We met with the entire eighth grade in Fredonia today during Doug's classes. Jake and Alex came for all five periods and shared their experiences. Emma, Charlotte, Jordyn, and Anna also arrived to help for a few periods each. Their stories really make an impression on the eighth graders because they are so close in age. Plus, their enthusiasm and excitement are contagious.
At midday, there was a break in the classes, so we tried out a new restaurant on Main St. in Fredonia that just opened two days ago. We ordered a tomato-barley-chicken soup that was thick with vegetables and seasoned subtly with herbs. I suspect it was not homemade, but it was tasty and hot. I had a harvest salad with fresh organic greens, apple, craisins, candied walnuts and a bit of cheese topped by a grape vinaigrette dressing. Delicious! Steve selected the turkey and bacon sandwich which was made on fresh bread and served with kettle chips. Service was excellent and very quick. We'll definitely go back.
Harvest salad
During the very last class, Bryan and Amanda's class also was in the classroom. Both of them spoke about the challenges and benefits and what they love about Quest. They were very encouraging to the kids. At the very end, one boy asked me what my favorite part of Quest is. No one has ever asked me that and it caused me to pause a moment. I told him that I love watching the kids play and hearing their laughter during the games and I love walking in the creek gorge with the sheer walls of rock reaching high above us and towering trees swaying beyond that. Afterward, I wished I had said also how much I enjoy seeing their faces light up with new discoveries, like seeing a fawn curled up in the forest, or catching crayfish, or watching the night sky.
Earlier in the day, Steve asked a class how many had siblings who had participated and several put their hands up. He asked one boy what his brother thought and we were shocked to hear him say that his brother had been kicked out. Of course, we have never done that in all our years. Afterward, we checked with the assistant principal and it turns out the brother was part of a ring of thieves who had been discovered while we were out hiking. That year, Steve transported four boys out to the school for interviews and then suspension. We didn't kick him out, he was pulled out by the administrators. Natually, this boy didn't share that part of the story.
I spent hours on the book today. I reviewed another four chapters including the ones on weather, food, equipment, and trials and triumphs. Weather is in great shape. I just need to add a section on us canceling one day of the four day this year. Equipment needs a little punching up, but it's mostly done. Food is also close to being done also.
I might have to consider splitting up trials and triumphs into two chapters because it is so long. There is so much related to medical emergencies that I don't think it fits with the other content. So, I need some input on how to re-organize that one.
We only had time for 1.6 miles today, but that helped boost our total for the month to 93.5 miles! Hooray!
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