Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Joys Of Snowshoeing…Part 2.
Hello everyone on this very nice Friday! I hope you are able to enjoy at least part of your day. And, of course, the weekend is just ahead and already here for some of you. Take some time to get out and look around you this weekend, enjoy whatever nature there is close by. Or just spend some time out in the yard, getting outside is always a good thing to do. And now, let’s carry on with my little misadventure…
My nice slope was actually two dead trees that had fallen against the cliff edge many years before and had been so covered with snow that I couldn’t see any sign of branches that would have given it away. And one of my snowshoes got tangled in the trees twisting my ankle rather badly. There I was, lying in the snow with my snowshoe caught in the dead trees. Not exactly a good position to be in.
So now what? First I had to get my snowshoe, and foot, free from the branches of these two trees. That wasn’t so easy since my snowshoe was in the air and I was lying on my back in soft snow. Fortunately I was able to use one of the trees to pull myself up and undo the strap on my snowshoe to free my foot. I had to put my snowshoe back on since the snow was soft and deep on that ledge. And now? I had to figure out what to do since there was no visible way back up. And it was at least 20 feet down to the next level. And who knows what might be hidden under that deep snow down below. So I figured jumping down was not a good option.
Besides, that ankle was hurting quite badly, jumping would likely make things worse. It was 1 pm when I left, it was now 2:30, so I still had about 2 hours of daylight left. I wasn’t really sure what to do so I brushed the snow off a rock and sat down so I could look over the situation. I figured the only way off this ledge would be to climb up. But that granite was so nice and smooth, except for some lichen growing on it. Hmm. While I was sitting some chickadees came along from the valley below. A couple stopped for a bit and searched the broken trees beside me for any insects that may be hidden in the bark. Then off they flew to the top of the cliff so effortlessly.
Hmm. As they went up I noticed a small twig sticking out of the snow. And a little beyond that a small balsam was also barely showing itself through the snow. Now if they were anchored strongly enough I might be able to pull myself up. Problem. The first one was just too high for me to reach even with the help of my snowshoe. I looked at the broken trees. Just might work. I put one up against the rock, checked the branches to make sure they were strong enough to hold me, then I took my snowshoes off and started to climb. I figured I just might be able to reach that first twig. I was almost there when, SNAP! That broken tree broke again. And I tumbled down and…
Guess I better stop here for today, this is longer than I thought it would be. But part 3 will be ready for tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
© 2020 Steve McLeod.
20/20 Investigations, Inc…Chapter 2.
Muffin and I just stood there staring out the window in unbelief. My car, I said. Meow. Yes…our car…up in flames. There was a loud roar as the gas tank exploded. Good thing there was nothing around it that could catch fire. Looks like we’ll be here all night, I said to Muffin. She just gave a very tiny meow, then a loud sigh. But you know what this means, don’t you? Meow? No, it doesn’t mean we’re going to die. Stop saying that. It means that someone else is out here looking for that gold too. We have to find it first. And we will need to be very careful from now on.
Was there anything exciting in the kitchen? Meow. Hmm, nothing exciting, too bad. Meow. What? Stairs to the basement? Hey, that’s exciting, they’re not marked on this floor plan I have. I wonder why? Well, let’s go check the basement and see what we can find. Down we went, Muffin on my shoulders looking backwards. She was afraid someone might sneak up behind us. Good thinking Muffin, let me know if you see anyone. Meow. (By giving a high pitched scream?, thought Muffin).
It’s a very small basement, lots of wood boxes on one side. Hey, look over there Muffin! Hmm, I wonder why she fainted? Wake up Muffin, it’s only a coffin. Meow. No, it’s not for us, stop worrying so much. You know, that would be a good place to hide the gold, not many people would want to open a coffin. Let’s take a look. Poor Muffin, I think she lost half her fur when I said that, and she was gone back upstairs like the silver streak she is sometimes. Hmm, the lid seems to be stuck, or locked. I couldn’t find how it could be locked so figured it must just be stuck. After all, the basement is kind of damp, that would be enough to do it.
I need something to pry it open, I wonder if there are any tools down here somewhere? I started looking through the boxes but there wasn’t much there except old newspapers, magazines and some books. Finally I got to the bottom box. Wow, this one is heavy, perhaps some tools in here. It was the only box with a lid too. I opened the lid and out popped this huge spider which nearly gave me a heart attack. Muffin is never around when I need her. Speaking of Muffin, she is very quiet upstairs. Probably hiding under that big armchair in the living room.
Still, it’s probably better that she isn’t around when I open that coffin. She gets scared so easily. Anyway, there was some rusty old tools in that box, including a small pry bar. Perfect, that should work nicely. Rats, that lid is really stuck and I don’t really want to damage it either. Hmm, I feel all around the edge of the lid. Hey, what’s this? A small button under the edge and when I pushed it the lid unlocked. Naturally, all that wasted time looking for tools. I slowly open the lid. Suddenly a loud piercing scream!
To be continued.
Steve and Muffin.
© 2020 Steve McLeod.
