12. Twin Lakes trip. I've been on call a lot lately. Sometimes working 16 to 20 hours in a day. It's been a bit hectic but thats what I signed up for really. The great thing about working hard is that it gives you the energy, like loading a spring, to go and go fast as soon as you do get off.

I got off work at 3pm last friday and by 4pm I had all my camping gear packed on the back of the bike and I was headed east on the Mt. Baker highway for a little friday night camping trip at twin lakes. Although this was the endpoint, the real golden point is that Twin lakes lies the the end of a 7 mile "4 wheel drive only" road, yes that road really was the goal.

I travelled up the road just as the sun was setting the air was starting to cool. It was really wild rising up out of the cool dark forest up onto the sunlit mountain sides where it seemed still early and bright in the day.

By the time I reached Twin Lakes I had just enough time to open a bottle of Cotes Du Rhone, take ample enough swigs to feel fancy and start setting up camp before the sun started setting over the lake.

By the time i set the tent up and perched my little chair next to the lake it was about all i could do to sit there and cook myself a little turkey melt sandwich and of

course as with all camping meals, it was the best turkey melt i ever ate...the wine did't hurt much either.

There was something i realized there. Camping alone, although sometimes not as fun having all your friends around, offers something really interesting. Silence. On that lake, there was not a sound, not another smell, no other light to contaminate my view. There was not one other thing but me, and I couldn't let myself go to sleep because I kept catching glimpses of shooting stars, kept making wishes, kept sipping sips of wine that kept getting colder and colder. Cold red wine is actually quite terrible, somewhat like vinegar i think, but at that point i really didn't care anymore!

I awoke the next morning to see this view...you can click on it to see a bigger picture. Such a great way to wake up in the morning.














After drinking absolutely too much coffee (which i never get camping, because you i always have to share with someone), I took off back down the mountain to explore the highway heading all the way up to Mt. Baker. along the way i explored every dirt road i could find which got quite interesting when I couldn't even turn the bike around.