Day 1213: All packed up

Eight kids showed up for the work party and did a terrific job packing up the gear and food for the two day hike.  Chattering excitedly, they tucked pots, banana chips, raisins and pliers into their cook bags.  One girl, who was bubbling over,  said she has never slept out in the woods before.  Her main experience was sleeping on a trampoline outside with four other girls.

We hit seventy five miles today after a short walk in the rain this afternoon.  Willow leaves, forsythia, greening grass, rosy spirea, fragrant wild onions everywhere, and mud.  Everywhere mud.  In fact, Paddy likes it so much, he spent the night sleeping under the shed in mud and tracked it inside, not only on his feet, but also on his belly.

Six pots of pansies

Lilies and lupine are up, but the azaleas are a mess.  The deer have eaten all blossoms on the top and winter damage has ruined the lowered branches.