Page 64 of A Second Dawn

The tranquil waters stretch out before me, their surface reflecting the surrounding mountains and the vibrant hues of the fall foliage.

The chaos of the outside world and of my personal life seems far away here.

As I take a deep breath, the crisp scent of pine and earth fills my lungs.

“Wow. This is breathtaking… and so quiet,” I whisper, not wanting to disturb the silence.

Only the gentle lapping of the water against the shore and the distant rustle of leaves can be heard.

“Why aren’t there more people here?” I wonder.

“Lake MacArthur is a hidden gem. Most visitors go for the more popular destinations in the park,” Claudette replies.

Squinting up at the sky, she says, “We better get a move on. The sun will set soon. Ade, there’s a spot close by where we can hide the RV.”

Aiden and I look at each other, confused. “Why would we hide the RV?”

“Because you can’t take a car to the retreat. There are no roads. Only trails through the forest.”

“Seriously?” This sounds like such a bad idea.

“Yep.” Claudette grins. “I suggest we only take the essentials with us until we can confirm we can stay. Then we’ll get the rest.”

There’s a reason she doesn’t tell us everything upfront. She probably knows I’d freak.

“You said you’ve never been there. How do you know the way?” I ask as we climb back into the RV and Ade starts the engine. Claudette points to a small dirt road and Ade slowly follows it.

“Miriam told me… in case I ever wanted to visit her spontaneously, which I suppose I am now. There are trees marked with a love heart with the letter ‘I’ in the center. So if we get to a fork in the path, we know which route to take. So, don’t worry darling, I’ll get us there.”

Let’s hope Claudette has a better sense for navigation than me. Though that’s not hard to beat—I’m hopeless with directions.

We better pack the space blankets in case we get lost and have to survive a night in the wilderness. I shudder at the thought.

“How did they build this hidden getaway if there’s no road to get materials up?”

“They used only what they could source in the area. Ian and his friends camped up there while they were building the log cabins. It started with one building and over the years grew from there. There’s about ten now.”

“Is Ian the owner?” I ask.

“Yes, he’s Miriam’s brother. They’re like chalk and cheese, but despite their differences they’ve always been close.”

Aiden parks the RV in the spot Claudette indicates, and we get up to pack our backpacks.

“I’m not sure how Carl’s brother would feel about us leaving his RV parked in the middle of nowhere unattended.”

Ade smirks. “I won’t tell him. What he doesn’t know…”

“It will be safe here,” Claudette reassures me at the same time. “This is a spot for Ian’s guests. Nobody would dare mess with him, I can assure you.”

She points further down the path, and I spot another car and a small van parked between the trees. There’s no sign of vandalization, putting my mind at ease.

Claudette turns in a circle, taking everything in. Her eyes wander from tree to tree until she spots one large pine that’s split in the middle. Lightning must have struck it a long time ago. The two halves are still alive and growing in a V shape. She marches toward it, and we follow.

I spot an almost imperceptible trail through the forest, and Claudette aims straight for it. To my surprise and great relief, she appears to know where she’s going.

The rustling leaves beneath our feet and distant calls of wildlife provide a soothing soundtrack to our hike. The fading light adds a touch of mystery to the surroundings, casting long shadows that dance and flicker with each passing moment.

By myself, I’d find it spooky, but with Claudette ahead and Ade behind me, I feel safe and soak in the tranquillity.

---