Sorry I just gave away the last camps five minutes ago the Ranger said Mark and I
looked at each other in despair, I just knew something like this would happen; we
couldn't leave town until late Friday afternoon because Mark had to work. As we drove
back down the winding gravel road I explained to mark that was the last campsite around
for quite a way and that maybe we should just try to pull over and find some place off
the road to throw our sleeping banks. After about 15 minutes, we came across a lookout
along a river with a place to park the car. We've decided that this was as good as any
parked.
It was quite comfortable outside around 70 degrees. The full moon and stars
brightened the skies and wilderness with a certain glow that the bright lights of the
city somehow always devour. There was no path beyond the lookout. As we stumbled through
the trees, we held our backpacks in the front of us so the needle written branches of the
pine trees didn't smack us in the face. After a few grueling minutes the trees thinned
out to expose the edge of a 100-foot drop off. I could see to the other side of the
river.
We've decided to lay our sleeping bags down on the edge of the cliff, it seemed to be
the most level surface and the best view. As we looked up we could see the stars,
thousands and thousands of them. The distinctive Milky Way right over had looked like a
highway of stars stuck in rush-hour I shined my flashing over the edge down toward the
river bed but my light never made it that far.I Could see the stars jumping up and down
in the reflection of the running water and hear the tackling sound echo up the cliff
walls.
I laid back with my head resting on my backpack staring up searching for familiar
constellations. As Mark passed a metal flask to me I uncapped it and with one whiff knew
the unmistakable odor of tequila. I hesitated, braced myself and took a large swig. The
burning sensation started in my throat and quickly made its way to my nose and stomach. I
passed it back and asked for one of his marlboros as I took one out of his pack an lit
it. We passed the flask back and forth in a silence that was broken only by an occasional
cricket chirping. I'm took one last drag and with a flick of my finger watched the cherry
red amber of my marlboro tumble endlessly into the void. then My vision started to blurr
as I laid back in a drunken dizziness I watched the stars dancing, jumping up and down
just like on one's in the river, even when only closed my eyes.
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