A Walk Across America - Chapters 5-6

As Peter and Cooper were walking the weather started turning bad.  The snow started falling and had to find a place to sleep and get warm.  Peter bought some new boots because his Converse tennis shoes were not holding up to the cold weather and rough roads.  On Thanksgiving day Peter went into a store and bought Cooper 3 pounds of hamburger and got himself some apples, sweet potatoes, cranberries and chestnuts.  They had Thanksgiving feast over a campfire.  Peter loved their meal.  I enjoy turkey and dressing on Thanksgiving.  I cannot imagine spending Thanksgiving alone in the woods with my dog.  That would make me sad.  I wonder why his family didn't join him and celebrate Thanksgiving on the road wtih him.  I thought it was funny when  Cooper woke up and found all the snow outside the tent and wanted to play so bad that he tore the tent down.  He is a very smart dog.  Peter and Cooper had to walk through bad weather.  They began to wonder if they would make it.  They were weak from lack of food and really began to doubt themselves when a man in a van pulled up and gave them some apples.  I would have asked the man for a ride to the nearst hotel instead of the apples.  Peter is really determined to make this walk because he could have had comfort if he had only asked.  When Peter and Cooper reached Chattham Hill, a school teacher invited them to stay at his house overnight.  This is strange to me.  I'm not sure I would invite a total stranger to spend the night or be willing to spend the night in a total stranger's house.  It seems to work for Peter though.  When the school teacher told Peter about Homer, he was determined to see him, even if it meant going miles out of his way,.  It surprised me that old man Homer could bounce up the mountain with a thirty-five pound sack on his back and Peter could barely keep up with him.  Homer was a strong old man.  Homer and Peter seemed to have something in common even though Homer grew up in the mountains and Peter grew up in a well-to-do family.  They bonded quickly.  Homer even invioted Peter to stay and I was surprised that Peter actually considered it.  The invitation touched him but he knew he had to keep walking.  Peter told Homer he would return one day and I believe he will.