Episode #327 - Jeff Hayes (Speedo)
Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Steve Adams
4.8 • 599 Ratings
🗓️ 16 June 2022
⏱️ 78 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This week, we have a first for the podcast. Initially, our principal guest, Jeff Hays, lays out his views on why the Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail should move to Alabama. As Jeff says, "Why not Alabama?"
Then, Jeff and Nathan Wright debate the issue as they see it. They keep it respectful and agree far more than they disagree. At the end, I weigh in with my opinion. I hope you all learn something from this discussion.
You can learn more about the issues at stake by visiting Jeff's site, where he promotes building an entirely new trail. It is at https://www.at2al.net/
Jeff also offers the following site, which argues for using existing trails. That is at https://at2al.com/
You can find Jeff's hostel at https://www.nextstephostel.net/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NextStepHostel/
In between Jeff's chat with me and the subsequent debate, I caught up with Katie Westling, as she has now returned to the AT to continue her quest to complete her thru-hike.
If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6
If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com
If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received.
If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You are listening to the Hiking Radio Network, where we talk guests every week as he staggers from Georgia to Maine. |
| 0:33.4 | Hi guys and thanks for making your way back to visit me on Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail, |
| 0:38.4 | the ultimate middle-hour crisis. I am Mighty Blue or Steve Adams and this is episode number |
| 0:43.4 | 327. This is going to be somewhat different from most of our shows. Do you remember a couple |
| 0:49.5 | weeks back when I spoke with Nathan Wright and his wife Kim about the arguments against moving the southern |
| 0:55.7 | terminus of the Appalachian Trail to Alabama, well, I asked for somebody who'd like to present a |
| 1:00.0 | counterview, and I said at the time that I would have Nathan back on to debate that counterview. |
| 1:05.7 | Jeff Hayes responded to that call. I tried my best to keep things fair by speaking first with just Jeff, although Nathan |
| 1:12.7 | was listening in, in that way each of them had the opportunity to hear the other's point of view |
| 1:17.5 | before they've started to debate. We have both sides of that conversation today with |
| 1:22.6 | first Jeff presenting his case, then a small break while I catch up with Kaylee Wessling on the |
| 1:27.1 | resumption |
| 1:27.5 | of her AT hike before Nathan and Jeff talked together with me as a questioner. |
| 1:33.2 | It was very respectful on both sides and I'd love to know what you'll think. I'll give |
| 1:37.6 | my thoughts at the end. By the way, I just found out Jeff's trail name is Speedo |
| 1:44.8 | and I'd love to have asked him why |
| 1:46.9 | but well opportunity missed |
| 1:48.6 | There'll be no reading today |
| 1:50.5 | mainly because I didn't want the show to go over 90 minutes |
| 1:53.3 | I'll be back reading George to Phalluses |
| 1:55.6 | Then the Hell Came next week |
| 1:57.1 | Also of course we're not catching up |
... |
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