I first saw her in my local coffee shop, she was serving when I called in for my to-go morning brew. The regular server was a college age guy with a hipster beard and glasses so the greeting from the new staff member was welcome. Her name tag told me her name was Zuri, and I guessed her age as mid- twenties. She was as tall as me and had a model figure, displayed in tight jeans and company T-shirt. Over the next few mornings I chatted with her if there was no queue of customers while my coffee was getting fixed and found out she was a college grad. hoping for a job in the financial sector and filling in at the coffee shop until the right opening came along.
Monday of her second week we chatted about our weekend activities and found we'd both been hiking, within 10 miles of each other, but on different trails. I grabbed the chance to suggest we might get together the following weekend and hit the outdoors together. She was hesitant but agreed to let me know her plans by Thursday morning. Good to her word, on Thursday she passed me a note with her cell phone number, and told me to call her after work. We spoke long enough to arrange to meet at the trail car park for a local valley which had a good circular walk up one side of a valley to a waterfall and back down the other side.
Saturday dawned with a clear sky and by the time we met the sun was blazing down and the valley was blurred in the distance with heat haze. As I slipped on my back pack and helped Zuri with hers I offered to lead as I'd walked this trail before and wouldn't need a map. She was happy to follow and we set off knowing that we would have to walk through the heat of the day to ensure we were back in daylight. We made good time, with frequent stops for drinks and snacks, and as the late morning heat built the waterfall came in sight.
We'd been passed by two groups heading the opposite way but had seen nobody for 30 mins when we reached the waterfall. The trail was meant to go up the side and across a bridge then back down but with the water flow being low we rock hopped below the fall and made the opposite bank, With time to spare I suggested a rest, eating our lunch and maybe a paddle in the river to cool our overheated feet. Zuri agreed and we quickly found a flat rock to sit on so we could soak our feet as we ate our picnic. The water temperature was pleasant and the nearby waterfall offered an inviting opportunity to cool down so I told Zuri I was going for a "shower" under the cascade and I would be back soon.