Entry #17.3 / 3rd July 2022
The conversation continued for a while longer, delving into other things I’d been up to and how he was doing. Just before we wrapped, he practically demanded I send him photos so he could feel even more jealous.
Shortly after I ended the call, I received a text from Janette saying she and Ryan were at Rock Creek Park and asked if I wanted to join them. I replied that I would be there soon.
Since it was quite a distance from the Capital to Rock Creek Park, I decided to get an Uber there.
Then, almost twenty minutes later, I arrived at a car park of the park and text Janette to send me her location.
A few minutes later I groaned out in pure frustration.
It turned out they were on another side of the park, and it would take nearly thirty minutes to walk through the park to get there.
It’s fine. I thought as I tugged out my camera from my backpack. Just another jolly walk through nature again.
Normally, it wouldn’t be too bad – I love walking through woods and parks. Sparking the photographer skills in me. But the major difference was that I was on my own. And I’ve watched way too much true crime content to know what happens to girls in the woods on their own.
I’m literally my own worst enemy.
Straightening my shoulders, I marched into the woods, and after a while, it was easy to forget that I was on my own. Nature had that effect on me.
I took photos, captured footage and simply immersed myself in the natural beauty surrounding me. Though at times I felt a bit unnerved, as if someone were watching me, encountering other hikers put me at ease.
I made sure to smile and say hi to them. Because you never know.
Following Google Maps proved to be difficult at some points too. Sometimes it would say I was going off the pathway (which I wasn’t) and other times it would say I was swimming in the flowing river (which I most definitely wasn’t). But it did give me the gist of where to go and which directions to take, so I couldn’t condemn it completely.
(Google Maps get your shit together.)
Eventually, I found Janette and Ryan at a picnic table, enjoying the sunshine washing down on them.
“Good day?” I asked after hellos were exchanged.
“Kinda,” Ryan replied, “the zoo was a bit of a let down though. All the animals… they looked so depressed there.”
“Ugh, that sucks.” I said as I sat down with them. “Have you guys eaten yet?”
Janette shook her head. “Nah, not yet. We were waiting for you to see if you wanted to go out for something to eat.”
Feeling how empty my stomach had become with the day’s events, I nodded. “I’m starving!”
We hung about in the area for another ten minutes or so before getting a refill of water nearby and heading to the bus stops back into the city centre.
***
Once we returned to the city centre, we wandered around before settling on Taco Bell for food. I thought – hoped – it would be the same experience as Popeyes. That the uncertainty would turn into a good experience.
But I was wrong.
I couldn’t find anything I would particularly like, and when I did order something, I ended up hating it.
The joys of being a sensitive taste buds.
Fortunately though, after the Taco Bell disaster, we stopped by a Krispy Kremes that had a special deal going on.
“Since you guys are wearing the colours of red, white or blue, you get one of the flag doughnuts for free.” The till operator informed us with a wide, friendly smile on his face.
I frowned. “But why – oh, Independence Day tomorrow.”
Janette snorted, “as you can tell, we’re not Americans.”
“But we’ll be enjoying betraying our country by celebrating Independence Day tomorrow with you guys.” I commented, “because, you know, good for you guys.”
***
Eventually, the three of us went our separate ways. Janette and Ryan were considering going out for dinner with me tonight, but later I received a text from them saying they were having a night in. Considering the amount of walking I did today, I was grateful for the chance to rest.
As I was lounging about, exploring the hostel and contemplating how to spend a relaxed evening, I noticed the entrance to the outdoor area of the hostel, where the swimming pool was located.
Feeling it would be a good time for a good ole fashioned swim, I grabbed my swimwear and headed for the pool area.
***