We decided to take the day off. I woke up around seven. There was a spritely orange haired vagabond in denim coveralls with no shirt underneath standing on top of a picnic table playing a ukulele. His friend, an almost perfect replica except in bohemian pants and tie dye shirt is dancing with his arms in the air whistling. Their female friend emerges from the tent and begins to sing about beautiful mountains and strange utopian lands with limitless bread and wine and anthropomorphized eagles.
They form a soul train of sorts and encroach upon a neighboring camp. An old vet sits and tries to restoke his fire from the night before. I get bits and pieces of their conversation as I make coffee.
“Thanks for your service man.”
“Thank you.”
“Yeah, I think war is a tool the wealthy elite use to keep us poor man. I would never join the military. But that’s cool that you did…. I suppose.” There is a couple that I spoke with when we rolled in the day before that are cooking on a nice propane stove. I walk over and ask if I can boil water on it and avoid the chore of setting up my Whisperlite. When I come back, the free spirit is expounding on the nature of fiat currencies and the shackles of possession.
“So you know money is just an illusion right man. We have to free ourselves of desire and possession. All I own is this ukulele. And that sweet Land Rover over there.” His car was sweet. So was his tent. His sandals appeared to be fine Italian leather and the coveralls, spotless, were likely reclaimed denim hand stitched by felons reharmonized into society through a strict vegan diet and a charismatic millennial boss with irreproachable white collar hands and a starched shirt.
“Moneeeeey, is just an illuuuuusion,” the young lady sang softly after he spoke it. The bohemian hummed along and appeared to have acquired a gourd to use as a shaker.
"I think the west is just going to be crazy this winter and we're heading for hard times man. I'm going to Florida. I read online that there are millions of fresh water springs that are secret and it is all honey and heaven there. They don't like hippies though, so I might have to cut my hair. But I'm at the point in my life where I would do that for a glass of water."
This is a rest day. I wander down to the marina, feed the fish, eat an ice cream, hide from the sun, and charge my phone. At some point I jump in the lake.
We don’t know each other. I’m just one of your many subscribers. I was attracted to your blog title and decided that I would love to make you my first and only blog to follow. I haven’t been disappointed. The eloquence and flow of your writing takes me on your journeys with both of you.
Thank you for wisking me off into another adventure and pulling me out of my everyday life for a bit.
Thanks Natalie. Out of curiosity, how did you find us?
Rick Kimmel
Hi Chris. We are Jennifer and Rick who met you at Big Bend Campground. We gave you some cooking oil and chatted for awhile. Just wanted to say hi. Enjoying you blogs. Look forward to them.
We don’t know each other. I’m just one of your many subscribers. I was attracted to your blog title and decided that I would love to make you my first and only blog to follow. I haven’t been disappointed. The eloquence and flow of your writing takes me on your journeys with both of you.
Thank you for wisking me off into another adventure and pulling me out of my everyday life for a bit.
Thanks Natalie. Out of curiosity, how did you find us?
Hi Chris. We are Jennifer and Rick who met you at Big Bend Campground. We gave you some cooking oil and chatted for awhile. Just wanted to say hi. Enjoying you blogs. Look forward to them.
Hey Ri k,
Great to hear from you. Hope your travels are goung well. Where are you now?