June Mini-Trip: Mini-trips are open to Rose City Senior Center Members only Mini-trips may be subject to cancellation due to severe weather or unforeseen circumstances.
Bus leave the Senior Center at 9:45 a.m. and returns approx. 4:30 p.m.
Talk by Sam Ducharme South Windsor Senior Center
“Not all those who wander are lost” ~ J.R.R.Tolkien
Our first stop will be at TGI Fridays for an early lunch (lunch on your own). Following lunch we will head over to the South Windsor Senior Center to hear an inspiring talk from Sam Ducharme.
Sam Ducharme set out on a 2180 mile, 14 state backpacking trip from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine to thru hike the Appalachian Trail. During his six month journey he documented the rugged beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, the wildlife, the hardships encountered on the trail, as well as the people, culture and humanity at its finest.
Join us as Sam tells his journey through the trail towns, over the mountaintops and through the backcountry. The images and stories will leave you with a renewed awe of the beauty of our country and its people. See his gear, learn how he cooked, and hear what it is like sleeping in a hammock for six months through three seasons. You will also hear how Sam returned to the trail the following year, connecting with aspiring thru hikers, paying it forward, and his return to the summit of Mt. Katahdin.
Sam Ducharme is a retired K9 Officer and is a lifelong resident of Connecticut. He has two adult sons, both serving in the United States Air Force. As an avid outdoorsman, (and finding the nest empty), Sam decided to buy a backpack and a plane ticket to Georgia. From there, he started walking north. With no prior backpacking experience, he learned on the trail. Gear, trail nutrition, enduring the elements, and the logistics involved in a long distance backpacking trip were hard lessons. After 20 years working within Connecticut’s prisons, the search for a positive recharge resulted in a life changing journey.
Following Sam’s talk, you will have an option to head outside to enjoy a 30-40 minute light hike at the South Windsor Senior Center. This hike is optional and you can remain in the Senior Center instead.
Cost: $3 for transportation. Lunch is on your own. Limited seats available.
Sign up at Reception (by phone or in person) starting on May 7th