Story: M-22 Scenic Summer - Underway

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This story was inspired by the "Caught in the rain," "Athlete AU," and "Road trip/Backpacking" prompts for the 2023 February Ficlet Challenge Days 1, 3, and 5. 1070 words.

M-22 Scenic Summer - Underway

   Yesterday had marked the beginning of their grand adventure, and it had been a perfect June day. Blue skies smiling on three friends as they packed the covered bed of Noah’s truck full with the supplies they’d researched and purchased. Noah had splurged on an incredible set of Lodge cast iron cookware, and Gracie and Kyra had purchased the best short haul hiking packs their graduation money could buy. Everything was tucked neatly in color coded rubber bins, so it was easy for Noah to setup camp each night, and everything was waterproof when packed away. Noah’s gear was in the tough looking black and yellow totes, Gracie had grabbed hers in classic blue, and Kyra’s were a bright pop of purple.

   The three friends had stumbled onto the idea of a backpacking road trip while discussing their summer plans on the bus to track meets. All three were seniors and they’d wanted to do something incredible for what might be their last summer together. Noah and Kyra were headed to different colleges the upcoming fall and Gracie was starting as her father’s electrician apprentice. They’d been best friends since meeting through track as freshman, and the upcoming separation stressed them all to varying degrees. Plans for the summer had ranged from simple sleepovers in each other’s backyards to wild weeklong trips to Vegas or South Padre Island. Nothing seemed to work for everyone’s taste and budget until they’d started discussing the idea of a road trip.

   At first it too had seemed like it wouldn’t work. Kyra hadn’t liked the idea of long hours stuck in the car every day; she was too physically active for that to be fun. When Kyra and Gracie had jumped on the idea of a backpacking trip, Noah had balked. He was a hell of a fast sprinter, but the idea of walking long distances each day bored him beyond reason. Gracie was the one determined to find a way to make this trip work for everyone, so she had them each make a list of outdoorsy activities they loved, liked, and hated, then she drafted a winning plan. They would travel the Lake Michigan coast from Manistee to Traverse City, camping as often as they could; Gracie and Noah adored camping, and Kyra didn’t hate it outright. When they broke camp each morning, Gracie and Kyra would don their backpacking gear and set out on a 2 to 4-hour hike; hiking being a favorite for both. Most of the hikes would be along Lake Michigan beaches and through state parks, but they’d walk along M-22 when they had to, or if it was the safer path. While the girls hiked, Noah would drive his truck to the next camping location and setup camp. There he’d get to socialize with the other campers, and perfect his open fire cooking recipes, a personal passion he’d been harboring since his scouting days as a little kid. When Gracie laid out the basic plan, all three friends eagerly agreed.

~~~

   That was yesterday, and before. Now, on day two, the plan was off to a rocky start. Gracie and Kyra had taken off from Orchard Beach State Park north of Manistee, MI after devouring Noah’s delicious breakfast wraps. The walk along the beach to their intended rendezvous with Noah at Onekama, MI was scheduled to take three and a half hours, and was a good test run for their hiking gear. But just an hour into the trek along the beach, dark clouds had boiled up in the west, out over the water of Lake Michigan.

   “That doesn’t bode well,” muttered Kyra.

   “Shit! I didn’t check the weather app.” Gracie looked anxiously at the clouds she’d failed to predict.

   “Well, luckily, we’re mostly waterproof. Let’s hustle.” The girls took off in a light jog, wanting to shorten their journey, but knowing they couldn’t full outrun the remainder of the hike.

   An hour after that, and the first rain drops of a summer rain shower were pelting their heads and the sand around them. As the storm began to move onshore the lake whipped up into impressive white caps and waves crashed further and further up the beach, forcing Gracie and Kyra to walk high up on the beach where the sand was soft and less compacted, slowing them back to a brisk walk. The going got tougher, and both got girls drenched.

   The storm lasted just forty minutes, give or take, but by the time Noah picked them up off the sidewalk in Onekama to drive them to their rental cabin for the evening, Gracie and Kyra were wet to the bone, chilled, and had blistered their feet in wet socks and hiking boots. They tossed their backpacks into the truck bed, slammed the tailgate, and gratefully crammed into the cab of the pickup. Noah cranked up the heat, despite the sun and warm June temperatures, and both girls murmured gratefully.

   “I got worried when the clouds came through, but we didn’t have an alternative spot picked out for me to find you, if something went sideways. I called your cell Gracie.”

   “I had it in my pack on silent. Sorry! Man, I did not think this through enough.”

   “Hey, Grace, its fine. We’ll get to the cabin, warm up, and dry off. You planned for so much, you couldn’t predict bad weather day one. Now we know we need to make a backup plan for while we’re out hiking. A shortcut to a gas station or something, then we can call Noah to pick us up early.” Kyra was soothing a hand through Gracie’s wet and tangled hair as she encouraged her to be kinder towards herself.

   “Neither of us considered it either Gracie. We just thought you wouldn’t hike on the rainy days. Neither of us checked the weather this morning, either. Its not all on you, we’re three amigos on adventure together!” Noah chimed in, nudging gently against Gracie’s shoulder as he drove them smoothly through the town’s light traffic. “I vote you both get dried off when we get to the cabin, I’ll lay out your gear from your packs to start drying too, and then I’ll make something spicy tonight for dinner, warm you right up!”

   “Thanks guys. I love ya both. This trip will be awesome! We’ll just make sure to plan better together for whatever storms might come our way.”