wasn’t too bad. The roof looked like it might need a little repair, but other than that everything else seemed good. Even the stove inside was in good shape and usable. At least it appeared to be anyway. I guess I would have to give it a go to know for sure.
It wasn’t as modern as the camper, but the cabin was much roomier inside. You could actually move around without needing to avoid hitting your legs or arms on anything. It had a nice rustic feel to it also. Almost felt like a home to me. Other than the furniture and some dishes, there wasn’t anything really useful. I was still a little weary about sleeping inside, but the cold from last night was a little too much to bear. I started the woodstove to see if everything was fine. Unbelievably it was, and it really warmed the cabin up too. I’m sure the chimney would need to be cleaned somehow, but for now I would be able to get through the night. I collected as much wood as I thought I would need for that night, and then turned to my gear for this evening’s dinner.
I didn’t dare to leave the stove burning while I slept, but it didn’t matter because it had heated the cabin to a very comfortable temperature. I slept in the main part of the cabin on the floor as best I could. I just couldn’t bear to sleep on the bunk in the bedroom, not even the top bunk. I was thinking I might just tear the bunk bed right out, and try to build myself a new one. Maybe I was getting a little too crazy about the whole deal. I had time to think it over that was for sure. I wasn’t planning on moving in so I guess it really didn’t matter anyway.
The next morning I began my return journey back to the camp. I stopped only to pick some wild berries I found along the way. I found no sign of any road or trail when I was at that cabin. I assume who ever had been living there wanted the solitude or maybe any pathway had long ago been taken back by the forest. I spent the rest of the summer bringing some emergency supplies to the cabin, and getting to know the area a little more. I also repaired the roof as best I could with what I had. It would definitely serve as a great retreat for an emergency, and had already served as a great place to kind of ‘get away’ from the camp. I also noticed that the shadow of loneliness that had been following me disappeared, and I was truly starting to think that the all of this was starting to strengthen me not only physically but mentally as well.
Chapter Six Things Are Looking Up?
“An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.” – Psalms 33:17
As summer finally faded away, it was replaced by the cool autumn mornings. Fall was full of anxiety for the up coming winter, and was spent in last minute preparations. This was going to be my first winter in the mountains, and I wasn’t planning on becoming a casualty like that poor soul up at the cabin. I was able to get my hands on a snowmobile and installed a very small woodstove in the camper. I had to lay in bricking and put in a stovepipe, but in the end it was worth it. The stove came from someone in town who had originally used it in a canvas tent they owned. They were very eager to get rid of it, or I should say to get my cash. It didn’t matter much anymore though, as paper money just wasn’t worth anything anymore. Most places didn’t even except it anymore. One thing still spoke though, and that was the gold.
I still held closely to my stash though, and had yet to spend any of it. I was able to go hunting before the coldest of winter settled in and had shot a deer. I was sure to have plenty of meat for the winter without the need to spend monetary resources. My refridgeration problem had been solved as well with the coming of winter. That was a relief in itself. Although, I wish I didn’t have to sacrifice the warm nights