I’m trying to remember when I first started putting together a “Bucket List”.
For some reason I keep finding notes and list I created years ago. When I remember something or stumble across an article it triggers that message in the back of my mind that I have a list someplace, and that I need to add to.
I’ve finally decided to put all these ideas into one place, that lead to the creation of this article.
The goal is a central place to keep track of all the things I’d like to do. Thus we have “Dave Gates Bucket List.
Bucket List Definition
Bucket List – A list of things to do before you die. That is the short answer and one that I have referred to over the years.
Now that I’ve actually sat down and taken the time to reflect on it, this is the list I refer to.
What’s Included?
For my list I’m including old stuff as well as new stuff. Some of the items I’ve already done others I’m wondering if they are even practical at this point in my life, but I’m listing it all. It’s in no particular order, it’s just a list.
Most of the items on the list where when I was single and before my wife and I had the child. Now that he is getting bigger I’ve had to add more kid friendly items to the list.
How many of these have you done? Care to share your thoughts or comments on any of the following? By all means, please comment and share. Have a list of your own? I’d love to see it.
Dave Gates Bucket list
As this list grows I’ve found it easier to break it down into different categories. So far hiking and traveling have been at the top.
Hiking
Triple Crown: triple crown long distance hiker. For those who are not familiar with the Triple-Crown, it’s someone who has hiked all three of the following trails. Appalachian Trail (AT), Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The American Long Distance Hiking Association – West, issues reward plaques for this remarkable achievement. My goal and plan is to join this list.
Thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. (Completed 2007) 2,650 plus town stops.
Thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail. (Completed in 2010) 2,176 miles plus town stops.
Thru-hike the Continental Divide Trail. (Attempted and failed in 2013). Start planning for next attempt.
Hike the John Muir Trail (JMT) in California
Thru-hike or section the Ice Age Trail (IAT) in Wisconsin.
Thru-hike the Long Trail in Vermont.
Hike the Camino in Spain.
Hike up Angles Landings, Zion NP (done)
Thru-hike the River-to-River Trail in southern IL. 2012 started but did not finish.
Hike the Tahoe Rim Trail. 165 miles. Approximately 10-15 days to hike.
Thru-hike the Te-Araroa trail in New Zealand. 1850 miles long. Approximately 120 days to hike.
Thru-hike Superior Trail in MN. Note to self 310 miles hike. Approximately 14-18 days to completed the trail.
Thru-hike the Florida Trail. 1,400 miles. Approximately 60-90 days to hike.
West Coast Trail (Canada) 47 miles completed 2011
North County Trail. 4,600 miles.
American Discovery Trail. 6,800 miles
Leconte lodge and spend a few nights in the Smoky Mountains.
Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier. Note to self, 93 miles approximately 6-14 days needed. July-September best time to hike.
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail.
Potomac Heritage National Trail.
Wales Coast Path (Wales)
Rafting/Kayaking
White water rafting the New River Gorge, West Virginia. (I need the dates for this?)
White water rafting the Gauley River, West Virginia. (I need the dates for this?)
White water rafting the Arkansas river in Colorado. (Done)
Raft the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon multiple day trip.
Kayak Baja California Mexico. (done)
Kayak the Apostles islands.
Kayak around Greece islands.
Road Trips
Drive the Road to Hana in Maui with my family. Mom & Dad did this with us. (Done)
Drive a classic car the entire length of old Route 66.
Drive the entire length of highway 101.
Various Scenic Drives
Traveling
Vacation in Fiji and stay in one of those grass roof cabins on the ocean water.
Visit the National Post Office Museum in Washington DC.
Backpack around Europe. Stay in hostels along the way.
Visit Hobbiton movie set in New Zeland with the the kids.
Visit Copper canyon Mexico.
Visit and walk on the Great Wall in China.
Visit Australia to see kangaroos and pandas.
Kiss the Blarney Stone (Ireland) 2003
Visit Alaska and see glaciers and the caribou migration.
Travel and backpack around Asia and Singapore.
Visit the Galápagos Islands.
Visit Easter Island, Moai.
Air Venture (Oshkosh, WI) 2003
Visit Stonehenge. (Done 2005)
Northern lights in Iceland.
Explore the temples of Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Set foot in Antarctica, visit penguins.
Swim with sharks. Maldives.
Swim with dolphins. (Done, Florida Keys 2003)
Visit Norway Fjords.
African safari, witness Serengeti migration.
Crater of Diamonds State Park. Done 2018
The House on the Rock. Wisconsin
Swing in the FoxFire Mountain Adventure Park (Tennessee)
Pan for Gold at Crow Creek Gold Mine (Alaska)
Spanish Center Merida – Submersion Language (Mexico)
Visit Friends and Family (Worldwide)
Mall of American (Minnesota)
Take a cruise with friends NCL (2011)
Theme Parks
Cedar Point (Cedar Point, OH)
Six Flags Great American (Gurnee, Illinois) Done, several times, I’ve also brought the kid here.
Six Flags Great American Magic Mountain (Los Angeles, California) I was here while employed by HSBC
Onesti’s Wild West Town (Union, Illinois)
Trains
Cumbres and Toltec scenic train ride. Just found this link and had to add it to my bucket list. Colorado & New Mexico.
Visit the Illinois Railway Museum with my family.
Fenelon Place Elevator Company. Dubuque, Iowa
Rox River Trolley Museum (Elgin, IL)
Autos
National Corvette Museum MotorSports Park
BMW & Mini Performance Driving School
Richard Petty Driving Experience
Bondurant Performance Driving School
Various Tours
Seattle’s Underground Tour (2010)
Miller Brewery Tour (Milwaukee, WI)
Leinenkugel Brewery tour (Chippewa Falls, WI) 2013
Anheuser Busch Brewery tours, Houston, & St. Louis (Done 2006)
Jameson Distillery tour Ireland (Done)
Coca-Cola Tour in Atlanta Georgia.
Volunteering
Volunteer for Mobile Skills Crew Ice Age Trail. (Done Ice Age Trail 2012)
Volunteer for Earthwatch (2005 Moose & Wolves Project)
Volunteer for 3-day Breast Cancer walk. (2005)
Volunteer for Pacific Crest Trail Crew
Volunteer on an Appalachian Trail Chapter Crew
Treasure Hunting
Find Lost Treasures
– Forrest Fenn’s lost treasure. Sorry to hear of Forest Fenn’s death. It wasn’t long ago that he confirmed on this website that someone has found his treasure. I guess I’ll need to set my sights on something else.
– Lost or destroyed depression era murals and art. Wausau, Wisconsin Post Office Mural “Rural Mail” by Gerrit Sinclair. Ladysmith, Wisconsin Post Office Mural “Development of The Land”, by Elsa Jemne. Traverse City, Michigan, “Cherry Pickers”, by Marion Overby.
State Parks
Starved Rock State Park (Illinois) 2011
National Parks
Mount Rainier Nation Park (2010)
Shenandoah National Park (2016)
Biscayne National Park (2003)
Great Smoky Mountains Nation Park (2014)
Isle Royale National Park (2005, 2012)
Mammoth Cave National Park (Summer 2019)
Gateway Arch (St. Louis, MO) September 2012, 2007
Museums
Lincoln Museum Springfield (2009) with Nate.
Museums of Science and Industry
Museum Of Wisconsin Artist (MOWA) done!
Neville Public Museum (Green Bay, WI)
Smithsonian Institute – National postal museum (Washington DC)
Michael Schragg Post Office museum (Done November 2013)
City Museum, St. Louis (Done 2006)
Discovery Center Museum Rockford (Done February 2019)
National Corvette Museum (Kentucky – Done summer 2019 with Orlando)
Peterson Automotive Museum Los Angles California
Volo Automobile Museum (Illinois)
Experiences
Other:
Visit all – 1,200+ post offices in the United States that have New Deal art and document them.
Build a Tree House or Play set for the Kid. (completed 2020)
Visit Brazil and the Pantanal. Visit or participate in a volunteer project.
Visit Patagonia, Hike the Hight Route.
Own a convertible sports car (done 2001) 2001 Pontiac Trans AM WS6 Navy Blue Metallic.
Visit Peru and hike to Machu Picchu (done)
Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial (done)
Visit as many national parks as I can with my family. Fill up my National Parks Stamp Book.
Skydive
Scuba dive (done), Tried the class when I was younger but didn’t like it.
Grow my own food, and have a nice garden. Grew corn and beans in 2013.
Own my own single family home (done).
Own and operate an indie book publishing business. done
Become an award winning author. done! Wisconsin Post Office Murals.
Self publish several books. in progress, 4 completed as 3/2021.
Take the Kid to Disney World, Disney Land
Become financially independent and financially removed from a “day” job. in progress.
Own and train a German Shepard.
Remodel my existing single family house.
Visit Eldon, IA and take my picture in front of the American Gothic House (Done 2012)
Become fluent in Spanish. Study in Mexico.
Dog mushing from Yurt to Yurt, Northern Canada.
Paragliding (Done 2010 at Torey Pines CA)
Have kids. Done Love you Lando
Ride in a Hot Air Balloon. Kentucky balloon festival, or across Cappadocia, Turkey.
Spend the night in a castle, prefer Germany
Whale Watching, Kayaking Baja California (done)
