Samwise, the Beautiful Swimmer

Spending time at our swimming hole

Late yesterday, I wrote to an ailing friend, telling her of our current hot spell. Our local swimming hole, quiet, ever empty, and always waiting for us, has been the best refuge from the summer heat. Early one morning last week, we walked the two miles to reach it, arrived hot and sticky, and spent an hour sitting, splashing, and swimming in that cool pool of August delight. It was a heavenly beginning to our day. The kind where we all smelled of clean mountain water and sunshine.  

Finishing the letter, I thought, why not now? The air was heavy, with more oppressive temperatures coming today and tomorrow. Why sit inside with the sterile air conditioning when we could experience that again. 

It was an hour before sunset so, I grabbed a headlamp, and off we walked. 

It helps that to get to it, we first have to wade across the river before walking two miles. It wasn't long before I was making my way down the trail with my shirt off. Samwise and Emily spotted a dear bounding across the pat…