When I met Bob Curran in the Grayson Highlands, I could never have imagined that he and I would end up at the top of Mt Katahdin together, some 1700 miles later. We came together by accident and stayed together more by circumstance than by design. That said, each of us acknowledges the positive impact that we both had on each other's hike.

As two 66-year-olds we fitted perfectly with one another when it came to hiking style and speed. We weren't the fastest but we were also not the slowest. Our progress was measured and we seemed destined to finish on about the six-month mark. That we were able to finish prior to that is down to Bob's unyielding determination to squeeze out extra miles each day. If it hadn't been for him I'd have been out there a lot longer.

Margi Mimms is the first of our Class of 2019 debriefs and, by happy coincidence, Margi was the first of us to finish. She reflects upon her journey.

Don't forget, if you have a copy of Paul Stutzman's Hiking Through and would be happy to lend me it, please email me at Steve@mightyblueontheat.com. I will, of course, arranged for its safe return to you.