dreemit's world: Come with me to my secret childhood fort (To the site of Anna and Austin's first kiss)

Embark on a new adventure with me as I begin a brand new series about the real world in which I live.

Walk, hike, bike, take a motorcycle ride and a road trip, go wine trailing, hit a brewery, come kayaking, jet skiing, and swimming. Through my words and a lens, see the beauty of the Finger Lakes and other fascinating places in New York and beyond!

Many of you know that I have concentrated mainly on fiction since the beginning. I love spending hours lost in the vast and colorful world of my imagination, it is the passion that drives me, and there is nothing more incredible than bringing others along for the ride.

But lately I have been feeling that I'd like to change it up a bit, add a few more dimensions to my blog.

For months you've been exploring the crazy worlds of my creation, so now I'm asking you to come with me on a new journey, one where we'll explore the crazy world of my reality.

I thought a lot about where to begin this new adventure, and it seemed fitting that I would take you to a place that featured largely in my youth, and incidentally also featured in the novel Reborn.

So for the first 'episode' of this new reality series, walk with me to my tween and teenage clubhouse, the stone fort that so happens to be the setting of Anna and Austin's first kiss...

We begin our mini journey in front of my parent's house, facing north toward the entrance of the biking trail to Sampson State Park.

These will also be the initial photos of the first bike ride I'll take you on in this series, just beyond that gate...

...but today we veer left into the woods.

This is not a climb for the dexterity impaired (it amazes my friends and family that I've never tumbled down this particular hill...another time I will take you to a few I have gone down arse over teakettle)

My strategy is to go down sideways, tree to tree,digging my feet into the ground with each step.

As I told my mom when I was young, the worst that can happen is I fall on my butt and slide down into the gaping hole...

...and we will be going down into the darkness...but first let's walk out onto the ancient stone roof. One of my favorite places on the planet for its privacy and view.

I've spent hours stretched out on a blanket, staring at the sky and dreaming, or lying on my side with a book, or propped up on one elbow notebook and pen in hand.

Many stories were read here and many were written. (Many beers were drank here and many a bowl was smoked)

The big tree that's hanging out over the water to the left? It completely hides this place from the populated side of the beach. My parents own the last piece of lakefront before state land begins, so essentially we have miles of beach to ourselves.

Ready to go down into the hole?

Okay, we're in.
That dirt landslide was a source of serious frustration when I was a kid. I lost count of the times that I conned friends into helping me try and clear it with shovels. If only I hadn't been such a girl, I might have realized I needed a pick ax to hack through those roots.

If you've read Today Again, then you recognize that name on the wall, and now you know where it came from.

When I was young I used to imagine this was a magical window, a portal to other worlds.
And now when you see this picture in my thumbnail another world will be waiting, so be sure to click and jump on through!

I would have liked to show you this spot from the outside, but the water level was too high (and freezing) for me to walk to it from the direction in which Anna and Austin took to get here. So I had to settle for hanging out the window and snapping a pic:

“I…” she got no further. Austin took his opportunity and leaned down, pressing his lips on hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer and he backed her up into the stone wall. His tongue darted into her mouth and she tentatively touched it with her own which seemed to set off fireworks for him. Next thing she knew he was lifting her up and wrapping her legs around his waist, sandwiching her between his body and the wall. It felt amazing to be this close to him, especially since the slide of his tongue was distracting her from thinking.

Do you remember the interruption that followed?

"Oh. Yeah, sure, I mean, who cares how I'm feeling anyway, right?" Geordy staggered and tripped over a rock landing in the lake.

"Shit," Austin grunted. He reluctantly set Anna down and strode over, frowning at the capsized Geordy for a moment before grabbing his arm and pulling him up. Geordy yanked backward landing himself right back in the water.

"Dude, I'm just helping you up."

"I don't want your help. I want her help." He pointed at Anna.

"Anna, no." Austin gave her a meaningful look and turned back to Geordy. "You're wasted numb nuts, so either you accept my help gracefully or I throw your dumb ass over my shoulder and toss you in the boathouse. Your choice." He held out a hand again and Geordy took it, grumbling under his breath.

dreemit's secret fort, from youth until now.

And thus concludes the first episode of the Real World of Dreemit. I hope you enjoyed it!

Generously created for me by @son-of-satire