5 hrs, 11.9 kms
Actual date: Nov 4, 2015
Broad Top City earns a 2 out of 3 for name honesty: it's on Top of a mountain, it is Broad (so much so that you can't tell that it's on top of a mountain) but it's not a "City" . Most hilltops around here are narrow ridges, but here there a town on a plateau on top of a mountain.
An older couple seemed interested in a chat so I ask them the reason for the location.
"This was a coal mine" they tell me. "in fact, coal was being mined right underneath the town. Then the houses started collapsing into holes in the grounds. That's when they stopped mining... back in the 50s." He points to the edge of his yard. "The house right next to us collapsed, but we were lucky--ours didn't"
"And did the mine compensate people who lost their home?"
"No"
"But the town didn't die... I guess people like living here" I point out.
"I was born and raised here... and I'll probably die here," his wife chimes in.
I guess some Americans actually are attached to their "native land" after all...
But this doesn't mean Broad Top City folk haven't ever traveled. All around town there are banners titled "Broad Top City Heroes" with a picture of a local who fought in an overseas war.  
"Is your picture on one of these?" I ask the gentlemen
"Yes ... I fought in Korea"
"So did you have to do something heroic so your name could be on the banner?" I ask
"No, you just have to have served--and your family pays 100$ for the banner."
My thought is, just because your in the military doesn't automatically make you a "hero" but I decide to keep that opinion to myself....
I head to the park where there a monument to the coal miners... and a couple of rather rowdy kids who sort of listen to my songs. Haven't had rowdy kids in a while, so it doesn't bother me. As long as they don't throw rocks at me...
No, they just dance along and take videos of me on their smartphones...