Small birds flitted about the wire feeder strapped to the tree. I watched the red breasted nuthatch peck at the seedcake within, others below the feeder, searching the ground. The diffuse sunlight brightened the scene only a little. Clouds blanketed the flank of the mountain, softening the edges of the day. The exposed wood beams framed the window, framing the day in turn. I reposed within a two room cabin, crouched on the hillside. The wood stove rested cold this morning, the embers from last night having given their heat some hours before. The iron oxide slate floor gave no heat back, leaving the wooden floor on the other half of the room to warm the space. I reclined on a cushy chair, keeping my feet off the floor, and tucked under a caribou hide.
Dan and I had driven a few hours west of Calgary to Golden the night before, and we were now guesting at Graham’s cabin. Last night, Babz had taken us out on the town. I had held the picture of Golden as a quaint little town set in the mountains. Apparently it is chock full of river rafting guides, and they know how to party! We traipsed from bar to bar, ending up at a house at one point. There was a great deal of drinking, and a few tables got flipped over. At one point, I looked up just in time to see a ghostbuster throw himself into a shrub, disappearing into the neighbor’s yard. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the rcmp showed up shortly after this, clearing out the party. As the designated driver, I found myself on the fringes of the party, and was able to stroll off discreetly. Our little group all escaped unscathed, and on to the next bar.
Finally, the night drew to a close, shortly after we had tossed all our quarters off the bar, in an attempt to hit a small glass. Now quarterless, we piled into the truck. I stood next to the driver’s door, as all within got settled, and sorted out seatbelts. I could see the bright lights of a truck behind us, just sitting on the street. A discreet glance revealed the outline of lights on the roof. Rather unsurprising the rcmp’s had found us here, the majority of the group. Searching for seatbelts for everyone was well underway, and I was loath to move from the spot without all being buckled in. I figured there was no way we were just driving off. These cops were just waiting for us.
Fortunately, we had chosen a dd at the beginning of the night. And that was me. Sigh. I was not looking forward to having a nice chat with grumpy cops. Nor performing a field sobriety test. I slipped my heels off, my feet aching from traipsing all over town. If I had been drinking, maybe I wouldn’t feel my feet, I reflected wryly.
Just as I was getting settled in the truck, familiarizing myself with the controls, a flurry of movement on the corner caught my eye. Some of the more rowdy members of the group had made their way there, after being shooed out of the bar. it looked like they had decided to continue their antics out here.
The cop truck moved off our tail, and stalked the wayward partiers. We didn’t stick around to question our good fortune, but took the chance to drive off. A short jaunt thru the dark woods, down a paved, then graveled road, and we were safely back at the cabin.
Wherever you are, Be There 