Last Friday(Aug. 7) Tristan and Troop 110 boarded the Amtrak train headed for Cimarron, NM and the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch. We had him prepared as best as we could. We got him the nice new hiking boots, new hiking socks($18 a pair, they better be worth it and not give him blisters, lol), hiking backpack with water bladder, camp gear, new moisture wicking hiking clothes, bear bags, rain gear. Do you think I thought to get him a camera to take along?? No. No, I didn't think of that very important item to take on a 10 day expedition across the country. Ugh. So annoyed with myself. He took a little trac phone with him but, I am betting the battery didn't last long and the picture quality is going to suck. Oh well. Hopefully the memories will stay with him throughout his life.
I also forgot to get a good pic of he and Jeremy standing together, him in his uniform. I was just so flustered at the train station. I think I was the only parent freaking out about every single thing. He is my first born. I worry about every single little thing. It is because I care so much. Not because I don't want him to do things or have fun. I just know there is so much that can (and usually does) go wrong. But, I bet he is learning and growing so much in these 10 days! I am so happy that the church provided this for the whole troop. I know that the train fare, the week in Philmont, food, etc. was a pretty penny. I each boy was about $1500 for camp/hike fees and train fare. We had to pay $100 to sign him up, get him a physical, and pay for hike gear which came out to about $600ish. Oh and he needed money for the train food, bus fare from train station to Philmont Ranch, and money to spend at the base camp trading post. We sent an extra $125 for all that so hopefully that covered his needs. Though it is an expensive endeavor, it should be well worth it for the life experience. Travel was such a BIG part of my life growing up and it taught me a lot of stuff and gave me some street smarts. We haven't been able to travel as much or as far as I imagined traveling with my own little family but, one day soon....we almost have this figured out, lol!
Okay, so it is really weird to me that this is my little baby, Tristan. What the heck happened?!?! For reals. He will be turning 15 years old in 8 days and he is starting to turn into a young man. I never realized how strange and confusing it would all be.....FOR ME. I knew this time was strange and confusing for the adolescent but, who knew that I would have no idea what was happening either, lol?!?!?! He just looks so grown up.
The boys were supposed to arrive in their scout shirts but, Jason Skog (leader) had t-shirts for them when they all got to the train station. Oh, and Tristan knew everything that day. The heavens parted and the knowledge of all things hiking was bestowed upon his humble being. *sigh* It's okay, I knew everything once too. Smh. He won't always know everything, right!?!? Lol!
On the whole, he was in a pretty good mood and was probably just embarrassed that his mother is an emotional basket case. Whatever. I am who I am and he is just going to have to deal with that! :)
He was in a good mood despite me freaking out about a lack of camera. He was just so sure that if he put his trac phone in airplane mode that it would last the whole 10 days for pictures. I think he is living in La-La-Land but, whatever. So, they all boarded the train and were off . They were supposed to arrive by 10am Saturday morning and start their hike into the mountains Saturday afternoon. We heard that the train broke down in Colorado and they had to bring a new engine in to push them back to Grand Junction. So they didn't get to Philmont until Sunday morning and left on the hike Sunday afternoon. I hope he is having a blast and it is a positive experience for him and not a miserable one. Time will tell. He is supposed to be home Sunday(16th) at 11am. Unless the train breaks down, which from my experience happens almost every time. (I've ridden the train A LOT. And every time there has either been a break down or we are late, late, late. You would think they would know how to prevent this by now since trains have been in operation for nearly 200 years now but, whatever.) I hope he gets home in time for school to start on Monday.
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