Off the grid R&R:

At the top of a long winding dirt road which climbs through dense pine forests sits a small log cabin.

The humble home sits on the high side of a sunny clearing which provided the logs for her sturdy walls and overlooks a crystal clear mountain lake below. The small bright clearing is surrounded by a mixture of hardwoods and old growth conifers pushing their sturdy trunks up out of a thick carpet of khaki brown needles. The surrounding forest is thick, dark, and mysterious as it infuses the crisp air with the clean fragrance of pine. Speaking in hushed voices the trees emanate a constant murmur as the breeze scrapes across the tops of their branches. A cacophony of birds vying for attention mix harmoniously with the subtle sounds of snapping twigs and rustling leaves suggesting the steady movement of unidentified fauna across the forest floor.

The little lake is an inviting dark azure pool springing up from some deep place, depths from where sunlight fails to reveal the secret source of icy water. On the far side, a cascading waterfall splashes down a pile of rocks in a noisy rush to escape to the freedom of a small stream which disappears into the woods. Early in the morning and late in the day the whole surface of the lake percolates from hungry trout feeding on tiny bugs. Guarded by the surrounding sentinel of seasoned trees, the little clearing is covered with sparse grasses and dense clover and looks as if an old wrinkled green blanket had been carelessly flung across the bed of rocky soil, one edge of the blanket having landed in the water at the shore of the lake.

Inside the cabin the musty odor of aging wood combines with the faint smell of smoke, leather, and kerosene from the oil lamps hanging on the walls which serve as the sole source of lighting. Against the back wall is a door which leads to a small bedroom and a simple bathroom. The wide main room serves as living area, dining area, and kitchen all-in-one. An old iron wood-burning stove, used both for cooking and heating, sits on a piece of slate in the midst of the wooden plank floor, off to one side, not quite in the middle of the room, sort of loosely defining three distinct areas. An old leather couch with tape on one arm, and matching recliner take up most of the living area except for a book shelf against one wall holding musty books, old newspapers, and a few other knickknacks. An aging deer head missing one eye hangs on the wall above the bookshelf. Directly across the room, near the largest window stands a very old round wooden dining table with a mostly unfinished top. 4 wooden chairs, none of which match, and two of which are missing back slats, are neatly tucked underneath the table edge. From any seat at the table, the large adjacent window is a live display of the picturesque lake, busy animals, and darting birds. The window also affords a good view of the drive, all the way to the sharp curve in the dirt road to the south east. On top of the stove sits a large rectangular cast iron griddle and a simple coffee pot which you can reach from the table. There is a small solar powered refrigerator next to the large stainless steel sink in the kitchen area. Above the sink is a single shelf on which there are exactly three metal plates, three chipped porcelain coffee cups, and a stainless steel bowl that holds three sets of silverware and a few other kitchen utensils.

Outside the front door, the covered porch hugs the full width of the cabin. The porch intentionally faces east for the best view of the sun as it rises over the misty lake on cool mornings, and graciously shields her occupants from the heat of the sun’s harsh afternoon rays. On the porch, to one side of the front door, there is a large wrought iron rack holding plenty of dry, split, neatly stacked firewood. An axe with a worn wooden handle is lodged in one of the large pieces of wood on the end of the stack. On the other side of the porch is a very comfortable hanging chair which sways gently in the breeze as if motioning a message to passersby, "come, sit, relax, and enjoy a long drink from your surroundings". Beside the chair is a rough-hewn table made from two big logs, just the right size to hold a cup of hot coffee and a generous stack of books.

One could spend many days reading, thinking, fishing, and exploring; always prepared to show hospitality to unannounced company, while never really expecting, or feeling the need for any.

This would be my dream vacation spot.