Strangers in the Night

I was on a backcountry trip with my girlfriend, Barb, to a remote lake I thought we would have to ourselves. We were alone when we arrived and set up camp, but after a while another couple arrived.

They were as surprised as we were that someone else knew of this gorgeous spot off the trail. We agreed to share the site and introduced ourselves. Ken and Amy were married and enjoyed hiking together. The four of us became fast friends.

Ken and I went to gather several armloads of wood as Barb and Amy agreed to share cooking duties. After a delicious dinner and several hours of talking around the dying fire we all went to our respective tents.

It was a warm night without a breath of a breeze and I eventually was sleeping in the buff. I awoke at 3 A.M. with a full bladder. I lay there for a few minutes pondering the situation, as I knew if I got dressed to go outside I would wake Barb sleeping next to me. I finally figured no one else was awake so what the heck, I quietly stepped out into the night in my birthday suit and strolled across the campsite to a clump of bushes.

After completing my mission I stood there a few minutes watching a light show as a meteor shower was going on. It was a cloudless night and the full moon and shooting stars reflecting off the glassy lake made a beautiful scene. Suddenly I heard a zipper behind me. I turned around and saw Amy crawl out her tent and start towards the same clump of bushes that concealed me. As she neared I saw she was wearing the same thing I was - nothing.

I was momentarily petrified. If I crouched and hid I would be a pervert and if I called to warn her it might wake the others. So I just stepped out of the bushes and brazenly strolled past her to my tent with my head held high and eyes straight ahead. As I went by her I said "It appears we both had the same problem. "She was too shocked to react, and I heard suppressed laughter as I reached my tent.

Evidently she didn't tell her husband or Barb of the incident, but she did casually mention something about "Chance encounters in the night." during breakfast conversation.

The four of us remain friends to this day and frequently go camping with Barb (now my wife) and I. The incident was never repeated or discussed.

- G.N.