Inktober 2024 - 8 - Hike

Come on a hike with me.

Hold my hand along the path. Help me across that brook, over that log, around that boulder. I'd offer to help you in return, but we both know you have better balance than I do.

If there are any puddles in the underwood, however, I'm warning you: I WILL jump in them. There is no avoiding that, you will not be able to stop me this time. After all, hiking shoes are waterproof for a reason.

For lunch, let's go up the hill North of town and have a picnic; the view is beautiful from up there, even when it's foggy. And I do love the feeling of grass blades between my fingers, and the wind in my hair. If we lie down, we could look for shapes in the clouds for bit.

When we make it to the lake, we could go for a swim, and then skim stones on the surface as we dry on the bank.

Back in the forest, let's exchange fun facts about flora and fauna, and attempt to follow wildlife trails as best we can, no matter how poor our tracking skills actually are. Gathering nuts, foraging for mushrooms and berries, and picking flowers, that's more in our wheelhouse. There might even be a few trees we can climb along the way. And yes, we'll pick up scraps of wood for you to carve.

Tell me again about those candies you know how to make from pine sap?

I might be able to make us crowns of daisies, although I can't promise anything in that regard. It's all right, since you would never wear one anyway, but I still enjoy trying to make them. And then trying in vain to make you wear them.

Of course, I'll take pictures of everything, even though I'm not particularly good at that either.

We could say hello to cyclists, and give directions to tourists, until we can make our way onto the less travelled roads. It won't matter if we get a little lost; we always find our way back eventually.

As you know, we definitely have to pet every single dog, horse, and donkey we come across. Sheep and goats as well. And chasing butterflies is also a must if we encounter any.

Playing hide and seek in every corn field and vineyard we find, and playing tag in every wheat field, is also on my list.

At the end of the day, if the weather is nice, we can camp. Putting up a tent and making a fire is always fun.

As the Sun goes down, we could sit on that bench we like, your head on my shoulder, and watch it disappear over the horizon.

And when the night stars come out, we could make up our own constellations, wish upon meteors, and maybe howl at the Moon while we're at it.

Will you come on a hike with me, please?