- June 2005 - Visited Newport, WA from St.Louis MO- Fell in love with the town.
- Oct 2005 - Moved to Newport lived in my 22 ft. Airstream trailer.
- Oct 2005 - Oct 2009 random hikes. Lots of fun. Not all outdoors.
- Oct 2009 sought out Psychiatrist to find out if I had ADHD and how to treat it.
- Unofficially, Officially diagnosed with ADD -Started reading up on it. Trial and error on medications to focus.
- April 2010, on a visit to Canada to visit a friend, i encountered a dumpster literally overflowing with vintage clothing... I rescued 4 wedding gowns ... not sure why.. but i felt i had to.
- May 2010 First official backpacking adventure. HOOKED... THIS IS WHAT I MOVED HERE FOR !!!
- May 2010 - snowfall 2010 backpacked every chance i had. Married to my job, but i did what i could.
- July 4th 2010 - Tom enjoy a 6 mile hike into Hells Canyon. And took a wedding gown with me.. just fer fun.
Somewhere in here I decided that thoughts of moving to Portland, should turn into a plan.
I love where I live, I love the solitude found in a short road trip, but my creative side was calling, after 5 years off... Art - Culture - and Nature all wrapped into one in Portland.
- Oct 2010 - saw the path marking for the PCT on my 5 year NW Anniversary hike...Oh what an amazing journey that would be.
- Dec. 31, 2010 - Conscious Decisions made for my future (Instead of Resolutions.. a resolution doesn't sound like something you have to work on)
- Plan for the PCT, whether it takes a year or ten.
Late 2010 - Early 2011 - I finally embraced my friend Lorne, that I'd been pushing away. His intentions to motivate me and my photography left me a wee bit scared (I wasn't ready for another person to push me. When it came to my photography, and years of compliments. I've had several people try motivating me to do more with it. I have no formal training, just an eye for it. So I'd get scared and run.)
Lorne and I exchanged several emails about finding a project that would involve my interest in Writing, my Photography, and a few other interests of mine including hiking....
- Jan 2011 - Snowshoeing with my buddy Bruce, I told him I'd like to hike the PCT. Would like to do it prior to my 20th High School Reunion, which meant 2012. But I didn't have the money to do it so soon. He said 'get a sponsor'. I said... Who would sponsor li'l ol' me? GUY GOES ON HIKE isn't very exciting...
- The wheels turned from there on. MY mind was in full gear. The image of me in Hells Canyon turned into the plan... If I was going to give up my job and place to live, and start over in a city again... Then why not take on the PCT first...
- Over the next couple of months, '26' was Borne. It's was just a concept. But there were too many good ideas to run with... I contacted artists for their opinions... "is this ART or is this just a bad idea?" I spent 3 weeks writing up my plan to raise money, and get wedding gown donations. I read more and more. The more i read, the more plans changed. I went through weeks of doubt, thinking this was such a bad idea, why did i tell anyone???... and in the end... I decided to make it a reality...
Where it goes now, is as much up to you, as it is to me.... As much up to Mother Nature and Public Opinion, as it is to Daydreaming, and Hoping....
I'm thankful to everyone thus far that have motivated me, pushed me, and have been honest with me. And thankful to all of you, for keeping track... I'm going crazy with this... it's taking up my every moment.. twists and turns i didn't expect, and don't seem to have time for... I'm doing my best... and can't wait to see the outcome...
Thanks everyone ! You're amazing.
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