in chapters 2 & 3 of The Book Of Mice and Men why do you think George camped in the clearing the night before and arrived at the ranch when most of the men were away working?

There is no plausible reason for George to have spent the night at the river, except for the fact that Steinbeck is utilizing the exposition to set up the novel's ending. We meet George and Lennie at the river.... the same place George will later take Lennie's life.