Dawn Chorus

Hutch takes Starsky camping…in tents!

“Why are we stopping here?” Starsky asked, as Hutch pulled the car over to one side of what looked like a barren wasteland.

“This is it. We’re here.”

“Whaddya mean, we’re here. Where’s the cabin?” Starsky demanded.

“No cabin,” Hutch said cheerfully, “Just you, me, tents and the great outdoors.”

“Huuuutch!” Starsky exclaimed. He wanted an explanation but his partner was already out of the car.

Starsky leapt out after him, saying, “I wouldn’t have come if you’d said tents.”

“That’s why I didn’t tell you,” Hutch said reasonably.

Starsky had to hold himself back from throttling his happy friend. He counted to ten before saying, “I don’t have a tent, Blintz. What am I supposed to sleep in?”

“I brought a spare. Here you are, Gordo, take the tents over there and we’ll set them up shortly. Let’s get the fire pit ready first. Then dinner will be ready by the time we’ve set up.”

Although still seething, Starsky brightened slightly at the thought of food. With a deep sigh, he grabbed the tent bags and hefted them over to the flat area, Hutch had indicated. Suddenly, a horrible thought occurred to him.

“Oh no! Hutch! Have we got to dig a latrine?!”

Hutch shook his head. “See that trail there. Well, there’s a toilet block a short walk that way for those that need their creature comforts.”

Starsky muttered under his breath about a toilet not being a creature comfort but a necessity as he helped Hutch get the cooking utensils and food out. Together they got a fire started and soon a stew was cooking in the pot above the fire.

The two of them then tackled the setting up of the tents, which went surprisingly smoothly. Starsky was relieved to see Hutch had also packed him a thick bedding roll and sleeping bag. He unrolled the bedding and placed his bag in the tent. Then he went to join his partner at the campfire.

Hutch handed him a spoon and a large bowl of stew and soon the two of them were munching contentedly. Starsky had to admit that Hutch always excelled at campfire cooking.

After eating, they went for a short walk down to a lake where they decided they would do some fishing the next day then they sat and chatted by the fire’s side until they felt tired.

“‘Night, Gordo. Sleep well.”

“I doubt it,” Starsky mumbled before adding, “‘Night.”

*****

Starsky was awoken by the sound of ferocious rustling and then the cheery voice of his partner loudly saying, “Morning, up and at ’em!”

Starsky opened one eye and saw his partner’s head peering into his tent, looking unrelentingly cheerful.

“Come on, Gordo. You’re going to miss the best bit of the day!”

“Hutch, it’s barely light. Go away!”

“Ssh, you’ll scare the wildlife away.”

Starsky grabbed a sneaker and threw it at his partner. He missed.

“Come on, get up. It’ll be worth it.”

Starsky groaned. Clearly, Hutch wasn’t going to give up and he wasn’t going to get anymore sleep. Moaning, he struggled out of the sleeping bag and dragged on a thick sweater and his shoes.

“This better be worth it!”

“Ssh.”

Starsky crawled out of the tent to find his partner was holding a torch and indicating that Starsky should follow him down the trail towards the lake. Before he could protest, Hutch was off and Starsky had no choice but to follow.

When they reached the lakeside, the sky was just brightening with pre-dawn light. Hutch sat down on an outcropping of rock and indicated Starsky should do the same.

After a minute, Starsky said, “So?”

“Just wait for it,” Hutch advised.

Starsky rolled his eyes, silently wondering what he was waiting for. Then the first glimmer of light appeared on the horizon and a moment later a solitary bird call rang out. A few seconds later, the single song was joined by chirpings, tweetings and songs of myriad different small birds all heralding the dawn as it erupted in hues of pink, rose gold and yellow.

For some minutes, the two men watched and listened intently until finally the sun was established in the sky and the songs had died down to quieter calls and chatters.

“Wow!”

“Worth me dragging you out?”

“Definitely,” Starsky exclaimed.

Hutch grinned. He stood and offered a hand to his friend.

“Let’s go get some coffee brewing and then I’ll scramble up some eggs.”

“Sounds good, pal. Lead the way.”

As they made the return journey, Starsky realised he was glad Hutch had arranged for them to camp in tents. There really was something special about hearing the dawn chorus right out in the wilds. It was even worth sleeping in a tent for…not that he would ever tell Hutch that!