trip to sequoia

the sequoia trip

ch. 4

fall 2016

         fall and an early winter were making the mornings brisk here in ohio as winter was just around the corner. lee and ann had the v.w. van back together and even took it to a car show and won an award for best in show. they kept it a classic white and tried to keep most of the restoration as original as possible. the engine sounded sweet and was full of power thanks to the rebuild. all the shorts were worked out. but it was getting to late in the year to make the trip this fall. or should i say winter. ann was a bit cold blooded when it came to the weather. she was leaning to waiting to spring to make the trip. they did however head up to Mifflin state park  and spent the night in a campgrounds to try the old van out. the table and seat made out into a bed the width of the van and was quite comfy for both ann and lee. a small breakfast was made as they officially inaugurated their van. their body heat made the van comfortable, and being able to make coffee in the middle of nowhere had its advantages.
         later they returned to my place and we piled on the pontoon for one last trip up the river, before the locks closed for the winter. we cruised as far as Zanesville and tied up there to have dinner at a restaurant. we started discussing the van and the impending trip and i asked lee how it was going.
        " well the van is checking out great but we still have to work on our tree  climbing skills. " he laughed as he offered up his skinned elbow and then ann throws her leg on to the table and pulls up on her gauchos to reveal a nice abrasion on her shin. i laughed and told them they could have got both of those just goofing around in the bedroom.
         ann laughed and said "i am not into that kinky beating stuff , you know me better than that. "
        and i returned ,' well i thought i did , but by the looks of you two maybe you better adjust your trip and change the tree climbing thing . doesnt look like it is going to good.'
        lee added " just shouldnt be so hard getting into the trees. i have been looking at buying an electric winch . but that requires a couple of 12 volt  batteries and then we will need to have a solar charger. all of this needs to be back pack accessible and  ready to go in a few minutes. we can place the solar cells in a lighted location close by  and then carry the batteries to where we will use them. i still don't think the park service is going to be to keen on us climbing trees, especially the giant sequoias. after we are in the trees there isn't to much they can do about it as i doubt they will cut our rope or bring in the fire department. we just need to be able to set up quick and be in the trees before they know what is going on. this may take awhile to figure out and practice. we are looking at going early next spring."
      ann smiled at lee and said,  " i have used up most of my vacation getting the van going.   lee has to get the barns ready for winter and button things up on the farm, wont be long tilll he has to start feeding. i think we would be pushing it to get out there and back before weather becomes an issue. so i guess you will have the van in your garage till spring and me and lee will work on our climbing skills."
      puzzled i asked lee." so just what is it you plan to accomplish by getting up into the giant sequoias. just to see the view or what. "
      lee chuckled and said , " i dont know exactly but to spend time with ann sitting in the crotch of one of those giants realizing it took 500 years or more to just provide us a safe place to sit, and i intend to use it. smoke a joint and grab the zip line when i am done and fly out the tree with ann ,  to the ground and the awaiting rangers if they catch us.i will pay the fines and we will head home fulfilled . looking for the next big adventure"
      ann laughs and says' " what if they throw us in jail, i am to old to be someones play toy and besides i might like it. are you sure you thought this thing through. lee. lee belly laughed and nearly choked on his coke he had been sipping on when he heard that.
     "can i watch ?: he chuckled .
      she returned quickly with a " you are pervert arent you ?" and he said as i was laughing at the tone of the conversation they were having when  lee said in finality
      " only where you are concerned ann dear."
     our trip back down the river was beautiful as the leaves were starting to turn colors where they touched the surface of the river when bending low. the frosts were coming more rapid and and the times when lee and ann would be down on weekends would be less as the weather made travelling less desirable. ann would spend time on the farm with lee working on their tree climbing skills and i would turn to painting with oils and sketching more. anything to keep me busy and keep my mind off being alone. dreams are nice when you can share with someone . but when you have your dreams and are alone you have nothing but new dreams. ones where you were not alone. but looking for someone in the autumn of my life is getting harder each day.
,     my thoughts went back to my last love and i realized  that soon i need to move on and do what i can to find someone else . i am sure she has moved on also.

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