Giant City State Park

We backpacked the 12-mile Red Ceder loop trail at Giant City State Park. 12-miles sounded like a good distance, but it was very rugged, the first trip of the season, and the campsite was at the halfway point with us arriving decently late in the first day, so we really had to push ourselves to get their before dark. It ended up being much colder than expected (19 degree low), and I think that's just too cold. I think we can deal fine with 30-ish, or 28-ish, but 19 is just too cold for me. Oh well. We didn't die, and now we know we can handle 19... so that's something. We had talked about car camping a second night and doing day hiking today... but by the time we finished the loop yesterday, we were pooped. I don't think any of us really wanted to sleep outside in it again, and I was pretty sure I'd hardly be able to walk today (and guessing Mandy will be similarly unable to walk today). We'll, I was right about me. I made it to the kitchen for breakfast and even helped set the table... and I feel really proud of myself for that! I don't think I will accompany Josh to the grocery store today... I think that would just be more than I can handle.

The area was quite pretty and there were a decent number of flowers blooming. Our information said that there were sometimes seasonal streams, but not to count on being able to get water along the trail. Well, the seasonal streams turned out to be in full season. Not a big surprise, but frustrating to be carrying a gallon of water each without needing to!

I apologize if I am not completely coherent. I had a tall glass of coffee after dinner so I could safely drive us the last 2 hours into Chicago... and then I was up for quite a bit after getting home... in addition to being up quite a bit in the tent the night before listening to the howling winds... it sounded like ghosts, or maybe it was the sound of cold... if cold had a sound, that would certainly be it. But all that said, I had fun anyway. I like getting outside.

"The 4 people who end up in Chessers Suite get to have fun...

... everybody else just gets screwed!"

Alright, so Chessers Suite existed for 3 semesters. Where did Micah sleep each of those semesters? Didn't he have the cool bed in the cave under Josh's bed the first 2 semesters, and then the 3rd semester, Josh had his desk in the bedroom, slept under it, and Micah slept lofted above it??? Yes, Josh and I are arguing about where he slept. We'd like an expert opinion.

Trying to find the answer, I went back to my paper journal and I made myself kind of sad.

"I think I haven't said so before, so I'll say so now, I noticed at the beginning of the year that Chessers Suite is really something special, friendship wise. Well, now I truly feel like I'm part of that family. There are a lot of other people who are our friends, but mostly they are Josh, Micah, Daniel, Alex, Mary, and Rachel. I feel really connected to these people and I always want to have them around. Maybe it's just the bonding experience of all hanging out in Micah's bed, but I really miss them right now. I want to play chessers and swing dance and play bridge. I want to be in the Chessers lounge just talking to people and hearing their voices." - Christmas Day, 2000

Along with choice quite on the page of: "Prime and I are like magnets; attraction varies as one over r-squared." - Josh to Matt... yes, a good while before we started dating, and for those who don't know, I was of course 'Prime'.

Ah... sigh... college...