They closed the parks and beaches two weeks ago. At the time, it didn't really matter because the whole coast was in a cold-rain-wind cycle that made going outside pretty uncomfortable. As things got nice, though, I really started to miss the walks and sports and outdoor time I was accustomed to. I try to keep in shape, and exercising at home just doesn't do it for me. I want to bike or hike or swim, but I'm not obsessed. Sometimes, I just want to sit on the rocks and look out at the water. Now--like so many other things--that pleasure is on hold.
In desperation, I Googled my area for trail maps and found a whole lot of choices. Using Google Earth, I tracked down promising places that had somewhere to park. That chopped a lot of options, but there were three that still looked good. My heart wanted to be in the woods AND by the water, so I chose a trail that looped out to Hidden Lake on the western border of town.
The next day dawned sunny and cool, a fantastic change from the cold and wind and rain. After doing a couple of hours of work, I figured it was warm enough. Ready for anything, I put on shorts, hiking boots, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a lined windbreaker. Snacks and a water bottle went into my small day-hiking pack, along with a map, compass, and my cell phone. Once a Boy Scout, always a Boy Scout, I guess!
Anyway, the easiest place to pick up the trail was to park behind Bed, Bath and Beyond and duck into the woods. I found the trail easily and headed west. This part of the state is pretty hilly, and I set a good pace, so before long, I stopped to get rid of the jacket. It felt great to be in the woods, and equally great to be alone without having to wear a mask or worry about other people.
A mile later, I rounded a hill and saw my first glint of water. It was only a shallow inlet, but a quick glance at the map confirmed it was the closest part of Hidden Lake. The trail ran around to the north, and I made the turn, catching sight of the water at the bottom of the slope I was walking on. Usually, I'm good about sticking to trails, but the shoreline was scattered with boulders and I couldn't resist the chance to relax on a nice warm rock at water level. A quick scramble, some slipping on leaves, and I was down at the bottom. I walked north again until I saw a large, flat boulder that stuck out into the lake. With a grin, I scrambled up onto it and dropped my pack.
The water was mirror smooth and stretched away about a hundred yards to the west. To the south, it went perhaps a quarter mile before curving out of sight. Aside from birds and peepers and the rustle of squirrels, there was almost no noise. The highway wasn't far away, but the hills sheltered this spot beautifully.
Unzipping my pack, I made a sitting pad out of my jacket and broke out some food and my water bottle. Five minutes later, the food was packed away and I was ready to stretch out and savor the stillness some more. One thing was bugging me, though. My sock hand bunched up, and I felt the familiar hotspot that signaled a blister. To avoid that distraction, I unlaced my boots and pulled them off, then stripped my socks off as well to give my feet a chance to dry.
After that was done, I shifted my pack into pillow position and laid back on the rock. My eyes closed against the bright sunlight, and the warmth radiated into me from above and below. The hills that sheltered this spot from the highway noise also blocked the prevailing north wind, so only the highest trees were rustling. Totally at peace, I laid back and basked for a long while. Eventually, my basking turned into dozing.
I woke up slowly, shifting uncomfortably because a rough spot was digging into my shoulder. I checked my watch and saw only a half hour had passed, but that was enough relaxing. I sat up and stretched my back, rubbing the sore spot firmly. When that felt better, I wiped a few beads of sweat from my forehead. The late spring sun was actually getting a little uncomfortable, especially with no breeze and radiant heat from the boulder as well. Standing up, I stretched my arms high above me, then decided to shed another layer. The long-sleeved black T-shirt was soaking in heat, and I pulled it off over my head with a deep feeling of satisfaction. It had been a long, damp spring and a slushy winter--this was the first real sun I had felt all year!
The film of perspiration on my back and chest dried quickly in the warm air. I tossed the shirt aside and stood there looking over the lake again, watching insects on the surface and letting my eyes glide along the shallows to catch the flash of a fish if I could. Breathing deeply, I rolled my shoulders and then relaxed my arms, trying to soak in the tranquillity of the scene.
All of a sudden, a quiet female voice broke the stillness around me.
"Keep taking your clothes off--I was enjoying the show!"
I turned in place, my eyes coming to rest on a smiling face about twenty feet back toward the hill. Instead of replying, I smiled back absently and looked her over. My mind registered quick bits of information. About my age. Dark, long hair that curled past her shoulders. Full breasts restrained by a North Face T-shirt. Nice smile. Plaid fleece wrapped around her waist, and yoga pants that stopped just below her knees. Short socks and sneakers. Water bottle in hand. Not skinny, not fat. Just...normal. Womanly. And a nice smile.
When I glanced at her face again, her smile had widened.
"All done checking me out there?" she asked teasingly. "I could be an axe-murderer, ya know?"
"I don't see any axes," I replied lamely.
"Better do what I say just in case," she said with a more menacing grin than before.
"Do what?" I asked, still foggy from my recent doze and my startled reaction to her presence.
"Take 'em off! You were doing fine there for a minute, but then you stopped!"
"I was just...cooling off, " I explained haltingly. Why couldn't I answer normally? I thought to myself? I'm not the wittiest guy, but there was something about this woman that awed me a little. Maybe it was her grin. Maybe it was the earthy sensuality of her body. Maybe it was her direct manner...smile or not, I could not tell if she was joking when she said that!
"Ah. I see. A tease. You come out here to my favorite spot, show off your body shamelessly, and then when a woman makes a perfectly reasonable request, you get all shy. Is that it?"
For a moment, I sputtered indignantly. Then my brain began to work. The fog cleared and my smile returned.
"That my whole game," I said in a firmer voice. "I like to get them all riled up and then disappear!"
"Well, even if I don't have any axes on me," she replied in kind, "you're not getting off that easy today. Today," she continued as she walked toward me, "you are going to find out what happens to tall, handsome strangers who come into my woods and try to lure innocent women."
"Innocent, huh?" I said with raised eyebrows.
"Pure as the driven snow. Help me up!" she ordered, extending a hand to me.
Reflexively, I took her hand and pulled as she lunged upward. Suddenly, we were face to face on a sunny boulder overlooking the lake. I didn't know what to say, and she simply grinned at my discomfiture. In her own way, however, she let me off the hook by breaking the growing silence.
"Well, I guess you're not going to finish taking off your clothes all by yourself," she said briskly. "Maybe if you have a little incentive, it will make your choice easier."
Stepping past me, she tossed her water bottle onto my backpack. Her fleece joined the pile next. Then without noticeable pause, she crossed her arms in front of herself and whipped her T-shirt off over her head. My eyes widened in shock and pleasure. Her breasts were full and firm, each capped with a large areola and a plump nipple. My gaze stayed there as she kicked off her sneakers and lifted one foot, then the other to take off her socks. Finally, she stood to face me again, her hands defiantly on her hips.
"Now we're even!" she said happily.
"Um...wow!" I responded intelligently.
