This was my first venture into the world of recording an audio advertisement. Based on my harmonica playing, I had better stick to writing. It was fun doing the recording, even though it all had to be done in one minute, with little chance to do a re-take. It was recorded in the Borders Book Store in Sarasota, Florida during normal business hours, so you can hear the store traffic in the background.

Writing a book is such an adventure. I’m learning all sorts of new things and meeting a ton of people. Who says retirement is sitting on the porch watching the grass grow? I’ve never been busier!
 
 It airs at least once a day on the Radio Ear Network .The network has a very eclectic mix of topics and music 24/7. There is a little bit of everything for everyone.

Dennis “K1” Blanchard

I’ve been thrilled to get so many letters and emails about Three Hundred Zeroes, but this one really jumped out at me today. Radio amateurs have proven to be seriously interested in reading:
Hi Dennis,

Frankly, I thought I was throwing money away when I ordered your book, especially since I had read a couple of other books describing the authors’ AT hikes. But the ham radio connection and curiosity got the better of me.

Best money I ever spent on a book! I never dreamed that it would become a true couldn’t-put-it-down book, but that’s exactly what it was. And for me, this doesn’t happen very often.

Your inclusion of ham radio as a passing interest, a secondary goal, was the right choice; too much proselytizing tends to turn off non-tech readers. Although ham radio was my initial interest, the authentic adventure of your hike soon became the real fascination. So authentic, in fact, that I’d recommend the book to anybody considering hiking the AT. It reads like an unvarnished how-to manual, complete with essential “ground rules” and trail descriptions that I’ve never read anywhere else.

The real charm of Three Hundred Zeroes, however, is your obvious delight at the continuing discovery, good and not-so-good, that is the AT.

73,

  –Jim Perry, KJ3P

Thanks for the nice comments Jim. Hikers and ham radio operators have discovered this book. I’d love to hear from those that have either undergone heart surgery, or from friends and family members of patients that have. My goal with Three Hundred Zeroes was to bring hope to that audience as well. I’d love to hear from you as well.

Dennis “K1” Blanchard

Here is a short review of Three Hundred Zeroes that appeared in the Amateur Radio Journal, QST , by Steve Ewald, WV1X:

How would you like to go on a hike? How about a real long hike that is 2176 miles long and covers 14 state in the eastern United States?

Three Hundred Zeroes by Dennis Blanchard, K1YPP, captures the adventure of hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) all the way from Springer Mountain Georgia to Mt Katahdin in Maine. Because of heart surgery, Blanchard’s excursion took place over a two-year period, even thogh he had first set out to hike the AT in one extended hiking season.

What challenges and difficulties did he face along the way? What personal goals kept him going forward when circumstances beyond his control seemed to dictate otherwise? These questions about life on (and off) the Appalachian Trail are answered in a very interesting, informative and enteraining manner. Dennis’ writing style takes the reader right along for the hike. One begins to understand the joys and rigors of living in the wilderness, facing the elements and meeting fellow hikers. The book’s subtitle, “Lessons of the Heart on the Appalachian Trail,” is most appropriate.

 In addition to his hiking equipment, K1YPP carried and operated his hombrew low power CW transceiver with a wire antenna. The book provides a good general explanation of Amateur Radio for newcomers, and it  and gives references for further information.(See his “An Appalachian Journey” in the March 2010 issue of QST, pp 67-69 for details about his on-the-trail radio operations.) After reading this enjoyable book you just might be inspired to “hit the trail” in your own personal way.

Reviewed by Steve Ewald, WV1X

Thank you Steve, and the ARRL for such a fine review.

Tomorrow, Saturday, 6 November, join me and a few other authors at a book fair at the Sarasota Farmers Market. The event is part of the weekly Farmers Market on Main St. We’ll of course have our books available for signing and I have plenty of copies of Three Hundred Zeroes. Books make great holiday gifts, and a signed copy is all that much better. I’ll even be wearing my hiking gear and have my pack with me, should you have questions about a long distance hike.

The weather is cooler and it should be a great day to be out in the autumn. If you’re in the Sarasota, Florida area, do stop by and say hello. We’ll be there from 7:00 am until 1:00 pm.

Dennis “K1” Blanchard

I happened to look at the page for Three Hundred Zeroes tonight and was pleasantly surprised to see that it is ranked #2 in Walking and Camping books on Amazon.com and #3 in Excursion Guides today. The Kindle versions are ahead of the print versions at this moment. I thought perhaps last month the Kindle version would win out, but it lost by only two copies. Maybe this will be the month!

• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #19,879 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  
  • #2 in  Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Sports > Outdoors & Nature > Hiking & Camping > Walking
  • #2 in  Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Sports > Outdoors & Nature > Hiking & Camping > Camping
  • #3 in  Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Sports > Outdoors & Nature > Hiking & Camping > Excursion Guides

The above rankings change by the hour based on sales and sales related to all books on amazon.com, so they’re only relative numbers, but great to see nonetheless.

Thanks to all for reading Three Hundred Zeroes. I hope it inspires you to do something just as crazy, or convinces you that maybe you really don’t want to.

Dennis “K1” Blanchard

The following is another reader’s comments. Don did my heart so much good with his enthusiasm and compliments. Since many of my readers are not ham radio operators, I’ll offer some “translation” of what he says. A “QRP CW operator” is a radio amateur that uses very low power (QRP is usually 5 watts or less) and CW is more commonly known as the Morse code. The “rig” he mentions, the KX-1 is a very nice radio that a number of hiking hams like to use. It is light, small and very gently on the batteries. It sounds like Don is having a different type of hiking fun, hiking to fire towers.
Thanks Don!

I’m still anxious to hear from heart surgery patients. The book deals with that topic as well and I’d be curious to hear about what they think of Three Hundred Zeroes ?

Dennis “K1” Blanchard