Chapter 6
......like I have seen this place before. I stopped and noticed a fallen tree just off the trail a few yards, so I walked over beside it and took off my pack, laid it on the ground then sat down on the tree. I wasn't tired at all but for some reason I wanted to stop and just rest a little. As I was saying before, this area seemed so familiar to me. I know I have never been here before so maybe in some way it resembled the river that ran through our land back home. My brothers and I were always out exploring the woods and the river’s edge. I swear my poor Mom must have constantly wondered where we were. Anyway, that must be it. As I sat here, I took in as much of the sights as I could. It was nice here with areas of grass that followed the trails edge, almost as if it were put there to guide people along. The cedars and pine trees filled the air with a calming scent that for me relaxed me from within. It was quiet here with only the sounds of the river moving slowly to a place that only God could see. As I was getting ready to hit the trail, I noticed something strange, something that just didn't look right to the naked eye. I squinted a little so I could pinpoint what I was looking at. I got up and grabbed my pack then made my way over to it. The closer I got I could see it was something tied to a tree limb. I put my pack down again and took a closer look. To me it looked like a piece of leather strapping. I kind of tugged on it and I believed I was right. As I started to notice the piece of strap better, I noticed the tree had grown around it and was complete embedded into the limb of the tree. I curled my lip and made had a puzzled look, thinking at the same time that this must have been here for a long time. I scanned around the trees near by to see if there were any more tied to other branches thinking maybe it was put here to mark something. After several minutes of looking around I decided that it was time to get back on the trail. I wanted to make it close to the lake tonight and in the morning go check it out and then head back to my truck so I could get up to Beaver Bay as early as possible tomorrow. I thought about trying to cut the leather piece off the branch but for some reason felt it needed to stay there, so off I went but now my eyes kept scanning the edges of the trail for anything else that looked off. I must have gone another half of a mile when I heard some voices up ahead. After a few turns in the trail, I came across a couple hikers coming toward me. I stepped off the trail to let them pass. As they went by they told me there were some amazing views just up the trail a few miles. I thanked them for the heads up and off I went again. I guess it was nice to see other hikers here. I was starting to think I was alone on the trail. Anyway, the day was slipping away, and I could feel the air temperature dropping with every hour that went by. I must have hiked in probably six or seven miles now and wanted to get another mile in, then I would set up camp for the night. The trail seemed to have narrowed now but still was in good shape and thankfully it wasn't muddy. That's one thing I was hoping it wouldn't be and so far, I was in luck. I did bring extra socks and clothes with just in case I needed them, but so far so good. The sun was setting fast, and I better keep a look out for a good place to set up my tent. After another mile or so I came across a huge, long needle white pine and underneath it was lots of dry pine needles. I remember reading in a magazine that if you bunch up pine needles under your tent it was soft to sleep on, so this was the spot I would make camp. I cleared the area and then set up my tent. It was just a one-man tent with not a lot of room in it. I grabbed my backpack and unstrapped a little shovel I had with and cleared an area down to the dirt close to the front of the tent. I dug a small hole, then rounded up some dry grass and some branches and twigs, then climbed inside the tent and rolled out my sleeping bag. I got everything ready before it got dark out. After a few minutes I saw a tree that was laying on the ground. I went over to it and drug it back to where my fire pit was. I figured it would make a good place to sit so I didn't have to sit directly on the ground. A little while later I noticed the air started to feel chillier, so I wanted to start the fire. I grabbed my backpack to get the matches, but I couldn't find them. I dug everything out, but they weren't there. Then I remembered I had put them in the glove box of my truck the night before I left. Well now what? I knew how to start a fire by using a shoelace, but I didn't have shoes with laces. I had my slip-on leather boots. I know, not the best for hiking but I wasn't planning on this being a long hike, so they too were in the truck. I started to put everything back in my pack when there sat the little satchel. I thought for a second about what was inside and wondered if maybe the rectangular stone……
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