Date: 2014-05-15
From: Mountain Home Cabin

To: Kingston, NY
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Five thirty marked the start of the day as it was to be a BIG day. I was not only going to be breaking my previous record of 28.5 in a day - I was going to smash it with a whopping 450 miles. Road miles though, not trail miles (oh how I wish...). My sister, Maya, was making her debut operatic appearance that evening in her high school spring choir showcase. They were performing a few scenes from Aida and she, as a sophomore, had earned the role of Aida! She didn't know it, but I had rented a car and was driving up to see/hear her - there was no way I could have missed it!The problem was that I was turning twenty one the day after I needed to be back in New York leaving Budget, and a school age-reduction code, my only option for getting a car. The nearest budget was over forty miles away though - a pretty difficult hitch at 6:00am. Scott, one of the owners of the hostel, was amazing though and gave me a ride there, some new directions to avoid the DC traffic I hadn't even thought about, and even one of his own maps in case things still went south.The drive itself was uneventful. There was the usual ten songs repeated across every radio station, a few hours of stop and go construction traffic, and the inevitable feeling of, "oh damn, I should definitely have taken advantage of that last rest area."The traffic, especially through New Jersey, was pretty alien and more than little stressful but I made it home just before she was to be taken over for the dress rehearsal. With no real surprise plan I just walked up to her room and knocked to announce my presence. She, all done up thanks to her two friends with her, was almost speechless but managed to get a few words out relating her surprise and happiness to see me. We shared a long hug before my mom called up reminding her that she had a show to get to. Surprise: success.A shower and dinner were on my agenda before riding with my dad over to the church where the concert was to be held. Along with my mother were quite the collection of family friends which was a nice surprise for me. An even bigger surprise, however, was the sound the high school group was able to create - especially my sister, whose voice was unmistakable amid everything. Sitting in the front row I wasn't able to covertly record this copyrighted piece of music so I can't share that, unfortunately. Pictures I do have a few of, however:After the concert wrapped up we headed out as a family to the diner - something we have not done that late in quite a while. While my usual go-to meal is some sort of pancake combo I think I may be over that after the two all you can eat pancake challenges on the trail.As midnight neared I began doubting whether it was even worth staying up for my first legal drink as it was three hours later than I had been going to sleep for the last two months. I had waited too long for this moment though and started checking out hours of the local bars. To my dismay they were all closed! A little bummed I settled for just buying a nice beer at the gas station and making up for it the next day. That was a failure as well though; the computer system hadn't rolled over to the 16th yet and the cashier wouldn't sell me it. I drove home exhausted and a little bit bummed and was asleep in no time.