Mikata Five Lakes Lake views and a taste of blue soft serve

I followed the Rainbow Line’s mountain road to the car park. I’d spent the drive watching the bends ahead with my hands on the wheel; now it was time to take in the view. From Summit Park, the lakes spread out between the mountains. And after that drive, this view was waiting for me.

I found a place to look out over the lake and stood there for a while. Following the shoreline with my eyes, I could see where the mountains cut into the water and where the lake continued beyond them. With the autumn trees in the foreground, I could really sense the distance to the far shore. I wanted to stay there a little longer before taking a photo.

When I came back with my blue soft serve, I started wondering about its color. Was it the same as the lake? I held it up beside my face and closed one eye. Looking back and forth between the soft serve and the view, I wanted to compare them before I took a bite. I’d bought something sweet, and still hadn’t tasted it.

If my driving friend were here, she’d probably tell me to try it already. Yeah, she’d be right. I opened my eye and finally took a bite. As I savored the cold soft serve and looked out over the lake, I felt the tension drain from my shoulders after the drive.

I looked once more at the lake beyond my soft serve. After that first bite, I noticed different details. As I traced the mountain ridges and gazed farther across the lake, I couldn’t decide where to look next. I found myself eating even more slowly.

Even after I’d finished, I stood and looked out over the lake for a while. I got to enjoy the mountain road and the view from above today, and I’m glad I had both. When I show my friend the photos, I’ll tell her why I had one eye closed, too. I’ll probably have just as much to say about the blue soft serve as I do about the view.