Neil, thanks for posting the link to the book - I just ordered it from my library.
This, along with hiking the Appalachian Trail from end to end, is on my list of things that I always wanted to do, but never got around to. These dreams were always bumped by reality stuff like marriage, family, work, yada-yada. I'm realizing that, at 59, I'm running out of runway. I have a couple of multi-hundred mile tours planned for this Spring/Summer. But I still don't know how I'd get away for 3 months or so to do this.
To the OP: If you have the time and the desire to do this, go for it! Chances like that don't come along often. What do you have to lose?