The other day was unusually gorgeous for this time of year. Crystal blue sky, flame torched alders burning against the background of the darkest forest green pines. Contrasts that pulled me away from my office and on to an adventure.  The rains would be coming soon enough replenishing this part of the world – but today, today was for me.

I went to an area with hiking trails not too far from where I live where there are several hundred hikable acres  close to a river. My deliberate vagueness on location has to do with what was to happen next.

Along the trail were recent hoof prints. As fresh as the tracks were, I was hoping I might catch a glimpse of the owner further along my walk, so I followed the tracks down a familiar path until they disappeared in mud, sand and other footprints.  Soon I encountered a group of people consisting of 3 small children wearing flip-flops, 3 dogs and several adults. We passed each other with comments on how beautiful a day it was  and continued the opposite direction. I thought it odd that the children were just wearing flip-flops. Although the day was warmish for here, it wasn’t exactly hiking attire.

I came across the horse trails soon after and followed them but as I was getting close to the river,  dirt and mud was replaced by sand  so mostly brush and smaller bushes grew there with the taller, golden alders in the background.  Being preoccupied with the tracks at hand, I scooted quickly through the trails looking for where I might catch sight of the river or the horse. Either one would have been fine.

By this time, there were several intercrossing trails and I just kept choosing one after the other. I could hear traffic on the road in the distance so I knew I wasn’t lost lost, but where I was was unfamiliar. As I took a good look around me, I noticed a Blue shape in the distance. I thought it could be the blue cab of a semi parked along the road, but as I looked a bit closer, I saw it was a blue tarp tent and I thought how odd that campers would be in a blue tent.

Not wishing to disturb, or to have my presence known – and  equally ready to return to my car, I did a quick about face and headed back along the trail from where I came, or so I thought.  I was moving faster now, a bit nervous after seeing the tent. However, I was about to become a bit more surprised when I passed one tent, and then several others in a “cul de sac” of tents. They were certainly not the camp for a night types of tents, but there were clearly being lived in. Plastic gallon jugs were scattered about and odd tools and old lawn furniture set up around several fire rings. Before I could turn around, I saw a man sitting under a tarp, drinking beer, smoking a cigarette and watching me. His setup had several tents connected with a tarp as a common awning over all.

Here’s a quick survival tip:

One thing I’ve learned is to never let anyone suspect that you’re afraid. Part two of that is always be ready to act a bit crazier than a person you may not know  (if necessary). No one likes to be with someone more unpredictable than themselves. Used to work fine when I was in my hitch-hiking days.

I spoke first and said something about what a great day it was to be enjoying the sun in the afternoon. He agreed and said he was just “visiting friends” and was waiting for his wife to pick him up at 5:00 PM. I took that as a perfectly rational statement.. after all, we were in the middle of the woods with no driveway at all and it just seemed odd that that would have been his story. I tend to believe things that people tell me until proven that it’s just bunk and I didn’t think I was in any position to question him further. We spoke another minute or so and I started to continue on. He said if I was trying to get out of there, I’d need to go out the same way I came in.

At the time, I had no IDEA of how to get out of there, but I smiled, thanked him and left, acting as though I knew right where I was.

About a half hour later, I was still wandering about but had found about 8 more tents in the area. Wouldn’t you know I’d run into the same fellow again, only he was walking on the trail towards me. He said, “Hi, and I think you’re walking in circles.” I agreed and than asked him which way back to a parking lot. He said that I was very close and he pointed the way.

He told me his name and I told him mine. We shook hands and I thanked him profusely for his help. Of course I wished him well and I took his directions and shortly was back where I  could find my car.

The funny thing is I never did see the river or the horse this day. It did give me great pause, however to know that there are families and people living in the woods. Talk about ultimate cutting back on expenses. I didn’t feel danger, but it was clear these folks were looking to be left alone. I am happy to oblige.

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Filed under: My Adventures

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