Hi, my name is Brenda Whaley. I'm a 60 year old mother, grandmother, retired teacher, dog lover, bike rider and thru-hiker wannabe! Happily retired and living an active life, Larry my husband of 43 years, and I were looking for a little more action than breaking in the porch rockers. What could be more in tune with that idea than hiking 2,189.2 miles on the Appalachian Trail? We moved to Piedmont, Alabama next to the Chief Ladiga Bike Trail where we ride our bikes on an average of 100 miles a week. We found that The Pinhoti Hiking Trail connects with the bike trail. Having hiked the AT approach trail to Springer Mountain in Georgia our interest was peaked, so to speak. We will begin our flip/flop thru-hike adventure April 2016.