Overnight backpacking action above the Boen Gulf in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area
9/4/2020
The Labor Day weekend. Crowds and throngs of people...I must escape them. I did. I entered the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area on Friday afternoon and saw no man..nor woman. The forest was mine...all mine, I tell you, save for the odd woodland creature observed along the way. There was thunder and dark clouds all around me. I savor those. No rain made wet my gear or body. The surrounding air was quite moist, but the temp was only 75°. After much difficult terrain and body clawing vegetation, my home for the night was before me. I made ready the devices required for a pleasant experience in these woods filled with peril. Clouds came and went. The sun soon departed its daily position for the one it occupies at night. The valley before me was still, yet filled the the voices of owls, katydids, and timber wolves. They kept their distance knowing full well the consequences of invading the perimeter of my camp.
Around nine I retreated to the comfort of my expensince hammock/tarp combo. As usual...sleep accounted for only about a third of the night's duration. Around ten, the moon began its arc across the southern sky, its glow partially masked by a thin layer of clouds. The valley was lit well, nevertheless. By morning the temp had hit bottom at 64°. My night was without discomfort due to this fact. After some time, my bluff was left and the hike back started. My goal now was breakfast. The temp upon exit of the woods was 70°. I drove south passing numerous automobiles heading north. The bastards! By late morning my ass filled a chair at DeWayne's...DeWayne's in Dover. A man-sized breakfast was had and coffee was sipped with great fervor. Let it be known that the man-sized breakfast served here at DeWayne's can be readily consumed my women as well...also children. It states this on the menu...in parentheses...in small letters...too small to read, really. I was home by 12:30 and it was good to be there after such a grueling trip. My mind wandered as to where next to invade. My wife was out of town for the weekend and this was also good. Wallace the cat arrived at the back door and was promptly told to get bent. He nodded his understanding and went back to sleep.
