Letter #34 To My Benefactor

 

Dear Benefactor,

The hike I’m going to tell you about now was not as eventful as the last one I told you about. However, the night before was interesting.

I think I told you two letters ago that I was really trying to branch out and do different trails rather than the Fragrance Trail over and over and over. Remember, I did the Cutthroat Trail on the other side of the mountains with Adriana and her friend, Molli?

I had such a good time with them, that I thought, “Hey, that would be kind of fun to do with Ken.”

Friday morning—July 30—I broached the subject with him. (He works at home on Fridays.)

“I thought of a great idea.”
“What’s that?” he answered, staring at the computer in front of him.
“It would be fun to go overnight in the woods—like Adriana and Molli did—and then do the Cutthroat Trail the next morning.”
“Hm.”
Well, that didn’t sound too promising.
“I really want to try out my new sleeping bag,” I continued. Ken wasn’t too excited that I had just spent $319 on a Mountain Hardwear down sleeping bag. Maybe that was the wrong thing to say.
“I should probably work,” he answered from his side of the home office.
“Uh, I really need to get some more exercise. I’ve got to keep that Fitbit going.” Ken was upset that I had spent $199 on my Fitbit. I just couldn’t keep my mouth shut for the life of me.
“I guess we could go after I’m done working,” he conceded.
“Let’s go right now.”
“Mer, I’ve got to work.”
I should have been working on my manuscript at that moment myself, but decided I was in the mood to go camping. I ran around the house gathering up supplies for our little jaunt into the woods. I pictured it in my mind’s eye already: a nice, romantic snuggle around the fire after our delicious meal on the camping stove… we would play a few games of cards by the light of the Coleman lantern… we would retreat to our cozy, little tent there in the deep, dark woods….

Here’s what really happened:

Colonial Creek Campground: We drove right by.
Lone Fir Campground: Booked solid.
Klipchuck Campground: Booked solid.
Early Winters Campground #1: Booked solid.
Early Winters Campground #2: Booked solid.

By this time, it was around 8:30 at night and we were racing another vehicle to find a campsite, any campsite. I had visions of us trying to sleep in the back of the Honda CR-V on the side of the road. Cutthroat Trail—the trail we planned on doing in the morning—was miles and miles behind us.
“Pearrygin is going to be booked solid as well,” I told Ken.
“I’m sure you’re right.” And then, he said those words I feared: “We can always stay on the side of the road.”
Not in this lifetime, Mister.
Then, I remembered: My friend, Tami, had stayed at a KOA campground in Winthrop the weekend before. I quickly took out my new Smartphone (another purchase Ken wasn’t thrilled about) and spoke into it: “KOA. Winthop. Phone number.” Within seconds, there was the phone number in front of me. I clicked on the number.
A really nice man answered, “Yes, we have room available.”
We raced over to the KOA and paid for our site. The bill came to $48. Forty-eight dollars. Holy crap. But, it beat sleeping on the side of the road.
The campsites were on top of each other, I think there were about 60 dogs and 437 children staying there—most of them right in our vicinity—we forgot our pillows (and the can-opener and the flashlight), but we had a great time.
The next day, we hiked Cutthroat Trail and thus ended our adventure.

Until next time.

I hope you are doing well, my kind benefactor.

Sincerely,

Marie

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