30 Miles

The Boy Scouts hiked through Castle Rock State Park and Big Basin Redwoods on their way to the trails end--the Pacific Ocean. As the exhausted hikers felt the cool breeze and sniffed the salty air, their pace quickened. Soon the blue of their goal came into sight, and Kade deserted his 27 pound pack and hiking boots. The warm sand brought therapeutic relief to his weary feet. The cool waters lapped at his legs.

My 75 pound boy is so slender that his backpack couldn't be cinched tight enough around his waist, so it slowly rubbed his back until blisters formed on the first day. To alleviate the soreness on the next days, a layer of moleskin was applied and covered with duct tape--never leave home without it!

My little boy's accomplishment makes me proud, but I really am happy to have him home again. I missed him. Though the night he returned, he set up his tent and repacked his belongings into a new pack...preparing for the next hike while the blisters were still oozing. Dedication.