On to the campground

Starting with a few plump raindrops, the clouds suddenly open, pouring rain down on you so hard the wipers can barely keep up. You slow, knowing that the turn off to the camp ground is close, not wanting to miss it with the poor visibility. After about a mile of driving you see the sign for the county road that you need to turn on, and with a little sigh of relief you pull onto it.

You reach for the directions you were given, reading them as you drive. According to them, you need to travel five miles on the county road, then turn left on another road which will take you to the campground.

Hopefully the thunderstorm won't last long. At this time of year they happen, but usually clear up pretty quickly and are followed by clear weather. You, check over your shoulder at your camping supplies in the back seat, looking forward to getting together with your friends.

As if in answer to your thoughts, the rain starts to diminish, then stops so suddenly it's almost like a tap was turned off. As if it were an omen, you see a road leading off to your left and a weather beaten sign reading "Blister Lake Campground" with an arrow pointing left.

This road is narrow and badly paved. It has been patched so many times you doubt there is any of the original paving left, and your battered car lets you feel every pothole you hit.

Less than a mile after making the turn the road enters a forest, making you think that you must be close to your destination. The campground your friend Brianna picked out was near a lake in the midst of a small forest. According to what she told you, it's a little used county park with only a few campsites, but all of them right on the water.

A few miles further you see a sign for Blister Lake. This one pointing to the right down a gravel road. The road slopes gently downward, and after a few hundred yards you can see the glint of water through the trees, and then the unmistakable orange glow of a campfire.

A little further and you can see Brianna's car, and then the figures of your three friends rising and waving to you in welcome as you pull into the campsite.