The Invisible Trail by Roy Klipping Chapter 10

 Chapter 10 

It seemed like hours had passed. I finally closed my eyes and fell asleep. I'm not sure how long I slept, but as I opened my eyes, I could see from the light through the tent that it was morning.  I laid there for a few minutes thinking about what had happened the night before, then I unzipped my tent and made my way outside. I glanced all around the area, then looked down at the fire.  There were only a few coals left. I didn't want to put anymore wood on them because I wanted to head up the trail and find the lake, then head back down so I could still get up to the Beaver bay trail by the afternoon. As I started packing everything up, I couldn't help thinking again of the weird things that had happened last night.  I shook my head and tried to play it off as just me over thinking things. Well, it wasn't long, and I had everything packed up. I took my shovel and buried the fire pit and made sure all the coals were put out, then tied my shovel back on my pack and threw it on my shoulders.  I started to head back to the trail. I was happy everything seemed to be better this morning. The fog or haze that was near the trail was gone and it looked to be a good start to my day. I had made it several miles when I started noticing footprints in the trail.  They almost looked like someone had been wearing socks or maybe sandals. I stopped and bent down to look closer, puzzled as to why someone would be hiking a trail in sandals or whatever that smooth print was.  Strange… As I stood back up, for some reason I looked back at the trail behind me. Just a quick glance, then turned back and started heading up the trail again. I didn't make it two steps when it dawned on me something was off.  I turned back around and looked at the trail again, but this time I really looked. I wasn't sure what I was looking at. It was as if there wasn't a trail further than fifty feet behind me.  I turned and walked back down the trail thinking maybe this part of the trail and how the morning light made it look like it was grown over made it look that way, but the further I got the more overgrown the trail seem to be. Bewildered at what I was seeing, I turned back and looked at the trail and that seemed fine. Again, I looked back and then walked another fifty feet or so. I stopped and looked down at the ground to look for tracks, but there was none. No trail at all. It looked as if the trail wasn't even there.  Again, I looked back at the trail ahead and I could clearly see it was there, so I quickly ran back up to it and then just stood there.  I kept looking back and then forward again. Had I somehow gotten off onto another trail without knowing? I mean maybe I wasn't paying attention because I was thinking of what happened last night. I thought for a minute then I remembered the map I had bought at the station on the drive over here, I took off my pack and set it on the ground, then opened it up and dug out the trail map.  I wanted to see if maybe there was another trail running next to the other one. I knelt and opened the map. I looked closely but something was strange.  I couldn't find where the trail started. The river was on the map and I followed it from where I thought I had started. As I followed it, I noticed the trail was marked again.  I studied it and I started to realize that on the map where the trail is marked it is close to where I am now, and the trail leads further up, then shows it ends at the Lakes edge, but everything behind has disappeared.

The Invisible Trail by Roy Klipping Chapter 9

 

Chapter 9

Then from the light of the fire I could see what looked like two people. Relieved it wasn't a bear I hollered out, “Hello there!”, but they just kept walking. I stood up and walked closer in the direction they were and again called out, “Hello there!”. Again, they didn't respond or even slow down.  Puzzled I stepped closer, trying to maybe catch their eye but they didn't seem to even look my way. I thought it was strange they wouldn't have come over especially with me having a fire. I walked over closer to the trails edge and as I watched them walking away, I noticed something strange. They looked blurry to me kind of like when you look at something over an open flame, that kind of wavy look. It seemed like it was right in front of me as if I could touch it. Again, I was puzzled not knowing what to think. Maybe I got smoke in my eyes earlier but dismissed the thought because I had just been reading the maps and papers and they weren't blurry.  I looked back toward the fire and everything looked fine. Then I looked back toward the trail and it was blurry. I was thinking maybe it was fog from the temperature dropping but it still was weird. I was right at the edge of the trail and this had me really feeling uneasy. First the whole flash of bluish light and the explosion or whatever that was, then the two people that totally ignored me, and now this blurriness that seemed to be right in front of me. I reached out my hand and slowly tried to feel if it was a foggy mist. When I put my hand forward, I totally freaked myself out.  My hand seemed to disappear in front of me.  I quickly pulled my hand back and jumped back, then half stumbled over to my tent and fire. I just kept looking in that direction trying to tell myself it was only a thick fog, but then I started to really think about what I had just seen. If it were fog, then how could I see the trail and the two people walking past.  I stood there for a few minutes then sat down on the log, my eyes fixated on the trails edge and whatever that blurry stuff was.  I wanted to crawl in my tent and try to go to sleep. Maybe by morning everything would settle down and it was just me jumping to conclusions.  I looked all around me then I noticed the stones.  I reached down and slowly touched one. They weren't hot or anything, so I grabbed them both and placed them in the satchel along with the papers, then tied it shut and placed it next to my tent. I must have sat there for another couple hours when I decided everything would be okay once morning came. I took one more look around and then threw on a few more pieces of wood on the fire, climbed into my tent and zipped it shut. I was sure this was going to be the longest night of my life,

The Invisible Trail by Roy Klipping Chapter 8

 

Chapter 8

I sat back on the log, still half dazed, and bewildered as to what had just happened.  I tried to gather my thoughts as to what to make of it.  I replayed what happened in my mind wondering what caused such an explosion or wave of energy. Why did the sky and the whole area turn a bluish color? I thought for a few minutes then looked down at the stones not knowing if I should pick them up or just leave them there. As I was looking around my surroundings my eyes fixed on the papers that I just realized I hadn't even looked at.  I reached down and picked them up, then laid them on my lap and unfolded them. The first thing I noticed was what looked like some sort of handmade drawing. The closer I looked, the more I could absolutely tell it was a map. It had some writing on the very top of the page, but it was getting darker by the minutes so I couldn't quite tell what it said. I crept closer to the fire almost putting my back to it so the light of the fire would give me as much light as possible. It said (carry me well and travel safe, I will be here when you find your way). And that was it.  Puzzled, I guess I just thought someone wrote that for whoever had the map. I noticed there were many scribblings all throughout the page. One part said (first stop), and another said (4 days in). There was also what looked like possibly a river drawn in, because it made its way the length of the page. At the top it looked like there was a lake or pond where the line stopped at. Then I noticed another smaller line that ran along the bigger line and there were several places where there were a slash running through it. Anyway, as I placed this paper down between the other pieces of paper, I saw something.  I picked it up and looked closer. I believe it was a lock of hair. In the light of the fire, it was hard to tell, but it looked the color of Amber. It was about six inches long and maybe there were thirty strands tied together with a small black thread, or maybe it was yard. As I examined it I started to imagine who it belonged to. I carefully laid it down on the paper that I think is a map and then looked down at the one the lock of hair was on. It was just a blank paper thicker than what I have ever seen. It had a tinge of yellow for color.  I looked through the next couple papers and it looked like it was just some scribbling and some numbers here and there.  The next paper though was something else. This one I could see was a handwritten letter in a woman's handwriting. Excited to see what it said, I laid all the other papers down and knelt next to the fire. As I was about to read it, I heard footsteps.  I laid the letter down on my lap and looked up and over to where I heard them.  They were getting closer.  At this point I wasn't sure what it was, maybe a bear or deer.  I stayed quiet and kept listening,

Invisible Trail by Roy Klipping Chapter 7

 Chapter 7

…might be flint. Thinking back I was wondering that right off hand so I grabbed it and opened it up and reached in. The papers were in the way so took them out. As I did something fell out from inside of them. Puzzled, I reached down and picked up what fell.  It was a few little pieces of leather, cut into strips about a quarter inch wide and six inches long, give or take. Not sure why they were in there, I set them down along with the papers then reached back into the satchel and found the two stones. I held the longer rectangular one in the palm of my hand and took the smaller one and striked it against the bigger one. Instantly there was a flash but not like what you would think.  It created a bluish flash that for a second seemed like everything went into slow motion. Hesitant to strike them together again, I reached over to the grass and twigs where I had made the fire pit.  I half ways turned away as I held the stone close to the bottom of the grass. With flint part placed slightly on the ground I struck the stones together and what happened next was something so amazing it sent chills running down my back and left my whole-body trembling.  The second I struck the stones the whole area erupted, almost as if there was a small explosion. The area all around me turned a deep blue and it felt like there was a concussion wave that came from within the stones. A powerful force sent my body flying back. As I sat back up looking at the whole area around me in a daze, the sky was flashing in and out with bright colors.  For a second, I thought I could hear voices though I couldn't make out what they were saying.  I looked down at the stones. I wasn't sure at this point if I wanted to touch them. Not only could they be hot, but I honestly was also a little, well more than a little, spooked. I reached over and grabbed a small stick and slid the stones out from the fire pit. I shrugged my shoulders at the same time because with all that happened it did manage to start the grass and twigs on fire.  I slid the stones to the side, then blew on the fire just to make it burn hotter.  I thought at this point the last thing I wanted to do is re try to start this fire , but after a few minutes the fire was going good.

The Invisible Trail by Roy Klipping Chapter 6

 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……

The Invisible Trail by Roy Klipping Chapter 5

 Chapter 5

As I walked to the front of my truck I told him he had startled me a little when he knocked on the door of my truck. I asked him what he needed, all the while watching out for anything suspicious about him. He told me he was just wondering if I could give him a jump and that his car battery was dead.  “Oh”, I said. “I had thought something was wrong with my truck because you were pointing at the front of it.” He said , “No. I was just pointing to your hood just gesturing if you could jump my car.” He asked if I had cables because he didn't have any. I smiled and told him I sure did and could give him a jump no problem. Being brought up a country kid we knew never to go too far without jumper cables, a gallon of gas, and some water.  But then again maybe that's just the necessity needed to drive an old truck. Anyway, I pulled up to his car and hooked up the cables, then told him to maybe just let it charge a little while before trying it. As we waited, I started small talk with him asking if he was from around here and that it was a nice day, you know all the things you ask in those awkward moments. The man told me he was from a small town about eighty miles north of here and he had just been coming back from his brother's place over in North Dakota. Curious, I asked what town his brother lived in. He said the name, but I didn't recognize it. I asked him about his town and if it was along Highway 61.  He nodded and said yes. He said he lived near French town and had been there for around twenty years. I knew about this area from things I had read when I was looking up hiking trails.  I asked him if he knew of any old trails that were used back in the days when they were looking for gold. He nodded and said yes, there was one that ran up north along the French river and that though he never had gone on it all the older local people said it was a great hike. After a few more minutes of small talk, he started his car.  I unhooked my cables, shut my hood, and told him good luck. He started to pull out his billfold to offer me money. I told him no but thank you and that I appreciated the information about the trail. We shook hands and then I climbed back into my truck and headed back on the highway.  I was only about ten miles from highway sixty-one and the day was slipping away faster than I had wanted.  I figured I better keep moving. I wanted to get to Beaver Bay by I noon and possibly get my gear packed up and on the trail by one or maybe two. That way I could get hiked inland five or six miles before I would need to set up camp for the night. I was getting really excited now and couldn't wait for this experience or maybe more of a desire or destiny feeling inside of me. I drove to where highway sixty-one was and headed north. After about thirty miles or so I started thinking about what that man said about the trail that ran north along the French river. I kept seeing myself walking there, visualizing all kinds if amazing sites. It wasn't long before I saw a sign saying French town.  I slowed down and before I knew it, I was parked along another sign that had a picture of a stick man with a backpack and a walking stick. The sign was pointing toward a trail leading along what I was sure was the French river. I sat there for a few minutes then I pulled out the trail map I had bought earlier and started looking for the trail. It wasn't long before I found it. It didn't look like a hard trail to hike and it really wasn't that long of a trail, maybe twelve miles give or take so I shrugged my shoulders and said to myself what the heck I might as well check it out.  I figured I could hike in today, stay somewhere along the trail and be back out tomorrow about this same time,  then head up to the Beaver bay trail. No sooner did that cross my mind I started packing up my gear.  I checked everything out to make sure I had everything I needed for a quick hike then threw on my pack and headed out.  I made it a few steps and then went back to the truck just to do a double check that I hadn’t forgotten anything. I looked around the truck and noticed the satchel laying there.  Not sure why I quickly took my pack off and stuffed it inside then headed back to the trail. I hiked in about two miles when I started feeling…….

The Invisible Trail Chapter 4 by Roy Klipping

 

Chapter 4

I was a little frustrated that I didn't get the trail map I wanted. The more I thought about what just happened, the more curious I got about what was in the satchel and why the old man seemed to think that it belonged to me or something.  Trying to get my mind off the satchel, I started to think about what trail I would travel. For the last several years I had read up on some of the older settler trails.  Those are the ones I want to go on. I know there was a trail coming from Grand Marias to Beaver Bay but that was along the shore line of Lake Superior. Even though it would be cool, I felt a draw to go inland.  I knew of another trail by the French river but couldn't recall the name of that one and then another one ran into the interior from Beaver Bay.  It was actually called the Beaver Bay Trail. There was also one more that ran north west into the interior from Beaver Bay called the Pork Bay Trail.  I loved the idea of hiking a trail that was used by people who settled this land. I believed at least one of those trails ran up to a Lake called Basswood Lake and stories have been told that the area was a major place where people would set up camp. I couldn't wait to make the trip inland to see what they must have seen over a hundred years before I was even born. Excited I pushed the gas pedal down and old Helen sounded just as excited as I was.  Again, I chuckled because of how I was with her. The roads were getting a lot curvier now and the trees seemed bigger and thicker with pines and maple trees filling the roadsides.  I must have driven a few more hours when I came to another small town.  I let off the gas and coasted into a gas station still frustrated about not getting the trail map from the last place.  I thought I would top off my tank and hopefully pick up a trail map inside the station.  It didn't take long, and I had my tank filled.  I made my way into the station and immediately as I walked in the door, I noticed a magazine rack. I started to look through it to see if there were any maps. I was in luck!  I found one that seemed to have all the trails I hoped to see and more. Wow! I didn't realize there were so many trails here.  I made my way to the counter and paid the lady for my gas and the map.  This time there was no sliding my map over and not letting me get it.  As I turned to the door, I thanked the lady and headed out to my truck.  As soon as I jumped in there sitting on the seat next to me was the satchel. Hmmmm… I guess I better see what's inside.  I pulled my truck ahead and off to the side of the road, then reached over and started untying the leather straps. They were a little stiff, but I managed to get them untied and then flipped the bag open. It smelled like old dirt or something like that. I peeked inside not knowing what there could be.  First thing I saw were some papers.  I slid my hand into the bag and pulled them out. As I did, I noticed there were some things at the bottom of the bag. I laid the papers on the seat and reached back inside the bag and pulled out a rectangular shaped stone looking thing. Shrugging my shoulders, I placed it on the seat and reached back inside the bag.  There were a few things in there.  I thought about just turning it over and dumping them out but didn't want a mess on my seat either.  I reached in and felt another hard item.  As I pulled it out, I could see it was what looked to me like a compass.  I have never seen one quite like this one.  I placed it on the seat and reached in again, this time pulling out an old straight bladed knife.  It had a leather sheath over the blade, which I was glad to see.  As I laid it on the seat I reached in and grabbed what was left in the satchel. There was another stone looking thing and small bottle with about half the liquid left in it. Laying everything on the seat I reached over and picked up the papers. As I started to open them up a loud bang on the side of my truck just about gave me a heart attack.  I looked at my side window and there was a man standing there motioning toward the front of my truck. Not knowing who or what he wanted I threw everything back in the satchel and  jumped out to see what he wanted.