The Final Day: The Bituminous Trail

Starting Location: Grove City, Pennsylvania Today's Miles: 430

Ending Location: Paramus, New Jersey with Total Trip Miles of 1928

9am departure in astonishing 64 degree cool weather. Quite a difference from our sometimes 110 humid degrees on the trail.

We will have traveled nearly 2000 miles and it really puts in perspective just how far Jewel's Pop is traveling on the nearly 2000 mile Appalachian Trail. Very, VERY impressive just how far that distance truly is. Perhaps L&J want him out to Colorado for some upcoming holidays. If he still is in the walking mood, he would have had to head west in July to get there in time.  Might have to fly... (From here I can hear his Sherpa (Mema) sigh with relief)

At Sherpa's Dad's wake today, we are fully expecting to see Pop with his bushy, white Appalachian trail beard. Juliette will be thinking she won the kid Lottery, "MY Grandpop is SANTA!!!"  

Well, here's a super HIGHLIGHT of our trip: In Stroudsburg, New Jersey:  The Bituminous Trail intersects the APPALACHIAN TRAIL!!! WE got to stand on it! For Jewels, this is her first hike, and she is wearing the t-shirt Pop had sent her. "Hiking Buddy"

Reunion/wake was wonderful!!!

 

The Bituminous Trail Day Three

 Starting Location: EFFINGham, IL.           Trip Miles:   517                                             Total Trip Miles:  1498

Left the town of EFFINGham at 9am. Sadly, we were not able to do ANY of the 'Fifteen Things To Do in Effingham.'

We ate up lots of miles through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Isn't air conditioning one of man's greatest inventions?! While we enjoyed our humid overcast morning, we quickly morphed into "excessive heat warnings" throughout the corn belt.  We are very comfortably cool while listening to endless murder podcasts.  

Jewels is looking forward to meeting her Mema and Pop (Bilbo)tomorrow! Imagine this: She and Pop have each traveled nearly 2000 miles to meet each other!🥰🥰

Jewels also looks forward to her reunion with Daddy and her Pomeranian, Mando! Shes been getting massive amounts of sleep preparing for all the partying and has been practicing her smiles 😊for them. 

The Bituminous Trail Day Two

Today's start:  Topeka, Kansas                          Today's Miles:    414                                   Total Miles: 981                                               

On the road at 8:45am. This is a lot later start than Jewel's Pop, Bilbo, who is hiking the Appalachian Trail. (AT)    In our defense, the little Princess has A LOT of stuff to shlep. They don't make backpacks big enough, so the Toyota 4Runner is perfect for our hike. 

There are a lot of cool things to see in all the cute Kansas,Missouri and Illinois towns we are passing at 80 miles an hour.  We would have time to sight-see if we were going at the 15-20 miles a day pace they do on the AT.  (Jewels just did a HUGE eye roll while thinking, 'yeah, we do that in 15 minutes, Pop')

Not too much happening. Just to keep us old people from napping, MOMosa keeps swerving to avoid the possum and armadillo roadkill.  The Bituminous Trail delivers.  

Amazing pirogies in Columbia, MO, home of the Hickman Kewpies.... For real.

Amazing Italian meal in Effingham, IL where we will spend the night!

                  

 

Day One: The Bituminous Trail

 We are traveling nearly 2000 miles on what I will call 'The BT' (Bituminous Trail). This is our trip blog.  

Todays Start: Evergreen, Colorado                      Today's Miles:  567   

Lauren and Juliette picked Steve and me up at Denver International airport about 11am. We are traveling to Paramus, New Jersey for Lauren's hubby, Justin's, grandpa's funeral. (Grandpa's the one who spontaneously jumped up at J&L's wedding reception to lead the Rutgers football  fight song🕺🏻)

We did a potty stop in Eastern Colorado and walked at least a MILE to the "Luxury Restroom Trailer". I didn't know those words could be used in the same sentence. And, everyone's idea of 'luxury' is relative. Like, if you were crazy enough to hike the 2000 mile Appalachian Trail (AT), this restroom trailer might be a highlight of your day. (And if it's constantly raining, you might even think 'cabin!')

Actually, Lauren' father-in-law is nearing the end of his Appalachian Trail hike, so I will be making some comparisons. His AT trail nickname is, well, I'll keep that confidential in case he's wanted for squatting or something. I'll just make up a random name and will call him 'Bilbo.'

Now, WE all need trail names, right? Juliette will hence forth be Jewels. Steve, hmmm, The Thinker?

Lauren will be MOMosa and me, I'll think about it. 

Ok, I'll be 'Nanny Goat.'  (A hated nickname my Dad gave me as a kid. He thought all my friends (and boyfriends!) would like to hear him call me that when they stopped over. Therapy has made a dent.)  So, while 'Bilbo' recently scrambled up boulder-strewn mountains in pouring rain and slippery mud on the Appalachian  Trail, on the BT, I easily and spritely spring into the driver's seat of the Toyota 4Runner. 

Now, back to why would anyone WALK 2000 miles when you can drive?  This question reminds me of a discussion with our son, Ryan's, best friend Kurt when they were 16 with shiny new drivers licenses. "Hey Kurt, do you think you will still ride bikes to each others houses once in awhile?" His reply, "...uhhhh....why?"

If you were hiking the AT, like Bilbo, you would likely have deep, meaningful conversations with fellow hikers. On OUR Bituminous Trail, we listen to murder podcasts. As Jewels is only 2 months old we are not yet forced to listen to mind- numbing stories of Clifford the big red dog. 

Just like Bilbo who sees moose, grouse, and other furry and feathery friends, we see wildlife too.

Me: Hey! Look at those COWS!

The Thinker: Those are steers.

Me:  What....ever!

The Thinker: THEY care!!

We've now trekked into Kansas. Billions of 2000 pound Buffalo used to roam this Godforsaken part of the country. It keeps me on my toes while driving. They could literally show up again at any time.  

Jewels has slept for the last 8 hours. Can we say midnight Party!!