backpacks. Once that is accomplished, our goal is to keep our loads to under 20 pounds.

Read More