"And Now For the Rest of the Story".........
The next morning the sun rose with a promise of a better day. The kids looked rested, Daryl was in the manly hunter’s mode and I hated wildlife. After breakfast we followed the creek bed, wadding and exploring each new bend. At one point we stopped to admire a small hole in the side of a cliff. I picked a rock and with strength and accuracy that amazed me I launched the rock at the hole and out flew an owl. “Monalea” Daryl said, “You woke him up.” “Big deal" I snarled, "some of his cohorts kept me up all night, why should he get to sleep?”
While hiking, we found a nice camping spot several miles away from our original campsite. It actually had a nice shade tree, several blades of grass and looked inviting; unlike the other place that screamed, ‘Death Valley, camp at your own risk.’ We hiked back, broke camp and moved to our new site. Once set up we enjoyed shade, birds and a more welcoming campsite. 
That evening we stood around the campfire roasting hotdogs and laughing. As we ate and visited, a skunk boldly came into camp and began to rummage through our things. He acted like he owned the world and from our point of view he did. We stood back in horror and waited for him to call in his friends and family. He boldly marched to the table where we were sitting and began to rummage around under the table. Slowly we crept away from the table and stood outside the camp as he made himself at home. In a short while in marched his friends and family.
We each looked to the other for wisdom, guidance and bravery but no one stepped forward. With one wild look from our fearless leader we all seemed to develop ESP at once and began to grab up our camping gear throwing things in the back of the truck. The 3 tents were ripped from their spots and tossed in with wild abandonment along with our other gear. As we loaded in the vehicles, some still holding half eaten hotdogs, we praised God because we had escaped with our very lives.
Today, August 22 2007 my idea of rouging it is a late bellboy, I have traded in my tent for a hotel key and my definition of getting ‘back to nature’ is flowers delivered to me by a local florist.
Psalms 53:5 "There they were, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread."
8 comments:
Wow, what an adventure! Given your history with animals (pets), I was surprised to learn what a wimp you are when it comes to wildlife!!
HA!!
Enjoyed your stories, as always. :)
Lisa,
On my own ground I enjoy the wildlife, but not on their terf. Sooooo, I guess I am a wimp.
Monalea
I love it! You and I could have lots of fun 'roughing' it and we'll let the others take on the wildlife.
Are you better?
Kathy
Kathy, I vote we go 'roughing' it together and drag along our other blogging friends.
I'm going to live!
Monalea
I'm glad you are going to live.
Where do you want to go - I'm gain for anywhere away from Quiteque.
Kathy
The Hilton, Marriott, etc. etc. etc.
What year was this. I am from Quitaque and worked at the park for a couple of years in high school. While it is a beautiful park and I have mowed all of it at one time or another I wouldn't want to camp there. One day a rattle snake made it home on the step of the office and I just waived all of the cars through, even the campers I was not going out there to collect the entrance fee as long as the snake was there.
Stachia,
We went camping in May of '98. I don't blame you for allowing the snake to call the shots, you are one smart cookie.
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