It was hot, the hottest summer I can remember and the result was everyone around me seemed cranky and restless.
My friend Cathy had insisted I join her and a group of her friends from her dance class on a camping trip by a river up in the mountains. I didn't have any other plans and a respite from the incessant heat would be most welcome.
Friday morning came and I grabbed my backpack and headed over to Cathy's place. I was going to drive up with her and two of the other girls.
On the two hour drive we chatted and drank ice coffees and watched the surroundings change and grow more rugged the closer we came to the mountain camp site. It seemed like we had left civilization far behind and all that surrounded us was thick forests and rocky outcrops.
We arrived around 11am and the sun washed the camp in it's warm glow. I looked up at the powder blue sky and breathed in the clean, warm air and sighed contently. I needed this break and I intended to enjoy every minute.
We set up camp and the girls decided that a swim was long overdue so we all set out to the river.