It’s our day off, a 7a wake up is way too early. But we have places to go and people to see. Snow Monkey went out early and picked up bagels for the house. Two of the fourteen were egg bagels. I don’t think I’ve ever had an egg bagel before, so I had to try. It was delicious. I was tempted to eat more, but wanted to make sure everyone had their pick before I went in for seconds.
Wonder Woman made a 9:30a appointment at David’s Bridal to go bridesmaid dress shopping. She will be in a friends wedding in October and needs to place her order soon to make sure the dress arrives in time. I don’t know that there are a lot of thru-hikers that can say they went bridesmaid dress shopping while hiking the AT, but we can now!
Afterwards, we went back to the Monkey residence and picked up Momma Monkey who had stayed behind to prepare food for dinner. Then the three of us were off to the boat to meet the guys! Momma Monkey and Monkey Senior rent out a house on a channel to a bay, but keep their personal boats there. We met up with the guys, a cousin, and two friends – there were eleven of us in total going out on the water in a boat and two jet skis.
We spent all afternoon on the water. I kept feeling like I was on the Great Lakes and would have to remind myself it’s salt water. Being a boat and water girl, it was just the soul-filling afternoon that I needed. Around 4p we were going back to the house for a BBQ. Aunt and Uncle Monkey were joining. I made sangria and everyone seemed to like it. I like to feel like I’m contributing, even if it’s just a little bit.
Warthog and Snow Monkey’s brother in law dominated at the cornhole game. They played something like five games, all undefeated. We had a great time visiting. Snow Monkey’s uncle, John, went to college at Western University in Kalamazoo, MI. It’s the same school Warthog went to for his Master’s degree. We enjoyed chatting about Michigan with him. He also shared a story about the time he hiked up Katahdin (where the AT ends). He was in Maine on a work trip and decided he wanted to summit the mountain. So he went into he park, registered, was a bit nervous but went for it anyway. He hiked with a seventy year old man who had summited the mountain countless times. After he reached the top his body was spent. He said it took him forever to get down the mountain and several days to recover fully. No one else in the family knew his story and they were all literally on the edge of their seats listening to him tell it. Uncle John is considering coming out to Maine when Snow Monkey and Wonder Woman finish. Listening to their family talk through details for Maine made me think of my family, who I know is coming out. Just two more months, just another 900 miles or so until I get to see them all again. I’m pretty excited.
After dinner, the party continued on, but I excused myself to be able to make calls. I had talked to my dad earlier in the day. Now I could connect with my sister and mom. I miss them all. Earlier, Snow Monkey’s Aunt Mary asked what the hardest part of being on the trail is. Hands down, it’s being away from the people that I love. I’m having so much fun out here experiencing things I never dreamed of and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take this adventure. But I still miss my family. A lot.
-ansel