Most every weekend from late Spring to early Fall I am in the mountains or over the pass
camping. I am usually by myself – except for the dogs. I love it. Away from developed
campsites and out in more remote locations is where I end up. No picnic benches or metal fire
pits. I do, sometimes, bring a hammock though. Even in the winter, I have a hard time staying
home when I can be out in the woods or along a river someplace.
Besides following every trail and wandering dirt-gravel roads that I find, I like just being there.
The quiet, if I’m not next to a river, stream or fall, is sometimes so profound I lose myself. Just
the sound of my own footfalls or the dogs racing through the green melts away any stress or
tension that’s been clinging to me during the week. One of the reasons I dislike developed
camping areas is that so many people play music – generally too loudly for – it makes no sense to
me, but I am me and they are them. And people singing or chanting around campfires drives me
nuts.
Animals. I see a lot of animals, especially if I’m are sitting somewhere for a long time. – that is
until one of the dogs notices. As far as bears and cougars, they’re around, but we seem to avoid
each other so far. I hope I won’t be seen on the news one day as the bloated body of a lost
camper, half eaten by something. Lol. But as long as “he died with his boots on” is part of my
epitaph, that’s okay, by god! – lol
When I do run into someone hiking or whatever, I always try not to say things like; “you got an
awful purty mouth” or “you and me is gonna have some fun.” And I always wear at least my
loin cloth with my boots -- lol