Date: 2014-05-24
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter to Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Peters Mountain Shelter to Route 501
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

The day I get to see Magic Mama and Two Weeks! I tried to get an early start, knowing I had about 22 miles to cover before I could meet up with the parents at the parking area near Greenpoint. I enjoyed the nice hiking as not all of Pennsylvania is covered in rocks (in fact, much of Southern PA has been some of my favorite day-in-day-out hiking). But it was a very long day nonetheless. I had to stop and air out my feet twice as the heat and sweat can make for a bad time if you don't take good care of those money-makers! The day ended perfectly though as I walked the last two miles through a field followed by a tunnel of sweet-smelling tea olive-like trees. I got to the parking area right as my parents were beginning to walk down the trail to meet me. It was so great to see them after they had braved the 9 hour car ride up to see me (and collect Bubba since he has to return to school for his summer research). We promptly went to dinner at Funck's- a family style restaurant with delicious meatloaf and fried chicken! We then headed to the Best Western in Lickville for a comfy night with showers and clean linens. In the morning, we all ate a hardy continental breakfast before a family day hike. Since Magic Mama has been in charge of the van during all of our slack-packing thus far, she decided she wanted to be the one to hike with me, so Daddy took the car up to the parking area near the 501 Shelter and hiked southbound on the AT until he met up with us on the trail. Meanwhile, Mama and I thoroughly enjoyed hiking together up and over some steady climbs, through the fern filled ridgeline, over the tricky rock fields, and on towards the car. A tough but beautiful 14 mile stretch. She was such a trooper to not only set the 14 mile goal for the day but to complete it with a smile. I truly loved being able to hike with Mama, chatting and catching up the entire day. I am very much looking forward to hiking the Shenandoahs and/or the stretch covering Tinker Cliffs, McAfee's Knob, and Dragons Tooth with her this fall. We met back up with Daddy a little before the William Penn Shelter and continued on until about 4 o'clock when we reached the van. We were all quite hungry at that point, so we headed over to Logan's in Hamburg for a wonderful steak supper! We then went to Cabella's to check out the monstrosity of the store. (I was utterly repulsed by all of the lifeless stuffed "trophies" that had been "taken" by various hunters which included an elephant that had been "taken" by Dick Cabella himself for display in his premier store. I could easily have never stepped foot inside the store and been much better off. And I'll leave it at that.) After making it back to the Comfort Inn in Licksville, we each showered before turning in for a very sound night of sleeping as the day hike had worn us all out. I'm sad to see my family leave to return home as this will be the last time I see them until after I have summitted the Greatest Mountain of Katahdin. It is bittersweet as I know I will miss them terribly but am excited to complete the rest of my journey on my own. I would not be able to hike this hike without their continued love and support and am so thankful for the wonderful friends that I proudly call family.