Lisa wakes first and crawls out of her sleeping bag. Jenny has her pillow over her eyes. She’ll sleep late, Lisa knows, she’s done that ever since they were kids.

Lisa always hates the first couple of mornings camping. She wants her coffee right away and it always takes some organization to figure out how to get it. It’s going to be especially difficult this morning because they just dumped everything out of the truck last night in the effort to set up the tent before dark. On top of that, her head is foggy after drinking all that champagne and wine the night before.

She sets the little stove up on the table, finds the French Press, and the coffee and gets it going. More searching and she finds the Planet X cups that Jenny must have bought yesterday. One more thing to be grateful for.

She doesn’t know what she would have done without Jenny after Martin called off the wedding, but she thinks it’s her turn now. She promises herself that she’ll take on most of the work today.

She gets the water ready for the oatmeal and starts to organize their equipment for their hike in High Canyon that afternoon.

Jenny finally climbs out of the tent, squinting at the sun and holding her head.

Too much last night, was all she said.

Yup, here’s your coffee, Lisa said, and thanks for the cup.

No problem, Jenny replied. But that’s the last of the non-wedding presents. From now on, we’re leaving the past behind.

I’m for that, Lisa agrees.

 

After clean-up, they head to their first stop. They’ve agreed they need to see Guru Road, up  34 right out of Gerlach. A desert artist, DeWayne“Doobie” Williams created it during the last 15 years of his life.

The women walk down the road, stopping to read the messages on the rocks. They know that Williams created most of the art in the ’80s and ’90s, but people have kept it up, restoring some pieces and sometimes adding their own.

They rest in the branch and twig built “TV room” on the old stuffed chairs watching the playa and the mountains through the empty TV screens. They drink quarts of water and feel their hang-overs lifting.

Jenny talks about adding a you-tube video she found of the road to her travelogue.

Later that morning they take Soldier Meadows Road up toward High Canyon and decide to hike the part of the Desert Trail, that goes through the Black Rock. They follow the guideposts but they mostly ramble through the playa and canyons and scramble up some of the surrounding mountains and rocks.
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Remember when your parents took us camping up at Tahoe in the third grade? Lisa asked. That bear came into camp and ate the orange in your backpack. Our families used to camp together all the time.

Yeah, but I don’t think there are bears here. Mountain lions maybe.

Too bad you moved away in the fifth grade, Lisa said. I could have used a friend like you in middle school.

I’m glad you looked me up, Jenny said. I think we still travel together well.

You make a good bridesmaid too, Lisa said. I’ll keep you in mind for next time.

I’m glad you’re joking about it. No talk of weddings, okay?

Tired and sore, the women go back to the truck and drive on to the Soldier Meadows Hot Springs.

At their campsite, Lisa tells Jenny to relax, as she sets everything up. The tent pops up with no problem. She organizes the camp kitchen so dinner and morning coffee would be easier.

Then, before dinner, they go test the springs for one just the right temperature.  The women soak away the soreness in their muscles and the remains of their hangovers.

I’m not having any wine tonight. Lisa says. I don’t even remember going to bed last night.

Do you remember throwing your ring in the fire?

Lisa’s eyebrows rise and her eyes widen. She sighs, then laughs.

I didn’t need that damn thing anyway. She says as she closes her eyes and sinks further into the hot water.