“Dad, wake up it is almost 9 AM, who knew we were so tired.”
Yawning, “yeah, I’m still feeling groggy and wow, I am too old to sleep on the ground leaning on a tree.”
“You said it, I’ve still got a couple of the protein bars and some water. Let’s eat and head for the Ranger Station.”
“Good plan, but let’s be careful, I am not sure how much DUCK knows, at times it is as if they set this whole thing up and other times as if they are waiting for us to solve the next clue and then follow us, so they might be waiting for us.”
“Dad, I think if I borrow your glasses and put my hair up and wear your jacket inside out, I would look different enough that I could get in ask where the plaque is without being identified even if DUCK is watching.”
“Brilliant idea, we can get you disguised as we walk.”
After walking for twenty minutes in a Northeastern direction we come a across a maintained trail heading in the right direction. Nancy has my reversible jacket and glasses on and has put her hair up into a bun.
“Nancy, you look older and nothing like yourself. No one will recognize you.”
Twenty minutes later, “Dad, I can see a sign up ahead. Hopefully it will tell us how far to the Ranger Station and we can verify we are on the right path heading in the right direction.”
“Good eyes.”
We get to the trail sign and sure enough it indicates the Summit Trailhead is 0.5 miles and the Ranger Station is 0.8 miles.
“We should be there in about twenty minutes at the pace we have been walking. I’ll hang back and you can find out about the park history and the dedication plaque.”
After twenty more minutes, I can see where the trail widens and find a convenient spot to wait in the dense shrubbery to the left of the trail.
“Nancy, I’ll wait here, if I do not see you come back in 15 minutes, I will come looking for you.”
“If I get into any trouble, I’ll scream so loud that I’ll raise Black Bart himself.”
“Good, be careful and hurry back.”
Nancy head off towards the Ranger Station and I contemplate what words would be like if the letter E was stricken from the Alphabet. Being that statistically over 11% of all letters used in the English language are Es and E is used just over 56 more time than Q, it would change the English language drastically. Maybe we are better off just keeping the 26 letters we have. Pondering this and belly button lint, it is as if Nancy never left as I see her coming back up the trail. I think she found something out as she has a big smile on her face.
“Dad, the plaque is at the Summit, apparently Kermit Roosevelt, son of Theodore, dedicated it himself in 1931 when the park opened. It is on the side of the aerial navigation beacon tower. Apparently the light was so bright ships could sea it from 100 miles out at sea.”
“Well, the Summit Trailhead is just 0.3 miles back up the trail and from there a mile and a half to the Summit. We should be there within the hour.”
“Hopefully it is not another one of these crazy clues.”
“I agree, I’m tired, sore and haven’t had a decent cup of coffee in at least 2 days. I need to sleep in a real bed.”
“No doubt. Besides Mom and Ned expect us back today,it is the 6th and you have work tomorrow.”
“Who is Ned?”
“My brother, your son, maybe that amnesia thing hasn’t worn off.”
“Kidding, of course I remember Ned, we named you and Ned after your great grandparents. Ned and Nancy.”
“Dad, you are terrible.”
“I thought I was funny.”
“No, just weird, let’s go find Black Bart’s treasure.”