How do you know you’ve spent enough time in the wilderness?
I mean, how do you really know?
Is it when you think nothing of driving 20 miles down off the mountain to Frazier Park just so you can use Big John’s bathroom facilities? And, while there, you partake of his Denver Skillet or his BleuCheese burger & fries?
Or maybe it’s when you finally bite the bullet and buy that $14 gallon of camp stove fuel at Ace Hardware? Just so you can cook your own franks & beans?
Or is it when you can’t decide which posed picture of the blue jay feather looks best?
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Maybe it’s when you can’t decide between the sunrise & sunset shots?
Is it when you start talking to your car… and the car starts talking back? Hmm, I’m guessing this old beauty hasn’t seen this much action in many a moon!
Nah. I’ll tell you how you know it’s time to head home.
It’s when you’ve been 4 days in the woods without shave or shower. And while there’s been no one around to notice, still, you feel just a tad bit over-ripe…
It’s when thunder clouds start rolling in over the Coast Range. And you wonder just how effective that rain fly on your tent really is…
It’s when the front desk clerk at the Motel 6 in Lebec offers to brew you up a fresh pot of coffee at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and you take him up on the offer. And it starts to smell really good. I mean, instant Nescafe over a camp stove is one thing. But, c’mon. Really?
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Yep, there’s no doubt about it…
Nothing like a holiday weekend camping trip to clear out cobwebs.
And nothing like a return to civilization to put it all in perspective.