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“Good ,” the woet for you today?”

She’s in here every day, and I’d say she’s in her early forties, with just a couple of gray strands in her shoulder-length dark hair She has kind eyes and a pretty smile

I place my order for scones, a cheese-and-turkey-stuffed croissant, and another coffee, then sit at a table with my treats I like to sit in the corner so I can people watch as I eat

So far, the people here in town have been super nice And last night, when I decided to go out for just one beer, I met Seth

I sigh at the memory of that tall, handsome drink of water, who had his hands all over , brown eyes

He was da

But I’m not here for that

“Can I get you anything else, dear?”

I smile at the nice woreat”

It’s still early enough on this Saturday rocery, few cars are out and about There’s a stillness in the air, content

No, this place isn’t at all what I expected, but I like it I like it a lot

“Bear spray,” I rizzly on the side toater, ultra-light trekking poles, extra socks, and a rain slicker rolled up at the bottom

I went to an outdoor adventure store yesterday and picked up a survival straw to help filter water if I need it, and a fire striker in case I have to start a fire

I definitely won’t need any of the extra survival stuff I’ the extra weight, but I’ alone, and it’s better to be safe than sorry—even if it is only a fifteen-h the mountains Compared to soht-hour day In and out But according to all of lacier, and hopefully some wildlife

“Just not hungry bears,” I say out loud as I lock up the van and head off for the trailhead “Any wildlife but hungry, carnivorous ones, thanks”

The first part of the hike is all uphill I’ll gain about four thousand feet in elevation

But thatto fatigue

The trail is well-traveled and marked so I can just relax and enjoy