It was the last week of July, and once again Amanda found herself deep in the middle of nowhere on yet another annual family camping trip. Despite her natural inclination toward all things "girly", she never completely dismissed the tomboy that lurked deep inside, and it was during these week long family vacations that her rarely seen appreciation for all things dirty would be allowed to surface. Unfortunately, after 10 years of living in the warm glow of the "only child" spotlight, her parents blessed the family with not one, but two baby boys, and Amanda felt like Cinderella (pre glass slipper) when she was thrust into the role of housekeeper, maid, and full-time nanny. So now, the once peaceful family camping trips had become just a lot of extra work, and her complaints were ignored as all modern conveniences were stripped away in the quest of simplicity and "roughing it". With necessity being the mother of invention, Amanda quickly learned that a busy schedule, along with some less than inviting solo activities, meant that she could regain some of the control and privacy that would have otherwise slipped away.
Mandy had turned 22 in April, was awarded her B.A. in Plant Biology in June (an interest that was developed during these very camping trips with her family), and was now near the end of a two month "time out" to decide whether she would start working, or continue with graduate school and on to her PhD. Her parents, of course, supported the latter of the two choices, and offered to keep paying all of her expenses as long as she was in active pursuit of higher education. Although she knew she could, Amanda had no intention of getting by on her stunning looks and charismatic personality, and feeling like she proved it with the achievement of her degree, the thought of six more years of studying was a little hard to swallow. Despite a long list of pro's and con's for either decision, her father's argument was the most convincing when he imparted his painful truth, telling her that her framed diploma and a short, tight skirt might be just enough to help land her a job answering phones at the nearby nursery. But for now, Mandy remained undecided, and her parents put all talk of her future aside as they let the seclusion of nature reboot and refresh both their minds and spirits.
It was an unusually warm Wednesday morning, and was the beginning of her and her family's third full day of camping. The remote location of the campsite gave Amanda a much needed week-long pass from the almost non-stop text and voice messages she received from her friends. However the quiet she enjoyed from the lack of digital proximity was offset by the non-stop intrusion of her closer analog circle, and the constant presence of her parents and brothers made it impossible to find the type of core penetrating rest and relaxation she was really in need of. After 2 nights and 3 days of family togetherness, Amanda was ready for some alone time, and she excused herself after breakfast saying that she was going to go out hiking and put her education to use while doing some practical field study. She offered to her family that if anyone was interested in spending 5 or 6 hours listening to her name all the different plants along the way, they were more than welcome to tag along. Relieved that her companions remained silent, she stood up, grabbed a bottle of water, and quickly disappeared into the woods.
It was common for Amanda to venture out alone during their week long stays in the wilderness, so her parents put up no resistance to her taking a solo day-trip. There was no trail or path to guide her, but the familiar landmarks of trees, boulders, hills, and streams were all she needed to find the secret place that she had first stumbled upon 9 years before, but kept undisclosed ever since. The 50 minute hike required continual climbing, crawling, sliding, and balancing, and it didn't take long before she was completely covered with mud and debris from the forest around her. Staying true to her word, she took some time to identify the many plants along the way, and she felt a new sense of connection with the forest as she applied the knowledge she had gained at college with an activity that felt like anything but work. Mandy was tired and filthy as she pushed her way through the last patch of overgrown brush, but her effort was rewarded when she was greeted by the unspoiled vision of her private, secluded, beautiful little pond. She walked to the water's edge, and felt a slight tinge of guilt as she prepared to disturb the glass-like surface that was perfectly reflecting both the canopy of trees around her, and the clear blue sky above.
Just as in years past, Amanda was once again sitting atop her favorite boulder, and as a feeling of contentment washed over her, she enjoyed a moment of uninterrupted peace before beginning to unlace her hiking boots. She removed and placed her boots next to her, and then stuffed her socks inside them for safe keeping. Barefoot, she jumped off the rock, took two steps in the soft mud that lined the shore, and then dipped her foot in the still pond to test the temperature of her waiting bath. As usual, it wasn't even close to being warm, and the frigid water made her quickly pull her foot back while causing tiny shivers to appear across her skin. Amanda stood alone and conflicted as the tomboy of her youth struggled to take control from the woman she had become, and then finally winning out when she convinced herself not to let her adult femininity keep her from enjoying her yearly dose of childlike freedom. Slowly and methodically, she began to psyche herself up as she prepared for her revitalizing swim.
Once back at the boulder, Mandy pulled apart the snap at the waist of her cargo shorts, and then unzipped the fly before sliding them to the ground. She reached over to place them on top of her boots, and even though she knew she was completely alone, she took a thorough survey of her surroundings before continuing with her shirt. The buttons slipped out easily from their worn holes, and despite it being covered with remnants of the forest, she neatly folded her white cotton top before setting it down beside her other dirty clothes. Now standing at the water's edge in only her bra and underwear, she looked down and took in the sight of her own pristine reflection.
Amanda didn't spend a lot of time in the sun, and although it lacked the tan radiance that was so important to her friends, her pale skin retained the soft, wrinkle-free appearance that it had when she was younger. She always felt more comfortable in loose fitting clothes, so except for a couple of her luckiest dates, nobody had any idea just how shapely her body had become since growing out of her awkward, teenage lankiness. Her firm ass, taught stomach, and proud, 34C breasts gave her no reason for body image issues, and she found it hard to relate with the girls that seemed to be so obsessed with theirs. Her confidence with her body didn't preclude her modesty, however, and even though she was undoubtedly alone, she was still outside, so she kept her plain, white cotton panties and matching bra on as she prepared to swim in her private pool.
Finally accepting how cold it was going to be, Amanda stopped hesitating as she made a short run into the water, quickly followed by a shallow dive that left her fully submerged beneath the now rippled surface. A deep gasp was followed by a high pitched scream when her head reemerged, but with her usual determination, Mandy continued to swim while her body got used to the frigid bath around her. As she splashed around, the grime of the last 3 days washed off, and it wasn't long before the water had not only cleansed her skin, but her mind as well. Overcome by memories of years past, her feeling of rejuvenation was briefly replaced by the sense of discovery and excitement she had felt when she first found this spot almost a decade ago. In a childlike trance, Amanda continued to float, splash, and swim around for almost 2 hours before finally feeling relaxed enough to go back and rejoin her family at their camp.
