Miniscule diamonds of sparkling snow blanketed the barren, dirty earth and trees. Footprints knee deep were left behind us as we trekked to find adventure. Our first task was to find the river through a trail that was hidden by layers of formiddable weather. The river was easy enough to find, and we quickly wound our way through the trees and brush.
I found a steep path down to walk along the rivers edge, but the icey path looked a little to dangerous for my Georgian friend to attempt. I asked her if she would come save me if I fell into the shallow waters. She laughed and said no and that it would be my fault for doing something so stupid. I acted hurt and schocked and prodded her by asking if she would still do nothing if I bumped my head and lay face down in the water, and she was my only chance for rescue. She just shook her head and replied that if I couldn’t make it down the incline, what chance would she have of making it? Better for one of us to live than for both of us to die! Gotta love Pridge for saying it like it is!I decided that I would pass this lonely descent and would look for something more appealing. I breathed in the crisp air as I headed down the path. I stopped every once in a while needing to take in the shear beauty of God’s creation. The wind pounded a heavy blow to my cheek and I decided to get moving again, to stir the blood in my veins. As I rounded a bend I looked out on the water and there it was, a fallen tree. It had been uprooted and lay over the top of the river with branches and other rubble collected at its sides. I ran over to it to begin my balancing act.
I inched my foot out, under the snow yet on top of a slippery limb. A wide grin stretched across my face. I wobbled over the edge trying to keep my balance. The glassy, ice cold water danced below my feet. Falling would not harm me seriously, but I would be wet, cold and scratched up. I’m not exactly sure what my intent was…except to have a little bit of fun. Adventure and mischief are a necessary part of life sometimes!
As I reached the midpoint of the limb, I looked back and realized that eventually I would have to go back and as Pridge pointed out to me, it was an icey incline. As I excitedly reached the endpoint, a tree branch jutted out offering me some stability. I looked back over the path I had already taken and made a quick decision to go back a different way.
I slipped and bobbled my way through the maze of tree branches, laughing the whole way. A couple of times my foot would sink into the depth of the pile of limbs. Then, just as I was about to escape the mess, my foot sunk deeper than I intended and my entire leg was engulfed. I sat shaking my head and laughing, until I realized that my foot was resting in freezing cold water that threatened to seep through my boots. I screamed and lurched back, yanking my foot, but I was stuck.
Pridge ever so hestitatingly began her effort of rescue. She climbed onto a limb, but I quickly realized that help would not make it far when she slipped forward. Fortunately the rescue effort was not needed and my foot came out. I made it to the shore with only soaked feet, ankles, and butt. I shook my head at Pridge as I passed her and let her know that she was all talk! She risked being cold and wet, two things she utterly hates, to help a friend! Her ever so small attempt at rescueing me is the reason why I love her so much!
More of the adventure to come…
