Ciao For Now . . .

After another great, long day we headed up to Whipple Dam State Park to hike, swim, and BBQ with Matt McMahon’s family. We were welcomed with open arms by Marge and Sam, Matt’s parents, along with his sister Cathy and her cute, water-loving puppy. Cathy is actually a caterer, and with Marge and Sam well-practiced in camping with large groups, we were greeted by quite the spread. I personally loved the olive tapenade and marinated grilled mushrooms. We definitely appreciated (ate) all of it after an afternoon of planting, repotting, weeding, and digging fence-post holes. Not to mention a great swim and a few hilarious games of sharks and minnows (that’s right). This was the last of many great days and nights which Matt, the “East Coast guru”, had put together for the tour. He left the park with his family, en route to the airport and New York City, where he lives and works as a restoration ecologist with Great Eastern Ecology. We all appreciated his hard work, great sense of humor, and especially his dance moves throughout the tour. He’s a big sweetheart, not to embarrass him or anything. We’ll all miss him, but the BBQ, thanks to both Matt and his family, was a great way to send him off.

By: Jenny Vazquez