The rain dampened the green fields as they drove through the countryside. It had been a long drive, but as the rolling countryside passed them, they felt increasingly at ease.
His phone beeped with an incoming message, she unlocked his phone and checked the email.
"They are still emailing you?" she asked.
"Maybe just silence it" he responded.
"I can do one better," she said and turned his phone off, placed it in the glove box and closed it before smiling back at him.
"that works too," he said laughing, "maybe yours as well then?". She did the same.
The open road grew narrow, the corners were sharper as the green rolling hills were replaced by tall trees. It was peaceful, tranquil. A mist started to lay low on the road in front and he slowed down. With the rain now stopped they opened their windows. The cool mountain air filled the car with the rich aroma of the wilderness.
He placed his hand in hers as they sang along to their music, breathed in the forest smells and felt the stresses of the world wash away from them.
"How much further?" she asked.
"can't be too much further, I think at least another 20 minutes" he replied.
"it's a lovely surprise, and it is very remote," she said.
"That was the idea," he said, "remote, quiet, and only us, a perfect place to just chill and reconnect".
"It sounds perfect" she replied.
As the road wore on they grew closer to their destination. A single sign pointed down a dirt road, they turned and followed the windy road before arriving at a small building.
"This looks like it," he said parking the car, "how about I pop in and grab the key".
He walked inside the small reception area and was greeted by a woman at the front counter.
"Hello, I think I have your booking," she said, "how was the drive up?" she asked.
"it was lovely thank you" he responded, its so nice to get away from work and town for a few days and just relax a bit".
"This is the place to do it," she said. "is it just you and your wife?".
"it is" he replied, "and I know we're already looking forward to sleeping in".
"well there will be plenty of time for that up here," she said. "here is your key, now I've stocked up your cabin with some food, drinks and supplies at your request, I have you in the Ridge Cabin which is just around the bend and by the river, the good news is that you guys will have pretty much the whole place to yourselves this week, I think another booking is coming later but that's not for a few days, but the place is big enough that you won't see another soul".
"That sounds perfect" he replied.
"oh, one other thing" she added, "there isn't any wifi at the moment, so you are kinda by yourselves this week, digital detox I guess".
"Oh... that actually also sounds perfect," he said, "thankyou so much for your help, ill go and get us unpacked". He waved goodbye, walked outside and jumped in the car.
"Bad news baby," he said, "no wifi, so we may just have to have a digital detox this week".
"Oh no," she replied feigning disappointment "how will we survive?"
"I'm sure we will find a way to amuse ourselves," he said.
He drove on, following the map that was given to him at reception and turned onto a smaller road, the trees towered above the car until suddenly the dim lights of the cabin guided the way. They parked out the front and walked inside. It was very private, remote and breathtakingly beautiful. The cabin was built like a studio apartment. A small kitchen and living space on the ground floor framed by giant glass windows that raised to the second floor with a small staircase leading the way upstairs to a mezzanine.
As they walked upstairs to the mezzanine, they were greeted by a four-poster bed facing the giant windows out to the deck on the bottom level. The cloak of nightfall had shaded the view outside, but what they could see was the water of the river slowly lapping the rocks, the sound soothing and beautiful.
It was stunningly remote, and they felt a million miles away from anywhere.
"ill go and unload the car," he said, kissing her on the forehead and lingering for a moment.
"did you want me to make you a drink?" she asked.
"that would be perfect" he replied.
She walked downstairs and into the kitchen, the fridge had been stocked as requested. She took a bottle of gin, some raspberry juice. She placed two glasses on the kitchen bench and opened a bottle of scotch, the smokey and peaty smell lingering as she poured it and then followed by mixing her drink. She stopped and looked outside, spying a light switch, she flicked it and the lights on the deck came on, flooding the deep timber deck. She took the drinks and walked outside. The deck was still slick from the afternoon's rain and the air fresh she stepped out and placed her drinks on the handrail and breathed in deeply, showing herself in the peace and tranquillity of the moment.
"Did you see the tub?" he asked as he came up behind her placing his arms around her and holding her tightly.
"No" she responded.
He turned her around and on the corner of the deck was a copper hot tub and next to it a small furnace for timber.
"That's nice and old fashioned," she remarked.
"I'll have to find some wood tomorrow, maybe that's the plan tomorrow afternoon, we just soak in the tub," he said.
