John, holding his freshly caught rainbow trout, scans the riverbank for a suitable spot to prepare his meal. Hey Max, "Can you highlight a good spot to set up a small campsite?"
Max responds by marking a suitable area on John's display. It's a small clearing with a flat, rocky surface and a few fallen logs nearby. John heads towards the designated spot and sets down his fishing rod. He carefully cleans the trout, following Max's visual guide for the best cutting points. Gathering some fallen pine branches, he builds a small fire using fire-starting gel. Once his fire was started, john places a flat piece of granite he found over the flames to pre heat. While waiting for the rock to heat up, John searches for edible plants to add his meal. He finds some wild mushrooms and onions growing nearby. The mushrooms have a rich, earthy smell, and their caps are a deep brown color. The wild onions have a strong, pungent aroma. Max suggests adding pine needles to the fish for extra flavor.
As the rock heats up, John carefully places the trout on it, along with the onions and mushrooms. He then adds a few pine needles on top for extra flavor. The mouthwatering smells of the cooking food fill the air, and John's anticipation grows. The trout sizzles on the hot rock, releasing a delicious aroma that mixes with the earthy scent of the mushrooms and the pungent smell of roasting onions.
When the food finally finished cooking, John takes a huge bite of the fish. The tender white meat melted in his mouth, the strong flavor of fish with just a hint of pine in every bite. He then tries one of the mushrooms, enjoying its earthy flavor. The onions add a subtle sweetness that complements the fish perfectly. John feels a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from catching and cooking his own meal.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
As John eats, he takes a moment to appreciate his surroundings. The gentle flow of the river, the sound of birdsong, and the smell of the forest create a sense of peace and tranquility. He feels grateful for the experience and proud of his ability to provide for himself in the wilderness. He thinks to himself, "This is truly the taste of nature." John finishes his meal and looks up at the mountains in the distance. He asks Max, "How far away are those mountains?" Max responds, "Approximately 15 miles as the crow flies." John considers his options. "Do you think I can make it there today?" he asks Max.
Max chuckles and says, "Given your current out of shape condition, I wouldn't recommend pushing yourself too hard. You could aim to get closer tonight and then make the final push tomorrow."
After finishing his meal, John carefully extinguishes the campfire, making sure all the embers are out. He cleans up the campsite, following his grandfather's advice to " leave no trace behind." Feeling refreshed and energized, he decides to put some miles behind him before setting up camp for the night. A few hours later, as the sun begins its descent, John stops to catch his breath. He's feels he made good progress along the river today, but the mountains still seem a long way off. Max interrupts his thoughts, saying, "John, you should probably start thinking about setting up camp for the night. You only have about half an hour before it gets dark."
John nods in agreement. He's curious about how far he's come. "Max, how far have I walked today?" he asks. Max responds, "You've covered about 7 miles so far, John."
John smiled to himself then said to max "It's amazing how a man can remember walking a mile but not remember each step he took to get him there," John is now determined to reach the point where the mountain and river meets.