Date: 2012-06-21
From: Hwy 325, Clark's Valley

To: Footbridge at Hwy 225
Miles today: 9.6

Trail mama is very tired tonight so is going to take a break from writing and let SOS do it all tonight...except I will put on the Road Name of the Day: STRAWBERRY STREET which is in downtown Harrisburg, PA. Since SOS loves strawberries, I thought it would be a good pick for today.SOS here:Short day today. It was either hike 9.6 miles or 25 miles. I chose the easier of the two.Because we had two cars, ours and Randy and Meredith's, we drove both cars first to my previous destination and left our car there and Meredith drove all of us to where the trail crossed Pennsylvania highway 325 where Randy and I hike south against the grain.It was just as hot as yesterday and we had an immediate ascent of 714 feet and I was dripping with persperation within 15 minutes. Before the day was through we would be hiking in 95 degrees - Hot Hot Hot just like yesterday.Meredith and Trail Mama stayed at the drop off spot for a time. Meredith wanted to paint by the stream at Clark's Valley.While Meredith was painting, Trail Mama met Milkman. Milkman, Handbone and Pony Love were my saviors yesterday. They verified for me which way was North on the trail. I spend at least an hour and a half to two hours being unsure of which way was trail north. When I tell this to people, they usually say don't you have a compass? A compass is not always the anwser. Today Randy "Popcorn" and I were hiking south against the grain and the first two miles we hike north even though we were hiking the trail south. My three saviors Milkman et el were hiking out of Duncannon PA north and were able to verify trail North for me. Whew!Because of my mixup yesterday, it meant I probably added two or three extra miles to my hike as I was being a human yoyo. It made for a very long long day yesterday.Because of the heat and the extra miles yesterday I felt like my energy level hit an all time low today. I created an ice cream motivation today because I knew as soon as Popcorn and I finished today 2 miles down the road from the trailhead I could get a Strawberry Shake from 3B Ice Cream store and I did and it was as good as yesterday.Besides seeing Milkman for the second time, I also passed two other thru hikers I knew, Gray Owl and Hlllbilly. Everyone seemed to be sluggish from the heat.Towards the end of the day we met a few thru hike from Ohio, Bucket, and his daughter, Basil, not a thru hiker, who was hiking a couple of weeks with her dad.Randy "Popcorn" seemed to have no trouble hiking the trail, who like my sons, sings when he is hiking. If he would have had the lead instead of following me, I think I would have had trouble keeping up with him.It was great to get back to the air conditioned Pilot, drop down the hill two miles and get our strawberry shakes. We drove directly back to the rooms from there; took showers and went to downtown Harrisburg PA for dinner. We ate at McGrath's Irish Pub and the food was delicious. I had a Reuben Sandwhich and Trial Mama had a meatloaf dinner.Today it seems fitting that, I want to honor the Williams' family for making a difference in my Christian walk. I remember Trail Mama and I helping Meredith pack to move to Poplar Grove, IL to marry Randy, a dairy farmer. I thought Trail Mama and I had the speed record for marrying 6 weeks after our first date but I believe Randy and Meredith shattered that record. The story would probably end here if it was not for the US Army Reserves. In 1987 I was assigned to a Finance Company that was being sent to Fort MCCoy WI for annual training in the field. Meredith was expecting her second child, Richard, and she needed help since her sister had gone back home because Richard was taking his own sweet time coming into the world. Meredith was excited to have Trail Mama there to help with Randy and Meredith's other three children, Christi, Melissa and Carrie.This happenstance cemented a lifelong relationship between the Williams and Summers families.One of the first great memories was the homecoming parade for baby Richard. The Williams' three girls and our daughter Megan and son Joshua decorated up bicycles and wagons and escorted Baby Richard and Mom up the long lane to the farm house. Over the years we did everything from a New Years Eve Party on the Pond, a football game together to see Courtney play against Western Illinois to two weddings, first for Christi and then for Carrie.Every Spring break for years we would drop Josh and Megan off with the Williamses and Trail mama and I would fly to Phoenix AZ. It was great for Josh and Megan to experience the farm life and for Trail Mama an I to share some priceless times and memories together in AZ.The Williams family have always made Jefferson Prarie Lutheran church a part of their identity and as a result it has become a part of ours. We never miss a Sunday when we visit the Williamses. It is an incredible part of who they are and who we are. Thanks Williamses for sharing your family and your church with us. Because of the Williamses I am a much stronger Christian and they and their church are part of my Christian heritage.It is my and Trail Mama's desire that the Circle be unbroken in the next generation and the next generation and the next generation on in finitum. We believe to guarantee that, we need to make room for the next generations and the best way to do this is through youth camps. This is why we are "Hiking for HIM". Please make a pledge per mile hiked to the capital funds Right Future Camppaign and make our youth camps in IN second to none. You can do this by clicking on the Right Future Campaign button in the column to the left. Thank You!