TheBanyanTree: Sharing the Night with Nature in Little Bennett

[Bobby Drummond]

  Tonight I sit at site 73, the laptop ensconced on a wet picnic table, and fresh wood flares up in the fire ring. I smell of smoke and sweat and bug spray.  

  I'm serenaded by katydids, crickets, and residual rainwater dripping from upper leaves on the towering oaks.  The fire cracks and pops and hisses to its own wild beat.

  The laptop is powered by a 12 volt inverter in the car, via an extension cord running from the inverter in the car to the power pack for the computer (my laptop's battery long ago gave up the ghost and won't power the laptop more than about as long as it takes to load the operating system)

  Today I tackled some more of the total of 23 trails that traverse the Little Bennett Regional Park.  I've done a total of 21 of the 23 trails since yesterday.  According to the guide there are just over 20 miles of trails within the park.  Some of the trails I covered several times.

  It's been a "different" weekend for me to say the least.  Instead of returning home this weekend and then coming right back up tomorrow, I elected to stay in the area.  And then I chose to visit this park to get in some outdoor time and hiking done.  So far, it's been a good choice and an unequivocal pleasure.

  Earlier today a rainstorm blew through and thoroughly soaked the area.  With it were pulsing, high winds and horizontal sheets of rain.  Remarkably, my little tent didn't get blown over or appear to suffer any damage.

  It's time to shut the computer down, tend to my blisters, put fresh wood on the fire, and then, the most enjoyable part: just staring at it. Its flickering tongues are certain to evoke memories of the sights and sounds along the trails and induce deep daydreams. 

    Good ideas in the past, especially those related to my work,seem to come to me best while doing rote exercise -- walking, swimming, biking, or running.  But tonight I plan on using the campfire as a catalyst and let some work ideas to drift through my head.  

  Gotta' spend a little time planning for the rest of the week. For tomorrow, regrettably, is another work day.