Such is the stuff of dreams...
And reality, too. For me. Yesterday. Even though it is cooler here in Podunk, it is still quite warm. After my physical therapy session yesterday, it was time to head out of town again, in search of cool. Walking shoes, an ice chest with cold drinks, a bag of snacks, and hoodies, just in case, were loaded in the car. And we were off, midday.
With no particular agenda, and no specific goal, we couldn't be late and we couldn't get lost. It's a lot easier to have fun when the constraints of time and destination are removed, I believe. We were meandering, headed east, and looking for cooler weather.
In Podunk, heading east means heading towards the Sierra Nevada mountain range. To avoid the road work going on at our end of the national parks, we went up the northeast route, into Kings Canyon National Park.
Grant Grove Village, one of the first stops, held a pleasant surprise: I know what Santa Claus does during the summer! He's a park ranger. And, I might add, he is very knowledgeable about the national parks in general, and Kings Canyon, in particular.
Back in the car, and driving down a winding road lined with breathtaking scenery, we descended into the canyon a bit and eventually ended up at Hume Lake. Being a native Californiana, I have been to Hume Lake many times. No, not to the Christian camps that line the lake, just around it. On the road that connects it to the General's Highway.
Yesterday was different: we took the left fork of the road instead of the right fork. The sign said something about picnic grounds and “day use” facilities. And as we rounded the bend, there it was: the trees parted and we could see the lake. Miles and miles of lake.
From the parking lot, down a gentle slope to the water's edge....
It was shady and welcoming: there was even a bench to sit on and watch the ducks. And the swimmers. There were three of them swimming across the lake. One of them was named Jake. I only know that because two swimsuit-clad, wet-haired girls came to the edge of the shore nearby and yelled “Jake” about a million times.
I couldn't tell if he noticed them or not. After yelling at him for a few minutes, they turned and left: something about it was supper time and they were hungry. We kept an eye on Jake and the other two swimmers.....just in case.
Sure enough, in a few minutes, this young man, named Jake, arrived at our side of the lake and climbed ashore. About 15 and very athletic-looking, he stood and shook the water out of his hair, then straightened up his “tousled” look. Turning around, he noticed us sitting on the bench, smiled, and said “good afternoon!” I immediately liked him: such a polite young man!
The other two swimmers came ashore and the three of them walked off towards supper, too.
It was fun to return to simpler times. Times when swimming in a lake, on a beautiful day, was enough. Picnicking with family at the lake shore was enough. Sitting on a bench, watching the ducks was enough. Enjoying the warm sun filtered through tall pine trees was enough.
No need for anything more elaborate, or complicated, or electronic. No reason to wish I was somewhere else, or doing something else. Just a lovely afternoon of watching and listening and enjoying. A chance to just be....
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