The Wonderland Journal

Miles hiked: Zero

I grab a bunch of carbs from the continental breakfast before laying out my leftover snacks. I sure do have a lot of them!

Dad takes Voyager and my laundry to the laundromat. Voyager and I head to the store, where Rafiki and Luxy already are. 

We shop for a while. 

I’m a little stressed. 

It’s Father’s Day and I don’t know what to do. I could get him a card and a cake, but that doesn’t seem like a good gift. 

But it’s hard, because I’m on trail and would have had to plan way ahead of time what to do for him. So I failed!

I express this to Rafiki, who says,” Get him the card and cake. You guys go out for dinner, just the two of you. We’ll have the cake set up when you return.”

I don’t know if a card, cake, balloon, snickers bars, and dinner will be good enough. My family are good gift givers. 

I do it anyways. 

Later I grab a coffee and a bear claw — filled with almond filling!! It is delicious. My coffee is great, too!

Rafiki and I work on my sleeping pad for a while. Maybe 40 minutes. We can’t find the leak! Voyager comes in and finds the leak in less than ten minutes!

It’s weird. I had to put the right amount of pressure on it and the hole had to be right on the water line for it to bubble!

I go upstairs and chat with Dad for a while. Meanwhile, Rafiki is upset because he can’t fit everything in his bear can. Voyager comes in and packs it for him. 

Go, Voyager!

Dad and I go to a Mexican restaurant. I get some tacos as I talk about things I’ve learned on trail, particularly priorities. 

“I have a little bit, but that little bit matters a lot. And sometimes I think something matters, but it doesn’t. So I just let it go.”

“I think you’re exactly where the trail wants you to be,” Dad says. 

We walk back to the hotel. It’s a much longer walk than I remember. I’m nervous as I text Rafiki and Voyager to update them. 

“Leaving the restaurant.”  

Only soon we’re way past the hotel. “The walk is really long back,” I say confused. 

Dad laughs and I see the ice cream store in sight. 

Oh my gosh. He took us to get ice cream, and I got him his favorite cake!

“Are you sure you want the waffle cone before you go out on trail? Won’t that be a lot of sugar on your stomach?”

Dad shrugs. “I eat whatever I want out here.”

I update the group. 

“WE’RE GETTING ICE CREAM!”

We head back, and we run into Connor!

Again, I update the group. 

We keep walking. 

Dad stops to read a sign on some colonial war hero.

I update the group. 

We finally reach the hotel! I tell the group we’re coming up. 

Dad opens the door to our room. 

It’s silent. The balloon and card sit on the bed. 

IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE A SURPRISE, GUYS! WHERE YOU YELL, “SURPRISE!!”

Oh, my gosh. 

Dad walks in. “Hi, Bumper, he says to Bumper, who is hiding next to the bed. 

Everyone slowly comes out of their hiding places. 

“Happy Father’s Day!” I say. 

Wow. Just wow. I’m laughing and mortified at the same time. How did this happen?

Rafiki is laughing at all the stops Dad made on the way to the hotel. 

Well light the candles and let Dad blow them out — not a birthday, but still fun!

Well, it’s still a good time. We all eat cake and discuss plans for tomorrow. 

Well, happy Father’s Day, Dad! I love you!