Having Barbara so nearby certainly boosted my time here. She gave me coffee, while Katie offered up her fur to be scritched, and we got to chat a lot. It's fun to see how people are in real life, as compared to the impression we get by reading their writing. If you've somehow gotten the impression that Barbara is staid and conventional ... I'll just save the surprise for when you meet her. [Not that I ever thought you were staid! No, not what I meant!]
I mentioned that there was some mischief at my campsite when I went away for the day. It was minor mischief; I didn't lose much of great financial value, but they were all things I use daily and would miss. A camp chair. A solar flashlight, and a small solar panel I used to charge a reading light. Having a theft at a campsite is a new one on me, so I don't have to worry about that anymore - whew.
Especially weird: things went missing that were of zero value. It was just like someone came through, assumed the site abandoned, and swept it clean. There was no trash, no item of value, no item of no value left behind. That's why I don't sense malice, or even avarice. I sense a sheepish camp host who left that day (the camp host really did leave that day), deciding to do one more round of clean-up on the way out and then getting the email from the ranger.
Especially cool: Barbara had a terrific chair that she "didn't want." She did a great job of convincing me how much she didn't want this chair, and how I would be doing her a huge service by taking it off her hands. It was a rather involved and persuasive tale, and I put my tale right into it. It's such a perfect chair! It fits into Spud perfectly. It fits around my tail feathers perfectly. It has a table! If my old, not-very-perfect chair hadn't been taken, I wouldn't be sitting in this excellent one.
Still, fool me once, shame on you. Pick my new chair-lock, I'll hit you with the heavy part.
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| New sign also courtesy of Barbara. |
A ranger came by to take my report, after I asked the new camp hosts about it. He was very apologetic.
This park got very, very busy over the weekend. Scouts came in on Friday and left today. Now there are more families just in for the day, enjoying the river. I predict a return to serenity for me, and fun weekend memories for them.
Barbara, it was a lot of fun having you nearby. Thanks for the coffee and good conversations. And the great chair.
