Two nights in the woods!

I got to spend Labor Day weekend with 3 of my favorite hiker pals, on a two-night camping trip.

It was too damn hot. I was too damn out of shape. My pals weren’t ready to run marathons, either.

Still, we had the best time. We were in the woods!

Fortunately, our 7-mile hike was mostly under the trees.

Our adventures included a 7-mile hike around the park. Honestly, I didn’t think I could do it. But, God bless ’em, my friends believed otherwise. They kindly waited for me at trail junctions and they were rarely out of my sight.

I’m so lucky to have them as friends. They’re all smart, accomplished women who let nothing distract them from success – at work and at play.

It’s great to hang out, talk and laugh with them.

Home, sweet home for two nights. My “ground-dwelling” friends set up to the left. They need an area of flat ground, without rocks and roots, to set up their tents; as a hanger, I just need two good trees.

I’m getting better at setting up my hammock; everything was spot on. Another of my hiker pals, who couldn’t join us this time, aptly describes sleep on a camping trip as “a series of naps.” But each of my naps were longer than before; on the second night I think I did nearly 4 hours without interruption.

Reflection of rising sun’s rays on trees at campsite. South Mountain State Park, NC

There were a few other campers around, though we didn’t have much contact with them. On the second night, a group of them arrived late, shining flashlights around and talking – loud enough to be heard, not loud enough to be understood.

The next morning, the head of the group walked over to us. He apologized for not knowing much English – he was from Ukraine, he said. And, typing in his phone to get it translated, he showed us his apology for making noise the previous night. He had about 5 kids with him.

Hope I can finagle another chance to sleep in the woods when it cools off – and before it gets too cold.