Chapter 36: Tree Huggers

                                    

                                          
"All places have entrances, I'm sure we'll find it eventually," I mumbled, looking around as we drove through the forest. 
                          
Logan was always so antsy and anxious, I wish he'd relax. Not everything was going to be perfect, I knew that. 
                          
I was fine just driving through the forest as it was. This place was so beautiful, and on the off chance that the trees thinned, we could see Mt. Hermon. 
                          
"There," I pointed to the Mr. Hermon Adventure entrance. Here, we were going to book a tour for the Redwood canopy Adventure. 
                          
"Finally, so damn hard to see through all these trees," Logan sighed. I'm so driving when we're done here, he needs to take a nap or something. 
                          
I rolled my eyes and folded up the map as we parked. Poor Nix would have to stay in the truck today, but with all the trees around, she had plenty of shade.
                          
I left her food and water just in case. Logan went to go get us all set up while I let Nix pace around in the grass to go potty before we left her alone. 
                          
She squatted in some nearby bushes and looked at me over her shoulder.
                          
"Oh, sorry," I mumbled and looked away. She ran between my legs when she was done, nearly getting away from me. 
                          
I put her back in the truck and kissed her nose, "We'll be back soon Nixie." 
                          
Logan came back as I locked the truck and I smiled at him, "All set?"
                          
He nodded and held out some slips of paper, "Our guided tour starts in twenty minutes or as soon as the other group comes back. We have two hours for the tour." 
                          
"Great," I said, smacking a bug on my arm, "Let's wait inside though." 
                          
We went inside the entrance building and Logan went to the vending machines to get some water bottles. I scanned over a cork board out of boredom. 
                          
A paper caught my eye and I pulled it off it's tack. I grinned, this looked amazing. 
                          
I found a pay phone in the corner and quickly rang up the number. The receptionist answered the phone. 
                          
"Hi, yeah, I'd like to make a reservation please," I said to her, looking over my shoulder to see Logan grabbing our water. 
                          
He made it to me just as I hung up the phone, "Who was that?" 
                          
"Louise," I fibbed and took a water. 
                          
"Group two, your guides are ready for the redwood canopy walk! Group two," a loudspeaker crackled. 
                          
I grinned and grabbed Logan's hand, "Come on!" 
                          
We filed outside with a larger group of people and some younger teenagers. Two people in ranger uniforms stood in harnesses and helmets. 
                          
"I'm Olly and this is my Co-worker Mandy, we'll be your guides for your walk in the forest," a guy grinned at us. 
                          
They both proceeded to go over all of the safety rules and it was actually weird how they echoed each other. It was like two parrots talking to each other. 
                          
Then Mandy used Olly to point out how to put on and tighten the harness and helmets we were required to wear. 
                          
Then they suited us up.