Ray (Webmaster) on 1/3/2006 9:33:19 AM:
That's fantastic. I hope to be in good enough shape to do the same thing when I reach 70!
One suggestion: You didn't mention whether anyone will be accompanying you, or at least meeting you at the trailheads along the way. If not, since you're on foot, you'll need to carefully plan each leg of your trip to have adequate access to food & water (or at least wear a camelback-type hydration pack and carry plenty of water). Just be aware that there are some long stretches on the trail without any businesses.
You can use the "Plan a Ride" web page to get a list of businesses and their mile points, to see where the long lonely streches are. For example, here's a link to the Plan a Ride page, showing all grocery stores, vending machines, restaurants, and water stops along the trail. If you look at the Mile Marker column as you page down, you'll see a few sections with gaps of 10 miles or more between services (e.g. St Charles to Defiance, Tebbetts to N Jefferson, etc.) Or you may find it easier to just scan down the mile markers and service listings on the Towns & services page.
Good luck, and please let us know how it turns out.