Catching a Glimpse of the REAL Phil

So when we last left off, Mike and I had left our wives at the Community Center for a four hour nap and Mike and I had been wandering all over Punxsutawney. The thing about scouting a new place, is that you work up a sweat. Mike and I had searched for two hours for Gobbler's Knob, but we were only equipped with a very generic town map that wasn't helpful.

We headed back to the Community Center to be with our wives when they woke up. So we woke them up and bundled them in layers. That was at 4am. We gathered our things, putting sleeping bags and what not in the car before getting our paw stamp for the bus ride to Gobbler's Knob.

So there we were, so close to Phil's stump and the stage where the festivities would take place. There were about 5,000 people there by 5am, YMCAing, dancing and singing with the masses. The crowd was split into two sections; college kids and a family section. The biggest difficulty to overcome that February 2nd morning, was the dropping temperatures. It was 14 degrees and the only hope for warmth was a large bon fire and a long line for $1.00 hot chocolate. There were many oddities to take in like the guy dressed up like Tigger or the guy in the Parrot suit.

The norm was the multitude and variety of groundhog hats. So we ran in place and sang to some songs with the DJ who was all decked out in his back coat and top hat. Around 6am, when our toes were numb there was a spectacular fireworks show right above the trees.

It began to snow just before day break, and excitement began to grow as all 15,000 people in attendance crowded center stage to see what Phil would say. So there we were as the elders of the Inner Circle headed up on stage. Greetings were given all around and the cheers went up for each dignified member.

Then it was time. It was the moment we had been waiting for. They knocked on the door three times and Phil met us. He was held high and greeted us all. Then he was placed on top of his stump to make his prognostication to the Inner Circle. (He speaks groundhogese ya know). Then his scroll was read and we found out that Phil did NOT see his shadow meaning that there would be an early spring.

We took pictures before leaving Gobbler's Knob to tour the town. Groundhog Day was playing in the Community Center, so we laughed with the crowd at Bill Murray's antics, and clapped in unison to the Pennsylvania Polka. We went and saw the ice sculptures and the chain saw guys who were turning logs into wooden groundhogs at an alarming rate. There is also a Ground Hog Zoo where there were two "back up" groundhogs I guess. Sculptures of Phil were scattered around the town decorated in different ways like so many other cities across our great nation have done. It was very festive and it was snowing heavily. We capped of our time in Punxsutawney by eating at The Punxsy Phil's Family Restaurant. Good hometown cooking for $4.95 a plate. Ya can't beat that!

Sadly it was time to depart, head to our hotel 1/2 hour away and go back to hibernation myself. We woke up at 9pm, enjoyed a local pizza, and went back to bed with thought of Phil dancing in our heads. It was a very enjoyable, memorable experience that we'll never forget. Maybe we'll see you and yours in Punxsy next February 2nd.