You’re A Long Time Dead

I almost didn’t go.

What a huge mistake that would have been. Huge.

What was it I so very nearly missed? Oh … just  … an …  amazing two-day trip packed with delicious meals, heartwarming friendships, a spectacular hike through a rock strewn river, a picnic lunch at the foot of a gigantic waterfall in the middle of nowhere, a crazy drive following two ATVs and a motorbike along a dust-choked narrow gravel road, and one potentially dangerous forest fire… In short, an adventure of epic proportions.

Why was I reluctant to go? A simple concern about time. Not having enough of it. Today, as I write this, I realise that my perspective was skewed by exhaustion.

In fairness, life had been a tad busy. In the previous two weeks I’d enjoyed  two 12 hour days of Regionals championships for swimming , a four-day family reunion at my sister’s cabin (which I wrote about here) , a five-day event packed visit with a dear New Zealand pal I hadn’t seen in over 16 years (which in seconds of our reunion felt like just 16 weeks) followed by three full on days of Provincials championships for swimming.

The time factor issue was this: The trip to this cabin (belonging to one of my son’s swim club teammates) was taking place on August 19 -20, the day after Provincials and the day before we flew across the country to get my two settled at their two universities.

My perceived roadblocks were these:  The drive to the cabin was 6 hours round-trip. We’d get  back home at 10:00 PM the night before our  next day’s 9:00 AM flight. I still had to drop Poppy the dog and Bonanza the rabbit at their “holiday homes.” I still had to pack. My mind reeled; it  was so very tempting to stay home, handle the to-do list and let Henry go on his own.

And then, out of nowhere, I remembered my late dad’s favourite saying: “You’re a long time dead.”

Ouch. How very true. What was I thinking?

It was the knock on the head that I needed. From that moment on I vowed to make it work. The dog and the rabbit got dropped off during the swim meet (I made it back in time for finals). I could think about what to pack during the drive up. Anything I needed but neglected to pack could easily be purchased while I was away.

The drive up was so much fun. With my boy announcing he’d “prefer to go with his buddies” I rocketed up with Iva, a like-minded mom. The wine upon arrival was perfect, as was the potluck dinner.

Late the next morning, after a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon,  we set off for the hike; the trip to the spot where we would begin walking would take nearly an hour. As there were 13 of us and my car seats eight, six lucky campers got to ride out front on ATVs and a motorcycle. My son, by virtue of being deemed the “lightest” of the crew, got to ride in the lead on the motorbike with our hostess’s dad. I shan’t soon forget his megawatt grin.

We were about half way into our journey when  the smell of acrid smoke-filled the air. Our convoy lurched to a halt. Shockingly, in the middle of nowhere, on the upper bank of the forest, was the unmistakable orange hue of a fire!  Not a raging one but a slow, creeping one. The forest, mercifully damp after a recent rainfall, was holding its own at this point. However, the wind was beginning to pick up and we could slowly see the fire begin to shift and grow. Things could have turned very wrong, very soon. With our cell phones dead in this remote area, our host leapt back on his bike and raced into town to call the fire department.

When the professionals arrived and manfully brought the fire under control we resumed our adventures. We splashed through the river, swam under the falls and picnicked on rocks warmed by the sun.

Once back home, as I hurled clothing into my suitcase I smiled. Thank God I went. What a heavenly way to wrap up the Summer.

I haven’t felt so awake and alive in quite some time. Thanks Dad, I needed that wakeup call.

How about you? Have you almost missed out on an unforgettable adventure?  What brought you to your senses?