Summer days are for feeling the heat waves. Looking around, the seemingly never-ending concrete roads have a water-like mirage rising above them. You are driving as the wind flows through the windows of your car, and you feel each strand of hair flowing backward, carelessly letting it happen. Music blares through the speakers as you keep having to adjust the volume from the wind blocking out the treble. But your voice fills the soundless holes while the jumbled lyrics that you briefly remember come out. Looking ahead at the road through the bronze tint of your sunglasses, you carelessly let your mind wonder where it wants to. Glaring into the rear view mirror, you see the people you care about most. Skipping the next song makes the back seat groan in disappointment because they were “feeling it.” Your hot skin burns since you “forgot” to apply the sunscreen earlier that day because you swore you would tan. Relaxed, you smile to yourself and look back on a great day that is slowly coming to an end. The radiant yellow sun slowly is pulled down the horizon. Music is still playing as your eyes adjust to the darkness that is slowly filling the car.
Remembering the crunch that the graveled path would make with each step you took and your skin absorbing the sun, you could feel the stress leaving the body. You could only hear the whooshing of the occasional breeze as it would chill the drop of sweat crawling down your back. The weight of your backpack was almost unknown, distracted from greens and browns that fill the perspective of your eye. Looking at the moving shadows of the trees as the wind blows through. Still, the crunching is the only sound of hiking, until the occasional stop when you reach for your canteen, hearing the ice cubes. You take a huge gulp as everyone catches up; they carry on conversations about whatever comes to mind.
Making turns and climbing an occasional hill, you're looking to see the next marker. The number is faded but the wood post is somehow standing in perfection. Glancing at your watch, you turn your wrist to get rid of the glare of the bright sun. You realize hours have passed. Noting this to the people you are with, you continue on the trail laughing and enjoying the company. As the walking continues, hoping you are on the right path, you finally come across the ledge. Looking down you see the canyon fold under and the flowing stream that connects the canyon to the dirt below. Realizing that it was worth it all the way to the top of the trail and knowing that it is only the first part of the adventure.
Pulling into the driveway, it is completely dark now, and you're turning down the volume of the song that will always make you reminisce of these summer days. Just like the hike, there is so much more to come, so much more to look forward to. Your friends shut the doors of your car, and the "see you later" farewell becomes too casual, as this is one of many times. You're looking forward to the next adventure that will fill your summer days, with the best people.
