Last night I slept in the tent. The mosquitoes were out in force. This would be a primitive campground if not for the pit toilets and the water pumps placed in every loop. There is also a shower building over by the park entrance, almost a mile from this loop.
I did get a good night’s sleep protected from mosquitoes and the biting flies unable to get through the net. I left the rain fly off for the cooling of the breeze. The prediction, a 30% chance of a thunder shower at 5 a.m. The cooling air is worth the chance of getting wet. The rain fly is inside next to me ready to use at the first boom of thunder or drop of rain.
I wake to a cool morning. The camper door opens and Moe is outside looking for me. He walks by the tent looking for a hammock unaware that I am watching. Nancy is now outside telling Moe that I am in the tent. I get up and put the rain fly over the tent. The rain should be here in an hour.
Breakfast is over and the dishes are washed. Nancy wants to hike the trail along the beach. It is 8 a.m., rumble… boom… thunder in the distance. The rain begins. We sit under the screen tent. An hour goes by. The rain stops. We drive to the parking area to hike. Nothing is close together in this park.
The car is parked. We begin the short hike to the beech. The trail is about .3 miles long. It is also between two swampy ditches, mosquito breeding ground, that continue the trail’s length. My first foot lands on the trail. A dozen starved mosquitoes dive bomb to my leg and land just above my ankle. My hand comes down with a heavy, loud slap. Most of these bloodsuckers scatter unscathed. One lands on the ground belly up. Then the other leg is under attack. The one downed pest is replaced by a handful. Every step of the way.
Now at the beach, the hoards dwindle to a few at a time, somewhat manageable. The damage has been done. Puffy red itchy bumps on exposed skin. Nonetheless, with the loss of a pint of blood, the beach hike is nice. Moe reluctantly walked into the water at the end of a taut leash. The cool water must have felt nice. Back on shore, he is filled with energy.
Now back at the site, Nancy makes us lunch. Minutes shape into hours. I again hear thunder in the distance. It is now a lazy afternoon and camp day.
