Welp here we go kids.
It’s the 22nd of February and I’m sittin here on my sisters couch watching the rain fly while my anxiety is growing. We’re getting close kids. Just about 20 days till I take on a challenge I honestly thought I’d never take on. I’ve Always wanted to but never thought I’d get the chance to take on this journey in this life time. Unfortunately or maybe it is fortunate things changed in my life and I moved home to be closer to my friends and family. Prior to my move home I had an epiphany and decided what the hell? Let’s hike the Appalachian trail before it’s to late. Let’s take on a journey so I can get out of dodge, cleanse my soul and find my happiness again. Some of you may have read my other blog which was put on a stand still as I need to focus on the good things in my life right now. I was headed down a dark path of self destruction and I was hurting someone I loved very much and she was the last person on this earth that deserved any of my mess. I miss her a ton and have to keep my head up and move forward. With all of that I have decided to stop writing negatively and here we are now writing a blog that will hopefully inspire people to live their lives and always push forward knowing pain is temporary and tomorrow may bring you something special. Ok enough with the drama let’s get this show on the road.
A little about me. My name is Michael J Allen. I just turned 43 last week, weighing in at 234lbs, 6’1” blonde hair and blue eyes { in case anyone finds me lost in the woods 😂 } Many of you know me as a crazy old cyclist, the guy that was always on a bike. Over the years I grew tired of the bicycle and stepped away for minute. I lost my passion for it mainly from all the friends and acquaintances I lost over the years to hit and runs leaving them for dead in ditches or on the side of the road. It’s insane how someone can just leave a human there or show no remorse when they hit someone. I found a shop in Portland Maine that brought my passion back and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to have worked with the amazing ladies and gentlemen at Allspeed Cyclery & Snow. Www.Allspeed.com If y’all ever visit Portland Maine please make sure to stop in and support them or give them a follow on the grams. I miss that crew immensely. PS I still haven’t been on a bike in a minute. Right now it’s all about a hike, a walk or what I’d like to call a journey of self perseverance oh and waiting for all my damn supplies to arrive. I will share my gear list and photos tomorrow so make sure you click follow on the blog link and hang out with me for the next 6 months ( hopefully less )
For those of you that are not familiar with the Appalachian Trail I’ll give you a brief rundown. The A.T in short is a hiking trail that is 2,193.1 miles in length running North and South through 14 states. These states include Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, unfortunately Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia which is where I will begin my journey. I’m extremely stoked on the fact that the halfway mark is Pennsylvania where a lot of my family and friends live so I hope to see a lot of your asses (ok maybe your faces too) out there cheering me on and feeding my ass when I get here! Hahaha!!!! I thought it would take a ton of planning and new equipment as well as stress to get ready for this adventure but to tell you the truth I’m really not freaking out about it. It’s too short of a time period to prep and train and blah, blah, blah I honestly am just gonna hike my hike with no end date and no pressure to be in a certain place at a certain time like I did with my bicycle trip across the country. I’ll get more and more fit as I hike, I’ll get more and more broken in as I hike and in the end I’ll finish up somewhere at some time. If I make it to Maine and complete the trail, awesome. If not it’s all good I’m hiking my hike.
Some of you follow my social media updates and some of you may never of even heard of me so I’d like you to know that I’m also hiking this hike for many others as well. A lot of people struggle with depression and suicidal tendencies. For those of you that have taken your life, this hike is for. I’m going to hike a mile for you and carry you on my back, hold your hand and share a moment of silence with you along the way. To many of us have lost loved ones to suicide and we need to do a better job at helping when we can. Sometimes the signs go unnoticed and sometimes the signs are right there in front of us. we grow tired of trying to help when the individual just doesn’t seem to want it for themselves and other times we just think everyone is just as happy as we are. You can’t blame yourself and hold that guilt like I do. I in a way take some blame for my twins death and I’m working on letting it go. I can’t kill my self everyday and tear myself apart any longer or I will never find light and peace within my walls.
If you or someone you know is struggling please call 1-800-273-8255 for guidance. It’s not like calling 911 and being talked to bye someone who is just making a buck and not giving a fuck. (Sorry if you work for a 911 call center and do care) These people are there for a reason.
With every step of this journey I will be letting go of something from my past, present and future. I will no longer let that monkey hang out on my back and hold me down. We were all given wings to fly and I am finally going to let my wings do what they were made for.
If you’d like to follow along via social media as well as my blog you can follow me here:
@worn_out_threads instagram
Facebook at Montana Allen
if you’d like to make a contribution to my journey and leave a name of someone you know that has taken their life please message me directly through Facebook or instagram I will hike a mile for them.
I can give you my Venmo if you’d like to make a monetary contribution. For each individual I hike for I will share that mile with you all online.
( I’m a little more cautious about giving my Venmo now as the world has figured out how to take your funds through sending money to you and scamming the system )
I will post my whereabouts as I travel north if you choose to take a hike with me or drop food /water for me.
My ultimate start date is March 15th at Amicalola Falls in Georgia.
I’m extremely stoked for this journey and I’m excited you’re going to follow me.
Much love❤️ To all of you. It’s time to spread those wings and fly kids!
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