Today, I would like to share a story of serendipity with you, and perhaps a lesson about going with the flow and being flexible. Now, these sorts of life events happen to me every now and then, some might say a little more so compared to the average person, but to those people, I say it’s because I will it to happen, I see the opportunity when it arises, and I’m willing to jump all over it when given the chance. Something like this could happen to you just as easily, but you must be putting out the energy for it to do so.
My story begins in the Sawtooth Wilderness of central Idaho. I had been on the road for 8 days, driving, sightseeing, paddling, biking, hiking, and camping along forest roads and parking lots. My dog Rocco was with me doing a lot of those things, but no other people. After hiking a few hours in the wilderness and seeing nary an animal, let alone a human, it occurred to me how lonely a soul I was out here in the middle of nowhere, and throughout my journey thus far. I have been single for a while now. I’m always on the lookout for a new companion, but fate just hasn’t played along as of late. For whatever reason, I was really beginning to crave the company of a nice female.
A little past Alice Lake, about 6 hours into my hike, I happen stanced across a group of about 6 women from Twin Lakes, ID, a town that I had passed through previously in my travels. They were all educators, enjoying their last few weeks of freedom before the school year began. Naturally, being in the state of mind that I was, I started analyzing the situation. All the while I was holding friendly conversation, mostly about where I was from, what I did for a living, where I was heading, a little about my trip, so on and so forth, as well as listening to what they had to say. We talked for a good 20 minutes, during which time I singled out one lady from the group. She was the most attractive one not wearing a wedding ring that seemed closest to my age. Oddly enough, I don’t think we really talked at all, she was one of the less gregarious ones. We eventually parted ways.
Their destination was Alice Lake, which I had just passed about a mile back. We had a great view of it from the spot that we had stopped to talk. I was glad to have had such friendly conversation in such a remote place of the country, yet, I had this urge to turn around and go camp with them at Alice Lake, an urge which I turned down to trudge along the trail towards my destination for the night.
There are large stretches of trail out there that allow the mind to wander in all directions. During the next few hours, that night before bed, and definitely the next day I thought about those girls and how I had possibly let a good opportunity slip away. THEN, I began to will that opportunity back to me. I kept thinking to myself, ” Man it would so cool if I got back to my truck and they left a note on my windshield to call them!” I can’t tell you how many times this very,very unlikely wishful thought went through my head. On the second day, the hike just got harder and harder as my body fatigued and my mental resolve broke down as the time went by and I didn’t seem to be making the progress I needed to in order to make it back to the car by nightfall.
I eventually did make it back to the car, completely exhausted. I was so beat that I didn’t even think to check my windshield, I just wanted to get out of there and into the nearest town to get a bite to eat. I cranked the car, put it in gear, looked up, and there it was. The note. Unf*#$@! believable I told myself. I got out and read it. I knew right away it was that one girl that had caught my eye. This is what the note read:

Hey, I’m one of the educators you met on the trail. If you’re looking for another adventure come to Challis this weekend for a concert. Rocco is more than welcome. – Sonja ###_###_##### See you at Braun Bros Reunion/Reckless Kelly/ Mickey and the Motorcars.

The next day was Thursday. I was planning to take a day off, spend a little time in Stanley, catch up on emails, and then start heading up north towards Coeur d’ Alene. I really did not think I could swing a trip over to Challis 60 miles east out of the way, and have to wait til Saturday, but damn, this was the very thing I had willed and here I was wanting to decline? I was in a bit of pickle.
I made it to Stanley that evening and had a very nice dinner. Finally having cell reception once more, I called the # on the note and left her a message. The following morning she called me back. They (one of the other women decided to go with her) were in Ketchum but were heading through Stanley around lunch en route to Challis. I told them I would be hanging out that morning anyway and that we could meet up for lunch, but I probably couldn’t go to the show with them.
1pm rolls around and I’m in the library using their internet when all if sudden Sonja appears and asks what would I like to do? ( she had texted me earlier, but I don’t get text on my phone, however, Stanley is a very small town and they saw my truck parked out front and figured I was inside)
We had lunch and a beer at Papa Brunee’s. We chatted and got to know each other a little better. All the while I was thinking about how I wanted my trip to proceed. When it came time to go, I asked who was playing for that night. There happened to be a poster on the door, so she went and read off the names. ” such and such, DALE WATSON, such and such, such and such” is all I really heard. The second that I heard Dale Watson was playing, my mind was made up, and off to Challis we went. First we stopped at one of the several hot springs along the way for a nice soak.
We made it to the music venue, setup camp, and started cooking dinner when I could hear from afar that Dale Watson had started playing. We dropped everything, and ran to the ticket gate to get in ASAP. Lo and behold, there he was, the famous, outspoken, silver Texas rockabilly music legend, Dale Watson, rippin’ it as he always does.
I wasted no time in grabbing Sonja by the hand and teaching her how to Texas Two Step, followed a bit later by a little western swing, some waltz, and some polka, none of which she knew how to do.
Now, Dale is one of my favorite country singers. Most of his work is original, and has a very unique and recognizable attitude. He writes and sings about whatever the hell he wants, and doesn’t give a shit about Nashville. He drinks Lone Star Beer like it’s the fountain of youth (for him, I think maybe it is, because he still looks pretty good for his age). He’s as Texan as it gets. I probably haven’t seen in him perform in 4 years, when I lived in Austin.
It’s one of the most Serendipitous things that has ever happened in my entire life that I just happened to be one day and 60 miles away from where he was playing way the hell up in Challis, Idaho, and even more so that I got invited by a cute girl in the middle of the Sawtooth Wilderness while on a remote backpacking trip. I mean seriously, what are the odds?
Dale put on a rocking show. To make things even better, after his set while Suzy Boggins was playing, Dale walked around to greet fans. I got to chat and drink beer with him, and he obliged for this little photo:

Great guy, that Dale Watson. After Suzy, Mickey and the Motor Cars came on stage and put on a pretty good show as well. Following that, it was back to camp where I got to cuddle this cute teacher from Twin Falls for a bit before crashing hard in the cool summer night under the stars.
The next morning, I was prepared to start heading back to Stanley and getting back on route to Coeur D’ Alene, but yet another spontaneous adventure was in store. The girls had met some new friends the night before who invited them to go rafting on the upper Salmon River, which skirts Challis. I was invited too, plus, I had my own little two person raft, and they were a bit overloaded as is!
The Salmon River is known a monster of river, containing some of the hardest and deadliest rapids in the US, and perhaps the world. This close to the headwaters, however, and this late in the year, it was calm enough that I felt my dinky $90 boat could handle it, and it did. Not only that, it held two people and a dog, and one point, 2 normal size people and 2 drunk overweight people that we had to rescue in a rapids section. I was really surprised at the abuse that boat withstood! Most of the float was a lot of fun. We did go down two rapids that gave me some trouble, but we made it safe and sound. The last half hour or so turned miserable as the temps dropped and it began to rain, and then hail on us pretty hard. No one in the group had prepared for such adverse conditions. We didn’t have a lot of choice but to keep going. By the time we hit the take out, everybody was shivering hard and damn glad to be off the river. A half hour later though, the sun came back out and we were already laughing about that experience as we dried off and warmed back up.
After getting shuttled back to the put in where I was parked, I had to bid farewell to all my new found friends, including Sonja and Kirsten, but damn what a fun little spur this turned out to be. Sonja is pretty cute, we had a blast together, and we have a lot in common, after all, we met in the middle of the wilderness while backpacking. After meeting someone like this, its always natural to wonder “what if…” I’m sure we’ll see each other again, but I don’t think too much will come of this new friendship, but, you never know. I surely didn’t think I’d be getting to see Dale Watson play while on my trip…

I’ve debated sharing this story, and here it is almost two months after it happened, but I feel in these times of rigid routines and the “rat” race mentality that it offers a great reminder to stray from your comfort zone once in a while, and more importantly, that there is indeed cosmic energy in this universe that exists to help you fulfill your desires. You simply have to recognize when it is present and take action to ride that wave. Personally, while I am taking the greatest single leap of faith I have ever taken by starting a Tiny House business, I’d be lying if I said I am without doubt and fear. Experiences like this ground me and remind that where this is a will, there is a way.  Thanks for reading my little story here, I hope you enjoyed it, and that it has opened your spirit to a little extra spontaneity and adventure. Carpe Dieme!

Greg