To the Tree (and Beyond)

Hiking up (and I do mean UP) the Kennedy Trail on a hot day did not seem like a natural choice, but we gamely followed our leader. The pace was brisk! I guess folks wanted to be done before the day really heated up. [Trust me, it was already hot enough.] I chose to lag behind.

As foretold, I could see the pond at Cherry Springs. And as I trudged along, I realized I had fixed my gaze on slope above the Kennedy Trail, yesterday—wondering, then, at the patches of reddish-brown mixed with green on the hillside.

There had been some chatter before we set out: Would I hike to the trail junction (as I typically do), or to “the tree?” I had no answer for that, not being familiar with the landmark. [Now I am—twinned oaks in the middle of the trail, about three miles up.]

We regrouped in the shade and agreed to continue a little bit farther before turning back, somewhat shy of seven miles when all was said and done. And we were done, indeed.