Old John and the Forest Fire (Part 2)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From where shall my help come?

(Psalm 121:1)

Part 2 of 8

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August 1st had finally arrived.  Another year of hard work at the small factory where Jerry worked had finally come to a close.  During the first two weeks of August every year, the factory closed for inventory, and most of the employees were off for their annual vacation.

Jerry and Annette had been married for several years now.  The timing of the plant closure and their vacation was always a pleasure, because it left them free to celebrate their August 3rd anniversary any way they wanted.

This year, like most years, they planned to take their two children and go hiking in Baldcrest Wilderness.  The kids were old enough now to be able to carry packs big enough so that among the four of them, they could hike in about a two-days journey, camp by a good fishing-stream for a week, and then hike back out with a couple of days to spare.

Saturday was spent getting everything in final order.  All the essentials were laid out on the living room floor in four piles, according to the weight each of them could carry.  They each carefully packed their packs, and a few extra items were packed in a box to be left in the car for the first night when they arrived back at the car at the end of their anticipated 11-day round-trip hike.

Sunday morning, they were all up early and on their way.  About four hours later, on a comfortably crisp and beautiful morning, they parked at the end of a dirt road where they would leave their car for the next 11 days.  There was only one other vehicle there – an old, well-worn pickup.  It looked like it was probably a mid-50's old Ford, and it had apparently been parked there for several months.  It was very dusty.  But, from what you could see through the windows it seemed fairly well cared for on the inside.  Jerry's son, John, was left with the impression that it was still used by somebody, and had not just been abandoned there,  The tires were certainly in pretty good shape.

Jerry, Annette, and their two kids locked up their car, took up their packs and started down the trail – leaving their cares behind them, and striking out into the wilderness on their long-anticipated adventure.

[To be continued - jad]