Overwhelmed!!!

Hiking Deleware Rive Gap Area

It's Sunday morning at the Shawnee Inn and I am sitting in the lounge as Evie sleeps in, I hope. We may get rain later in the day, with temperatures ranging from 52º now, to 67º late afternoon. Quite a swing.

Trail Head

Hike Through Rocks, Creeks, And Woods

Yesterday began early for me, with coffee in the lounge as RC grads gradually woke and came downstairs. Around 9:00, we met in one of the meeting rooms for breakfast and Turkish cookies, compliments of Tuba. At 10:00, eight of us jumped in a van and were off for a hike on the Deleware Water Gap National Recreational Area, part of the Appalachian Trail. Our waiter from Friday night's dinner led us, sort of the jack of all trades here at the Shawnee Inn.

Resting

Mountain Laurel Path

It was more rigorous than we thought, mostly up a mountain for the first hour plus, over rock formations, through rhododendron and Mountain Laurel forests, with great views of the Deleware Mountain Gap, its river, and roads. Because of the rocky trail, we hardly had time to look up as we kept our eyes on the trail to avoid tripping. We decided not to finish our climb which, according to our guide, would have been primarily straight uphill. We were happy to turn around and the way down seemed much easier and quicker, despite the rocks and creeks. We were all sore but happy to have done it. 

End Of Ist Half Of Our Hike

A Balancing Act

View Of Deleware River Gap

We were back around 12:30 and decided to have lunch at the Shawnee Craft Pizzeria and Brewery, literally next to the Inn. It was a good choice, not too crowded and we easily found tables and were able to order our beers and pizzas quickly.  At our waiter's recommendation, we ordered the hot and bothered pizza and it was delicious.

Mountain View Winery

By 2:30, we were ready to relax and go back to our rooms, and of course, I took a good nap, We showered around 4:30 and met up with the gang, eighteen of us, and drove 22 to miles to the Moutain View Vineyard, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. They reserved a table for us on their porch. We had our choice of wine or beers and we ordered three of four charcuterie boards which was enough for most of us for dinner. Of course, we could not pass up the loaded french fries, Pretzel twists, and Mediterranean flatbread to share. 

Tuba, Evie, and Ayse

Towards the end of dinner, we paused, and to my amazement, I was honored and presented with gifts from my students, raki, baklava, a few RC moments, and lastly, a Skylight digital photo frame, already loaded with photos from our past, We were overwhelmed with the kindness and thoughtfulness, and filled with gratitude to my students, most who we have not seen in over 50 years. I tried to express my appreciation but fell short. After 45 years of teaching, I have never been so honored and remembered, thank you RC 1974! I am a fortunate guy. 

We left the brewery around 8:30, returned to our Inn, and gathered once again in the meeting room, to enjoy more Turkish delights and we ordered desserts from the Inn's restaurant, cheesecake, black forest cake, and carrot cake and shared, a perfect end to our day. The gathering started to break up around 10:30 and I know Evie and I were tired because we quickly fell asleep.  What a day.