Hi everyone!  Here we are with the final part of our hike.  Enjoy!

Hey, a long stick, that will make it easier to cross, I said.  Right, said dad.  Really, just use it like a cane, stick it in the creek as we walk across, said I.  Off I went.  The log was very slippery but the branch did help.  Here, I said as I tossed it back to dad.  The branch hit the side of the creek in some wet mud and splattered the mud onto dad.  My glasses, he shouted, they’re covered in mud.  Wash them in the creek, I called back.  He bent over to do so.  And slipped on the mud.  He just kind of slowly went down into the creek.  Right up to his waist.

That was too much.  The look of terror on Dad’s face.  Priceless.  Dad decided to walk across the creek.  He figured he was wet anyway, so why not?  Makes sense, I guess.  My glasses are still streaky and dirty, he said.  You should have been more careful, I said.  I should have stayed home, he said.   The rain had almost stopped.  Good, I said, now maybe we won’t get so wet.  Dad just looked.  That was it.  I couldn’t hold back any longer.  I burst out laughing.  I laughed half way up that hill.  You go up first, said dad.  Naturally.  Suddenly it started to rain hard.

It wasn’t easy going up, especially with all that rain.  That hill was all rock.  With some trees.  And a lot of moss.  Wet moss is very slippery.  Get going, he said, can’t you see it’s raining?  We’re already soaked, I said, can’t get any wetter.  Off we went.  Everything was going good until my foot hit some moss.  I slipped.  And slid down.  Poor dad.  He tried to get out of the way.  And did jump off to the side.  I tried to miss dad so moved to side as I was sliding.  Whump!  Seems my foot collided with dad’s stomach.  He sat down.  Tired?, I asked.  Dad just looked.  After he relaxed for a bit we continued our climb.

I’ll go first, said dad.  That’s odd, he always wanted me to go first.  About 2 thirds of the way dad suddenly stops.  I didn’t notice that.  I bumped into him just slightly.  He sat down again.  Tired?, I asked.  Dad just looked.  It’s okay, we can stop for a while, I continued.  Dad said shhh.  Why, who’s going to hear us?  Dad pointed up the hill.  There was a black bear just starting to come down, heading our way.  I moved a bit to get a better look.  Stepped on a loose rock.  AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!, yelled dad.  The bear stopped, then took off running.

That got him running, I said.  BONEHEAD!, said dad, you stepped on my ankle.  Oh, I said, I thought it was a loose rock.  Someone has a loose rock, said dad.  Not sure what he meant by that.  We kept on going and finally made it to the top.  No sign of the bear.  Which was nice.  The rain stopped but we still had some thick undergrowth ahead.  Dad said, you go first.  Naturally.  He was a long way behind me so I stopped to let him catch up.  He was probably tired by now.  Once he was close I continued.  Back at the car dad was definitely tired.  The sun was shining again.  Hardly a cloud in sight.  Hey, we should go back, I said.  BONEHEAD, was all he said.  Nice to know he enjoyed the trip.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

© 2019 Steve McLeod.