Listening to some great classic rock on a station out of Seattle, Don Kitchens saw the sign for Sequim National Park, just 3 miles ahead. He sang out loud and proud, doing his best effort to blend with CCR. Smiling huge, he drove on. He reminded himself that it had been over a year since he had taken some time just for himself. Being a stay-at-home father was quite rewarding and fulfilling, but also quite emotionally exhausting. Every male he knew worked on weekdays; over time his best friend, and only friend, became his wife. Equally as exhausting at times.
Don didn’t like to think he was feeling sorry of himself, but he truly had no real friends. In the 8 years he had been at home with his children, while wifie worked on an actual career, Don had discovered the Internet. Yahoo had thousands of groups to join, everything from gardening to kinky sexual groups. Don belonged to both; secretly. His wife was the epitome of the jealous spouse. He also used IM secretly. Don never shared this information with his only friend. Although it was probably wise not to.
It was a fact that he had never cheated on his wife – he didn’t consider cyber or even phone sex really cheating - and he admired the fact that he had been skin faithful. But he also knew that if the opportunity presented itself for some actual flesh-on-flesh with a stranger it would be difficult to pass it up.
As he pulled into the large parking lot he quickly noticed that even his little hike to the beach would be solo, there were only 3 other cars. After tossing his cell phone under his seat (no interruptions wanted), grabbing his camera bag and backpack, he chirped his alarm and was off through the woods on the 3 mile journey to the ocean. The great Northwest is indeed almost surrounded entirely by water, but not the actual ocean. He was tired of looking at the Puget Sound, waves and crashing water was what Don needed. Nothing soothed his soul like the crashing waves of the Pacific ocean.
Along the trail he snapped a few pictures of the lush forest and winding trail. Some places it was befitting of a mountain goat, others a mountain bike. Along the main trail he passed quite a few of lesser taken trails, that no doubt ended up someplace exciting and fun, but they would have to wait for another day, Don needed to walk barefoot in the cool sand and watch the simplistic “magic” of one’s footprints disappearing as the sand absorbed it completely.
It took the best part of two hours, with taking pictures and stopping to explore a bit here and there, but he finally arrived. Seeing that no one was around, he removed all his clothes and jumped in the cool refreshing water. Don enjoyed the boyish exhibitionism, air dried and dressed.
Climbing to the top of a steep embankment he found the massive dead oak that he spied from the water. Climbing on top to appreciate the incredible view, he plopped down to enjoy his lunch. The cold sandwiches, while eating alone in the woods, made him feel good. He was at one with nature. Taking a lot more pictures of gulls frolicking about, waves hammering the rocks and the sheer tranquillity of the beach itself, Don felt sated and decided to head back several hours later. Looking at his watch he figured he would be more than half way home before the sun waved good bye at about 8:45 tonight. With so much extra time, Don decided to take one of the smaller trails.
After about 20 minutes of slipping and sliding on loose rocks and side-stepping jagged ankle destroyers, Don heard a distant roaring. At first he thought it was a train, but then he realized it was a different type of power. It was the thunderous roar of water spilling over a damn or cliff. Picking up the pace he soon found himself standing at the top of a beautiful waterfall, complete with small private natural pool at the base.
Detecting motion near the rocky area at the bottom of the falls he pulled out his binoculars and took a closer look. 2 girls, one laying on the ground, one sitting at her feet. Looks like they were needing help, they were both crying.
Rushing down to make certain they were all right, he noticed the one on the ground holding her ankle. “Are you guys ok?”
The blonde stood up. Better than average in looks and build, Don tried not to smile. “See! I told you someone would come along!” She smiled at her brunette friend and rushed to Don’s side. “Hey Mister. We were climbing on the rocks and Lily rolled her ankle. She can’t walk.”
Going over to the girl, now up on her elbows, he surveyed the damaged ankle. It was huge, and starting to turn a lovely shade of purple. “Yeah, I can see why she isn’t walking.” He crouched down to check it out. “Hi, I’m Don, mind if I take a look?”
Lily nodded and watched eagerly, hoping a miracle would occur and she would get up and walk to her car – but she knew better than to get wrapped up in such a fantasy. “Pretty bad, huh?”
“It isn’t broken, or dislocated, that is a good thing.” He said as he moved it around slowly. “But, it is severely twisted. You will need to stay off it for a few days – after we get you out of here!” He removed his bags from his shoulder, then his shirt. Both girls eyed his tanned hairy chest surreptitiously. “Ok, let’s get you onto your feet again. Don’t put any weight on it, just let me carry it all.”
Lily looked at him strangely as she held onto Lisa’s shoulder and Don’s bare shoulder. He handed her the shirt. “What is that for?”
I just figured you would like you butt covered as we go hopping down the trail.” He eyed the super-short cutoffs, then back to her face, “They’re kind of short.” She didn’t reach for the shirt so Don started to put it back on. “Suit yourself.”
Before he had it pulled over his head she held out her demure unpainted finger in a hook-like gesture. Don hung it over her whole hand. He then turned to look at the trail ahead of them. “I’m not sure where this comes out but --”
“It goes right to the main trial, just before the parking lot. That is how we came up here,” Lisa said. And then added, “You’re going to carry her? It is like -- miles!”
