We had a final breakfast with our friends, returning to Melita’s for a little country cookin’. Lots of biscuits, gravy, eggs and syrup for everyone.

Our journey began in the company of great friends, so it was with mixed emotions that we parted with Brett, Stacey and their boys, who returned home to California. We had an amazing time together and were sad that our time together came to an end.

Alone, with a new camper already docked into the site previously occupied by our friends, we stayed in for a “down day” of journaling, photo editing, trip planning, napping and reading.

In the late afternoon, we hiked upstream along the Spring Creek back toward and past the Collier Logging Museum we’d visited the previous day. Within a half a mile, the trail led away from the stream and back into the deep woods, past small houses with barking dogs, horse trails and large PRIVATE PROPERTY/NO TRESPASSING signs. Timber was beginning to behave like a primal version of himself in some ways – assuming an almost hunter poise when we stopped, listening and looking for any moving creatures. Rather than blaze new trails, fight off the swarming mosquitos or to chase down a dog “gone native,” we returned home for an early and relaxing night.