hiking adventures – Page 2

North Carolina Weekend Trip: Hiking, zip lining & delicious BBQ

May 5, 2022 No Comments

Me at the “Opera Box” looking out at Chimney Rock & Lake Lure

Every year since we began dating, I have gifted Joseph an experience for his birthday. I try to always give him a tangible gift as well, but I feel gifting him something that he loves or has always wanted to do, & especially something we can do together, is good for our relationship & more unique than the average birthday gift that fits inside a cardboard box.

The first birthday was only two days after we started dating. I fretted over what to get him. What do you get someone you have only been dating for two days? We weren’t even “official” yet. I didn’t want him to think I ignored his birthday, but I also didn’t want to get something over-the-top & scare him away. I settled for a $10 Dunkin‘ gift card because our first date was at a Dunkin’. He loved it, & we spent our next date getting coffee once again & driving around in his car. It happened to be that date that I fell in love with him, so I’m still pretty proud of that birthday gift, despite its small size.

For Joseph’s next birthday, we were in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I gifted him a five senses gift, which included something fun for each of his senses: A candle for scent, a sweet treat for taste, a soft blanket for touch, a book for sight, & a playlist for hear. The playlist included a song for every month we had been dating, & we spent the evening driving around in his car once again, listening to the music.

The following year, the COVID-19 pandemic had lessened its hold on our lives, & we were finally able to go out again. This time, I gifted him concert tickets to his favorite band, The Avett Brothers. We spent a night in Philadelphia & made a little trip out of the event. After that, I didn’t know how I would top my last gift. Seeing The Avett Brothers had been a bucket list item for Joseph, which meant the next gift would have to be quite good to even measure up to the last.

Me holding the poster we got at The Avett Brothers concert in Philadelphia last year

When we had planned our trip to Delaware last year, I had noticed that there was a zip lining place close to where we were visiting. Neither of us had ever been zip lining & both wanted to go, so I excitedly researched the spot. Disappointed, I realized that the place had already been booked up for the dates we were visiting. I made a mental note to remember this place, & should we have a chance to return to Delaware, I would make reservations for us.

As Joseph’s birthday neared, I remembered this & found the website of the zip lining place once again. The dates were available, but the thought occurred to me that if this was going to be the best birthday gift yet, it would have to be more than your average zip lining course. I researched some of the best places to zip line in the United States, & I found one in North Carolina that looked promising. As we are also trying to visit all 50 states together, I decided to make it a weekend getaway, including hiking, visiting a main street, & eating a local restaurant (the other requirements we must cross off in order to officially say we “visited” a state).

On Friday, April 29, Joseph’s birthday, we got in the car together & drove the eight hours to North Carolina. At the time of planning, I hadn’t really considered just how long eight hours in the car really is. In the past, Joseph & I divided up the states together in lists that said how long of trips to each one would have to be to make it worth it: a day trip, weekend trip, week-long road trips, & states we have to fly to. North Carolina was on our Day Trip list, so I had thought it would be a quick trip. I realized now that we may have been a little ambitious when making that list. I was beginning to worry that spending just one full day in North Carolina would not be enough time, & that my birthday gift would be a flop.

Despite the length of the car ride, Joseph & I had a good time driving down. We listened to music & the podcast Stuff You Should Know. We talked about our plans for the weekend, the shows we have been bingeing together, & events in the coming months. Around five hours into the drive, we stopped at Mt. Airy, North Carolina for a bite to eat & to walk the main street.

Mt. Airy is one of my favorite main streets that we have been to. The buildings were all different colors, & different artwork, including murals, statues made of brick, & painted instruments, lined the streets. Mt. Airy is where The Andy Griffith Show was filmed, & although we arrived too late to visit the museum, we still got our fill of memorabilia & souvenirs on display. My favorite was the old squad car parked on the street that had a photo of The Andy Griffith Show characters in the windshield.

The Andy Griffith Show squad car on display at Mt. Airy, North Carolina

We stopped for dinner at Mi Casa on Mai n, a Mexican & Californian cuisine restaurant on the main street. The ambience was an interesting mix of Mexican & American, with candy skull painted skeleton figurines & early 2000s music playing on the radio. We started with chips & homemade salsa to share. Then, for dinner, I ordered the taco salad with shrimp & Joseph ordered the BBQ Pulled Pork Primo Tacos. To say the food was delicious would be an understatement. The portions were huge & we had more than enough food. Everything had the perfect level of spice, building a slow burn in the back of our throats as we ate. The taco salad was piled so high with ingredients, I could barely mix in the dressing. Topped with black beans, grilled corn, fresh tomatoes, shredded cheese, crispy tortilla chips, & a creamy salsa dressing, every bite was bursting with a fresh blend of flavors. Joseph’s tacos did not disappoint either. The BBQ was the perfect, North Carolina BBQ you would hope to get in a Mt. Airy restaurant, nestled into a tortilla with a creamy coleslaw, friend onion strings, & sweet & hot candied jalapeños. I don’t think I could dream up a more iconic yet inventive blend of American & Mexican flavors.

When Joseph went to the restroom, I secretly told the waitress that it was his birthday, & near the end of our meal, she brought out freshly fried churros covered in cinnamon sugar & drizzled with a raspberry sauce that soaked into the hot dough. It was the perfect blend of sweet & sour, & we ate it with gusto.

After dinner, we returned to the car to drive the remaining three hours to our Airbnb. I had reserved us a spot in the Bearwallow Highlands mountain range. It was a windy drive up in the dark, but we made it safely to our cabin-style Airbnb. Exhausted from the long day, we dropped our things, toasted to Joseph’s birthday with a glass of wine, & climbed into bed.

The next day, we got an early start, wanting to beat the heat & get in as much hiking as we could before our zip lining reservations at 2:00. We got in the car & headed to Chimney Rock State Park. As we drove up the windy, mountain road, I could just make out the American flag perched at the top of Chimney Rock. It was so much higher than I thought it would be! Chimney rock, I learned, has an elevation of over 2,000 feet! The hike from the Four Seasons Trail, however, was only 1,000 feet of elevation, which was still a rather strenuous hike. For the first half mile, we had a slow incline, but the last half mile consisted solely of stairs that seemed like they would never stop going up. Legs burning & panting, we climbed slowly up the face of the rock.

The view of Chimne y Rock from the “Opera Box”

It was a glorious moment when we finally stepped out onto level ground & found we were over 2,000 feet up in the air, looking down at the lush, tree-filled valley & the windy, blue water of Lake Lure. The wind whipped the American flag above our heads, & it was at this moment that I took a step back & realized just how beautiful our country is. I never knew that North Carolina had mountain ranges like this. Whenever I thought about the state, the image of sandy beaches came to mind. But this state, like so many others we have visited, is nuanced in all of the best ways, & it has some truly stunning views, if you’re willing to do a little hiking to get there.

We still had some time to spare, so we decided to pull our tired legs up another 200 feet to Exclamation Point. Once we got there, we still had another 25 minutes left to hike out, so we hiked & ran just over a mile to the top of Hickory Nut Falls, a waterfall that drops an impressive 404 feet! The rushing water & cool breeze greeted us, & we spent a few minutes enjoying the serenity before jogging back to Exclamation Point & beginning our descent back to the parking lot.

We had just enough time when we finished our hike to grab a quick bite to eat before our zip lining trip. We left Chimney Rock & found that the park is situated directly next to a main street that we had somehow overlooked on our way in. Chimney Rock Village is a quaint street filled with local shops & restaurants. We decided to visit Broad River Inn, which features a restaurant that serves rustic pizzas, artisan sandwiches, & more!

To start, we ordered the Chef’s Bruschetta to share. As someone who comes from an Italian family, I have had my share of bruschetta, so when I say that this was the best version of the dish that I have ever had, I don’t take that phrase lightly. The tomatoes were chopped finely & mixed with fresh red onion & feta, piled high on thick, artisan bread that had been slathered in olive oil & toasted, topped with a large basil leaf & drizzled with a tangy but sweet balsamic glaze. I nearly ordered another plate to have it all to myself.

The Chef’s Bruschetta at Broad River Inn

Our lunch was just as impressive. I ordered the Salad of the Day, which was a bed of greens topped with sliced pear, candied walnuts, blue cheese, & a balsamic vinaigrette. Every bite was a new medley of delicious flavors. Joseph ordered the BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich, which was laden with North Carolina BBQ sauce, topped with a tangy, homemade coleslaw, & served alongside homemade potato chips. Satisfied from our meal, we walked down to the street to get coffees from Coffee on the Rocks & then headed to Canopy Ridge Farm for zip lining.

At this point, I was starting to get nervous. My lunch, which had settled so nicely in my stomach before, was now bubbling angrily with anticipation. I have a fear of heights, & the idea of hanging precariously so high in the sky was beginning to terrify me. When we arrived at the adventure park, we were walked through the safety measures & put in our harnesses. Together, we rode in a jeep up a tall hill to the first platform.

I shifted uneasily as we received our instructions, & I watched the others go before me. As each member of our group took off, I felt the anxiety build. When it was finally my turn, I stepped up shakily.

One of the guides connected my harness to the zip line. He could tell I was nervous, & joked about how it had been revealed that I had been the one to book us this trip.

“It was for his birthday,” I laughed. “I didn’t really think about the fact that I would have to do it, too.” I looked out at the zip line, & was surprised to not see much of a drop. With a deep breath, I took a step off of the platform, leaned back into my harness, & flew off into the treetops.

The ground quickly disappeared beneath me, dropping 100 feet down. I screamed with excitement. I loved the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair as I raced down the line. I felt like I was flying, & it was exhilarating.

All too soon, the ride ended, & I waited eagerly for my next turn. The tour consisted of six zip lines in total, some of which we had to hike to. Our guides were funny & entertaining, & throughout the course, they give us different challenges to complete. Twisting & turning down the lines, falling back into trust falls off of the platforms, & learning to flip upside down as we soared were just a few of the tricks we learned. The tour ended far too quickly. By the end, I was already talking about when & where I would want to go zip lining next.

We finished earlier than expected, so once we were out of our harnesses, Joseph & I shared some Dippin’ Dots from the store & then made an impromptu drive to Asheville. The streets were busy & packed with people. It was a beautiful night, perfect for walking the city streets & getting a bite to eat at a rooftop bar. Joseph & I got onto a waitlist for a restaurant & then perused the shops while we waited. We popped into one traveling trunk show where a henna artist was doing tattoos, & we each got a bear paw on our left arms (a tattoo we have been wanting to get for a while).

When our table was ready, we headed back up the street to Strada Italiano. We sat at the bar in the sister restaurant, Social Lounge, which was decorated to look like a speakeasy. Despite the busyness of the restaurant, our bartender was attentive & entertaining. To start, we ordered the Arancini & a drink each: The Botanical Bliss for me (a blend of Ketel One grapefruit & rose vodka, peach syrup made in house, fresh lemon, & prosecco) & the Plums & Roses Old Fashioned for Joseph (plum-infused Four Roses bourbon blended with homemade basil stem syrup & Peychaud’s & Angostura bitters). The drinks were perfectly mixed & went down far too easy. The Arancini was served in a sherry tomato cream sauce with pecorino romano & a balsamic reduction. The balls themselves were fried to perfection – when we cut inside, steam rose from the delicious blend of creamy mozzarella cheese & soft risotto.

The Botanical Bliss at Social Lounge, a speakeasy-style bar in Asheville, NC

For dinner, Joseph ordered a Meat Toppings Pizza with spicy & sweet sausage, & I have to say, as much as I don’t enjoy meat pizzas (I like vegetables better), it was one of the best pizzas I have ever tasted. The crust was crunchy on the outside & soft in the center, the sauce was balanced to not be too acidic (as so many tomato sauces can be), & the meat & cheese blended beautifully in every bite. I ordered the Salmon del Giardino, a grilled salmon served on top of a bed of arugula, topped with bruschetta & preserved lemon & scallions, & served with a delicious, creamy risotto del giorno. For the first time ever, Joseph took a bite of my food & said he liked what I had ordered more than he liked his own dish. The salmon was cooked so perfectly it tasted buttery. The risotto was soft & dense, & the tomatoes & arugula gave a refreshing pop in every bite. I was full halfway through, but the dish was too good not to finish.

We went for a relaxed walk through the streets lit up by streetlights before finally returning to our car & driving back to our Airbnb. At this point, we had been active for almost 12 full hours, & we were exhausted.

The following morning, we woke up early, eager to get in a little activity before our long drive home. We packed up our belongings & headed to the Bearwallow Mountain Trail, which was only a few minutes away from our Airbnb. The trail led us through the forest & up the mountainside to a field where cows grazed. It was there that we saw the most amazing view from our trip. Impossible to capture on camera, it was one of those breathtaking views you have to drink in, knowing you’ll never get to see it again. A haze hung low & had settled just above the miles & miles of forested mountains that rolled into the distance. The wind whipped at our clothes, chilling us to the bone as we stared out at the picturesque view. It was the perfect way to end our brief but packed trip to North Carolina.

Standing there with Joseph, I smiled to myself. At this moment, I knew I had succeeded in giving him the best birthday gift yet. The fact that I had succeeded in not just topping the prior year’s gift, but that I had shown him just how loved he is, made me the happiest I had been all weekend.

I just don’t know how I am going to top this gift next year.

This map was made with Wanderlog, a travel planner on iOS and Android

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Arizona vacation: Sedona & Cottonwood (Day 4)

December 10, 2021 2 Comments

In 2003, USA Today named Sedona “the most beautiful place on earth,” & after visiting, I have to say it is definitely one of the most striking landscapes I have ever seen. The color of the mint green & teal trees pop against the brick red & burnt orange rock Sedona is known for. Spiky agave plants in the color of cyan dot the landscape of loose, faded orange sand, & all around the town, the tall mountains that stretch up towards the sky have been painted red halfway up, as if God took a step back from his art project halfway through said, “It is finished.”

We left early for Sedona. The world was still dark as we drove through the desert landscape. We watched with tired eyes as the sun rose up behind the purple mountains into the pink & orange striped sky.

Our first stop in Sedona was the trailhead of Devil’s Bridge. I stand corrected about the weather in Arizona in December. It does, in fact, get cold. When we began our hike, the weather was in the 40s, & we were all a little chilly in our hiking clothes as we began the trek towards the bridge.

For over a mile, the hike was mostly flat in soft dirt. We chatted as we walked & admired the scenery – the red canyons & bright green & blue of the trees. I have never seen plants of such a beautiful color, & the red of the rock really made them stand out. When we got to the last half mile, the trail turned to stairs formed from the rock, & then just large rocks that we had to climb to the top.

Devil’s Bridge is a natural sandstone arch in the Coconino National Forest. It was formed from years of wind & weather erosion that only left the top of the structure. From the top, it’s a 54 foot drop, which, despite the bridge being five feet across, still feels daunting when you look over the side.

One by one, we stepped out onto the bridge to get our picture taken by those back on the trail. Standing on the bridge, looking over the desert, was both exhilarating & terrifying. The desert was strikingly beautiful – I could have stayed on that bridge gazing at it for hours. But only one person was allowed on the bridge at once & there was a line of people waiting to get their picture taken in the same iconic spot where the bridge thins ever so slightly & looks even more terrifying.

We headed back to the car to return to town, where we stopped at Berry Divine for a post-hike treat. Berry Divine serves delicious açai bowls topped with multiple combinations of fruit, granola, nuts, coconut oil, chocolate, & more! I have never had a smoothie bowl like it. The açai was the consistency of thick ice cream, & it was both tart & sweet, a delightful contrast on the tongue. I ordered the Red Rock Bowl, which was topped with tart raspberries, goji berry & raspberry puree balanced with sweet banana & crunchy granola. The result was satisfying & surprisingly filling.

The Red Rock Açai Bowl from Berry Divine

At this point, our group split up. We dropped Jake & Jess off to go on a Pink Jeep tour in the desert, & then we picked up Starbucks & went to the trailhead once again, where Mom & Dad dropped us off & then went back to Sedona to walk the town. Coffee in hand, Joseph & I went back on the trails.

We took the Brins Mesa Loop which took us into the mountains & Coconino National Forest. I was stunned to see so much life growing in a desert! All around us, trees grew thick, at some points blocking the red rock from view. We traveled up, covering over 1,000 feet of elevation, all the while stopping to turn on the spot & gaze in wonder at our surroundings.

At the top of our hike, Joseph led us on an impromptu detour. We left the trail to climb up to the top of an outlook point. From our perch, we could see the buildings of Sedona against the backdrop of indigo mountains, the tops of which were hidden by thick, gray clouds. We sat for a moment, looking down over the valley below, before finally scrambling back down the rock face & continuing down the trail.

Climbing up to Soldier’s Pass was no easy feat. The elevation spiked quickly, & we were both out of breath as we climbed up to the cave. To enter, fallen rocks had formed a natural set of stairs. The cave itself was lit by multiple openings that gave gorgeous views of the mountains & trees. We sat in one of the holes to rest & take in the arresting view. Sedona truly is magnificent.

We were running late to meet up with our companions, so we ran the next half mile to the Seven Sacred Pools. Each pool almost perfectly circular, & they stepped down a slope, each holding still water that reflected the sky above. In the desert landscape, they, like the trees, looked out of place, & I was left wondering how such perfect little pools, all lined in a row, had been made in the rock.

We ran the last mile back to the car, & arrived at the trailhead just minutes after our family had arrived to pick us up. Once there, we all agreed to go to Old town Cottonwood for dinner. It’s a small town in the heart of wine country, filled with locally owned shops & charm.

We chose Colt 804 Grill for dinner, & we were not disappointed. The barbecued & smoked meat are cooked to succulent perfection, & each of the homemade sauces offered are unique & mouth-watering. I ordered a cobb salad with smoked bacon & beef brisket, & despite the enormous portion, it was so good I nearly finished the entire bowl.

It was getting dark & cold, but we decided to walk the streets for just a few minutes to take in the sights. Christmas lights lit our way down the busy, small town road. Most of the shops were closed, but we did dip into Verde Valley Olive Oil Traders, attracted less by the little bottles of oils & more by the friendly looking dog inside. After getting our fill of pets & cuddles, we did end up buying a delicious package of peppermint bark fudge for dessert.

The drive home was quiet. We were all tired from our long day. But it was a good tired – one I feel after many of my adventures with Joseph after our full days of hiking & traveling. It was so exciting to be able to experience that with my family as well, & I am looking forward to many more adventures with this awesome group of people. I loved that we started the day together, a few of us stepping a little out of our comfort zones for the hike but enjoying the time with one another. And then I even enjoyed splitting up for the afternoon, each doing the activities that we most love, & then we met up once again to enjoy a meal & share about our days. All during dinner, we were passing around phones, sharing photos as we described in rich detail all of the amazing things we had experienced.

Me at the impromptu outlook point Joseph took us to off the trail

If you have the chance to visit Sedona, I highly recommend it. There is definitely something for everyone there. Whether you want to go out on the trails, window shop in town, or on an adventure in a bubblegum pink jeep, everyone in your group is bound to have fun.

And just once, while you are there, take a step back & just soak in the view. Notice the vibrance of the colors, the sound of the wind in the leaves of trees in what should be a barren landscape, & the smell of sweet desert flowers & fruit. I would go so far to say that visiting Sedona is a spiritual experience. It’s a reminder of just how beautiful life is, & how even in the most challenging & dismaying circumstances, there is always a way to, not just survive, but to flourish & grow into something beautiful.

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Arizona vacation: Verrado & more tacos (Day 3)

December 8, 2021 No Comments

When you are traveling with a group, it is inevitable you will run into different opinions about what to do. And when you only have one vehicle, things can get even more complicated.

On the first morning with no plans for our trip, everyone had different ideas of what to do. My brother, Jake, & his fiancé, Jess, wanted to go horseback riding or rock climbing. Joseph & I wanted to go hiking. And my mother, the practical one, wanted to go grocery shopping.

Because my mother’s activity of choice was the most essential, she won the use of our sole vehicle. The rest of us waited at the Airbnb, talking about what to do next. We looked up horseback riding & decided a sunset ride a few days from then would be best, so that left a decision between hiking & rock climbing. Jake & Jess decided to drive with us to our hiking spot of choice, where there were plenty of small mountains to climb.

We left after 10am, far later than I had wanted. The sun was high in the sky by this point & beat down on our heads as we set off on the trail. Within minutes, I could feel my skin starting to burn & regretted not bringing sunscreen.

Despite the late hour, the trail was a lot of fun. My dad accompanied Joseph & I on our hike, & we passed the two hours chatting & pointing at sightings of wildlife as we trekked up the trail. We spotted a family of deer stepping lightly around the cacti that littered the ground, & my dad pointed to an empty spot of trail at one point that, a moment before, a road runner had scuttled across.

We climbed up a few rocks of our own to see the view, which, while brown & tawny, was spectacular. Now a few miles into our hike, we were completely surrounded by mountains & tall saguaros that showed us just how magnificent you can grow to be when you are willing to adapt to your environment.

We had chosen the Verrado Petroglyphs trail to see the ancient cave drawings carved into the rock. Unfortunately, all we caught was a small glimpse of this ancient art form. The one large boulder that contained the drawings had been blocked off with a chain link fence topped with barbed wire loop. We peered in to look at what appeared to be ancient stick figures & squiggles, & I was met with a moment of glee at thinking that people so many thousands of years ago drew pictures much like the ones we draw today.

Jake & Jess met up with us in the parking lot, & after getting coffee, we drove back to our Airbnb where Mom was waiting for us. We decided to spend the night in & got some snack food & drinks from the grocery store. Joseph turned on some music, & he, Jake, Jess, & Dad jumped into the pool while Mom & I sat out & just enjoyed the ambience.

When we grew hungry for dinner, we decided to continue our quest to find the best tacos in the area. Yesterday, we visited Baja Tacos for dinner, & the delicious food inspired us to try other local Mexican restaurants & decide which was the best. This time, we tried Oscar’s Taco Shop. The food was incredible, full of bold flavors that both contrasted & complimented one another. Salty cheese, creamy sour cream, earthy avocado, & spicy sauces made each dish a plate of perfection. I ordered the taco salad with shrimp in a fried tortilla bowl, which, while it was not quite the warm & comforting tacos I had tried the day before, it was still utterly satisfying. The tortilla was fried until crispy but it still tore softly & melted on the tongue, & the salad was fresh but still filling.

Dad & Mom enjoying dinner from Oscar’s Taco Shop

Compared to Baja Tacos, Oscar’s Taco Shop had more variety & included vegetables in their dishes, which is a huge win for me, but Baja Tacos’ homemade sauces & small business charm that could somehow be tasted in its food still made it a tough competitor. All in all, I think we will have to try another Mexican restaurant before we make our final pick.

We ended the evening resting our full tummies while playing a new card game, Uno Flip, which my mom had bought that day while running errands. Laughing around the table, I was struck by just how happy I was in how the day had turned out. We all have our different interests that pull us in differing directions, both in our daily lives & on vacation. But I love it when we all have the chance to come together & spend time with one another. There is nothing sweeter than that time spent around the table, laughing, talking & enjoying each other’s company.

When we return home, we will once again separate to our different lives, but I have hope that we will continue to seek special moments like these, where we can set any differences aside & enjoy the time spent with one another.

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Honeymoon West Coast trip: Olympic National Park & Seattle (Day 12)

September 14, 2021 No Comments

Me on Mount Storm King looking over Crescent Lake

When your alarm goes off at 3am, you want it to be for something exciting. You don’t want your first reaction to be a pit of terror falling into your stomach. But that’s how my day began.

For the final day of our honeymoon, we had decided to hike at Mount Storm King in Olympic National Park. It was a hike that promised incredible views, but not without anything in return. The first challenge would be to hike two miles straight up – no places to take a break, & no level ground to give you a chance to catch your breath. I knew this part would be challenging, but I was more worried about the second challenge – a trek beyond the maintained trail, to where fellow hikers had set up ropes to help you climb to a rock scramble, which would then take you to the top of the mountain.

As I said in my post yesterday, I do not like heights. I like my two feet firmly planted on solid ground. I enjoy hiking to beautiful, high viewpoints, but I always stand away from the edge where I know my feet won’t slip. So the idea of scaling the side of a mountain with a rope that wasn’t maintained by the official park system terrified me.

Joseph was not afraid at all. Despite the early hour, he bounced around our Airbnb with excitement about the upcoming hike & the incredible view we were going to get of Crescent Lake. Not wanting to make him miss out of the experience, I packed my hiking gear & we headed out to the truck.

The stars in northern Washington are amazing. I gazed up at the night sky as we drove, soaking in their beauty. They provided a great distraction for the majority of our drive, but as we neared the park, my nerves intensified to the point of frightened tears.

I truly wanted to face my fears, & I did not want to disappoint Joseph, so I still insisted we do the hike. We were just about to leave the truck when Joseph frustratedly discovered that our headlamp had died. Walking up the narrow path in complete darkness with just a flashlight was not an option because there would be times we needed our hands free for assistance with climbing. I suggested we wait a little longer for the sun to get just below the horizon, so by the time we would need the headlamp, the world would be lighter. Joseph agreed, & we spent the next half hour gazing up at the stars in the bed of the truck, huddled together to fight against the cold.

The sign for the Mount Storm King trail in Olympic National Park

When it came time to go, I led the way with the flashlight while Joseph trailed closely behind. Hiking in the woods at night is spooky no matter where you’re headed, so it certainly didn’t help that my nerves were already intensified by our destination. We kept the conversation going to calm our anxious minds, & to potentially discourage any wildlife from getting too close.

Luckily, the sun began to rise not long after we started, & we heard another group of hikers not too far away. It is always encouraging to know you are not alone on potentially dangerous trails.

Despite the difficult grade, the trek up the mountain wasn’t too bad. It passed by quickly with games & conversation. My breath was heavy, but my legs had been conditioned from marathon training & the last few days of hiking, & they carried me up the trail without any trouble.

The sign “End of Maintained Trail” came sooner than I expected. I had almost forgotten what was to come, but as soon as I saw those words, the pit of fear dropped back into my stomach & I felt instantly nauseous.

We carefully stepped beyond the sign & began hiking upwards, watching our feet carefully. I reminded Joseph that this part of the trail was not maintained by National Park Services, so we needed to be extra cautious about where we placed our feet. We could no longer trust that rocks & stones that looked well traversed were trustworthy. At any moment, they could slip, taking us down with them.

I had thought we would arrive at the ropes quickly. I was unaware we had to hike to them, & it was that hike that broke me. The trail was so narrow I could barely fit my two feet beside one another, & to each side, steep drops meant a perilous fall. We were 2,500 feet in the air, enough to cause anyone’s stomach to drop when looking over the edge. Hiking next to the edge, I felt like my stomach simply fell out of my body & down into the valley below.

Heart pumping, legs trembling, & breath shallow, I slowly shifted my feet to climb up the trail. Every few moments, I dropped to my hands & knees to catch my breath, calm my nerves, & carefully crawl over the rocks, trying to look anywhere but down.

Joseph & me at the top of the maintained trail on Mount Storm King overlooking Crescent Lake

Joseph led the way slowly & cautiously, encouraging me every step of the way. We made it a little less than a quarter mile before my body froze beneath me in fear.

“How much farther is it to the ropes,” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Joseph said. “Why don’t you wait here, & I’ll keep going to see if I can see them?”

“No! You can’t go alone!”

“I will be fine.” Joseph turned carefully & began hiking up the rocky slope.

“Please, please be careful,” I called out, & Joseph assured me that he would be. Camera slung over his shoulder, he stepped slowly up the mountain & out of sight, peering around to see the ropes. I waited with bated breath, my heart pounding, waiting to hear any sound of distress & trying to determine what I would do first if I did.

Joseph returned moments later, shaking his head.

“We’re done,” he said. “I can’t see the ropes, but it gets super steep. Let’s go back.” I breathed a shaky sigh of relief, & slowly scooted back down over the rocks, covering my backside in loose dirt. As a comfort to myself, I tend to talk nonstop when I am nervous, often telling jokes, so the next few minutes were filled solely with the sound of my musings on the dangerous hike. It wasn’t until we were safely back on the maintained trail that I stopped & gave Joseph the tightest hug I probably ever have.

“Thank you,” I said. “I wouldn’t have called it because I didn’t want to disappoint you, but I’m so glad you did. I was terrified.”

“It was scary,” Joseph admitted.

“I know you probably would have done it if I hadn’t been there,” I said. “I’m sorry.” I felt ashamed. My own fear had held us back from an amazing view.

“I would have, but who knows what would have happened,” Joseph said. “I wasn’t afraid until I got up there. You didn’t see it, but it got super steep & sketchy, & it was at that moment that I realized something could happen. Up until then, I knew we could do it, but when I saw that trail, I realized there was a possibility that we couldn’t.” He paused. “I’m sorry that I made you come. I feel bad. I knew how scared you were, & I still made you come.”

“No, I wanted to do it!” I said. “I just didn’t want you to be disappointed if I didn’t feel comfortable at the top climbing the ropes.”

Much of the hike down was more of the same sentiments being shared repeatedly. We both were disappointed in our own actions, & we both equally wanted the other person to know that we were okay with what happened.

Our first moment as a married couple (Photo by Natira & Hannah Leigh Photography)

It wasn’t until we were nearly down the mountain that I realized how important this hike had been for our marriage. Up until now, the honeymoon had been almost complete bliss. We had enjoyed every moment of traveling, & the lessons we learned during our trip were important for us to apply to our individual lives. But this hike had taught us a lesson for our marriage: The ultimate level of trust where we put our lives, including our safety, wants & needs, in each others’ hands.

I was scared to do the hike, but I trusted Joseph would get me to the top safely. I got up early this morning, laced up my hiking boots, and followed Joseph up the mountain despite my fears, planning on never asking to turn around no matter how afraid I was. And when we got there, he proved that he would always look out for me by making the decision to turn around rather than risk falling. Today’s hike had challenged us to look out for one another’s best interests & safety, & despite the fact that we missed out on the view at the top, we were still together. Hand in hand, husband & wife, we both knew through all the great adventures we would have, the best view will always be us standing by each other’s side through all of the exciting & difficult mountain climbs.

Our next stop was Seattle. Because of traffic, we arrived late at the city, so we had just enough time to grab lunch before running to the Space Needle. We went to the Starbucks Reserve, which did not disappoint. It was a bustling hub of creativity & inspiration. The smell of coffee hung in the air, & all around we could hear the sound of beans roasting & people talking excitedly.

My almond milk latte from the Starbucks Reserve

Joseph ordered pizza & a cinnamon roll for lunch, & I ordered a chicken & orange salad & a sourdough roll. For coffee, Joseph got a lightly sweetened & nutty hazelnut bianco latte, & I got my usual latte with almond milk. It seemed a little boring to get the same thing as always, but I knew I would love it, & the little milk foam heart on the top made it worth it.

For a fun experience, we ordered an espresso flight with truffles. It was much like a wine tasting, with two small cups of espresso & matching chocolate flavors to go with them. We popped the truffles into our mouths & took large swigs of the hot espresso to experience the full flavor profile, & I can honestly say, it’s some of the most fun I have ever had drinking coffee. Despite how rushed we were, I still took a moment to let the chocolate melt on my tongue & savored the creamy confection in created.

We sped-walked from there to the Space Needle, arriving just in time for our elevator ride up to the top. The entirety of the top rim of the Space Needle is surrounded by glass tilted towards the ground below, so you have to do a bit of a trust fall to lean against it. Looking down on the world from that perch is exhilarating. We both knew if the glass wasn’t there, it would be a nasty fall, but from where we were, we had the best view of Seattle, unobstructed by anything but clear glass that we could barely see even if we focused on it.

We walked down the stairs to the level below, a room with a rotating glass floor. Stepping onto the clear platform & looking down at the ground below was even more disconcerting. The spinning room made both of us feel a little dizzy & nauseous, but we couldn’t resist staying for a few minutes to watch the ground move beneath us.

Our next stop was Chihuly Garden & Glass. I had seen Chihuly’s art in the Fred & Pamela Buffet Cancer Center in Nebraska during my 4K for Cancer journey, & I have continued to periodically think about it over the last two years because of how incredibly beautiful it is. My awareness of blown glass art before witnessing Chihuly’s work was bowls & glasses sold at the Renaissance Festival. Chihuly created an entire garden for the patients at the hospital to enjoy, full of large, brightly colored flowers & intricate chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. When I discovered that Chihuly had a gallery in Seattle, I knew it was a must-see experience.

My reward was seeing the look on Joseph’s face when we walked in. Just as it had been for me the first time I saw Chihuly’s art, Joseph’s jaw dropped & eyes widened as he took in the tall blown glass sculptures & intricate works of art. There is simply no way to encapsulate in words just how gorgeous Chihuly’s work is. Every piece is thoughtfully created, pieced perfectly together. It is intricate art, lovingly created by someone who is clearly a master of his craft.

After exploring the gallery & watching a highly entertaining demonstration, we finally decided to call it a day. The quintessential Seattle rain had begun, & we walked through the streets in a light drizzle, our clothes getting wet but the chill never quite seeping through. We stopped by the original Starbucks as a testament to our love for its coffee & a nod to our souvenir of choice. Unfortunately, they did not have the mug we wanted in stock, but we knew we could get it another time. We ordered takeout sushi from Maneki, the oldest sushi restaurant in Seattle, & then headed to our Airbnb in Kent.

Our host was delightful. She had set out a bottle of sparkling cider & chocolates for us to enjoy, & she kindly let us use her backyard patio & hot tub. We ate our sushi (which truly was the best I have ever had – never have the many different flavors in a roll melded so beautifully together) next to the fire & then dipped into the hot tub for a relaxing soak. We were both exhausted by this point, having been awake & on-the-go for 20 hours after an already sleep-deprived two weeks, so after fighting to stay awake for a few minutes in the hot water, we decided to retire for the evening & go to sleep.

The final day of our honeymoon adventures was exciting in so many different ways, but what I loved most about it was I felt that it helped us to feel ready for our journey home tomorrow, when our married life together will officially begin. The little trust fall (thankfully without actually falling) that we had on our hike this morning taught us more about what it means to be husband & wife, & the day beyond that point was filled with a renewed sense of unity & love that I hope will stay with us long after this adventure ends.

The honeymoon has come to a close, but getting on that plane tomorrow means a lifetime of new adventures with the love of my life. For that, I would be willing to go on hundreds more terrifying hikes, as long as I have him by my side.

Travel

Honeymoon West Coast trip: Mount St. Helens & Port Angeles (Day 11)

September 13, 2021 No Comments

We have finally arrived in Washington, which means the honeymoon is nearly over. I can’t believe how fast the time has passed. Nearly two weeks ago, I was standing under an arbor adorned with sunflowers, saying my vows, & since then, I have flown across the country & traveled up the coast from San Diego all the way to Washington, exploring new places & going on new adventures every day.

Today started with a hike at Mount St. Helens. The reddish brown landscape was dotted with a few trees, but still seemed rather barren for Southern Washington. Mount St. Helens towered high above us at an impressive 8,366 feet, about 1,300 feet shorter than it was before the 1980s eruption (USGS). Like Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens is a stratovolcano, & it was dormant since the 1850s until May 1980, when an earthquake triggered the largest landslide ever recorded & a volcanic blast that took the lives of 57 people (EarthSky). Seeing the collapsed face of the volcano was both mind-blowing & haunting knowing the history of the event.

The hike was uneventful. It led us along the landscape around Mount St. Helens all the way to Spirit Lake, so we got a few good views along the way, but nothing as spectacular as climbing the volcano would have been. My favorite view was actually not of Mount St. Helens, but of the many red & yellow flowers that grew alongside the trail next to Spirit Lake. With colorful flowers in the foreground, a blue mountain range in the background, & a still, serene lake in the middle, I thought it was the best view of the day.

The flowers along the trail beside Spirit Lake

After hiking, we ate a quick lunch at the truck & then started our long drive to Port Angeles. Mount St. Helens is near the bottom of Washington, & Port Angeles is at the top, so we had a lot of ground to cover. We listened to music & chatted to pass the time, every so often gazing out the window in wonder at the beautiful views. The West Coast really is everything I ever wanted it to be. The mountain-dominated views are stunning, the air is clean, & the water is somehow bluer than it is in Maryland. It is truly spectacular.

We stopped by our Airbnb first to drop off our belongings. The private suite was in a wooden home designed to look like a log cabin. The outdoorsy yet cozy ambience made us feel right at home.

We showered quickly & then headed to Dupuis’ Restaurant, the oldest restaurant in the area. It has been in operation for 101 years, & we sat at a booth that has been there since the beginning. The food can be best described as Washington’s version of southern comfort. We ordered large, Dungeness crab cakes that were so soft & buttery, I didn’t even mind that they weren’t the Maryland version. They were served with a fruit compote that paired beautifully & was delicious all on its own – I saved it to smear on my soft, honey-buttered roll. For dinner, Joseph ordered fish & chips that was fried to perfection, & a small bowl of chicken noodle soup with soft, homemade noodles. I ordered sauteéd prawns that were served in herbed butter with a warm rice pilaf & a side salad. The meal was satisfying & hearty, the perfect end to a long day.

Dungeness Crab Cakes from Dupuis’ Restaurant

After dinner, we drove into Port Angeles, a town situated beside the water at the very top of Washington. From the pier, we could see the lights across the water from Canada’s coast. I had never been so far North in the United States before, & seeing another country so close was for some reason a very exciting experience.

Many of the shops were already closed, so we just walked around in the chilly night air to take in the sights. The water was calm & the sound of the waves lapping at the land were soothing.

We didn’t stay long because we had made very early plans for the following morning. To make the most of the final day of our honeymoon, we had decided to wake up at 3am to hike Mount Storm King in Olympic National Park before heading to Seattle for the day. The hike was going to be challenging with a daunting end. After two miles headed straight up (at an 18% grade!), the end of the hike promised beautiful views, as long as you were willing to take a risk. Beyond the end of the maintained trail, fellow hikers had set up ropes to aid you in climbing up to the top of the mountain peak.

To be honest, I am terrified. I do not like heights. I hiked Angel’s Landing in Zion two years ago, & it took a lot of convincing to get me to the top. When I finally did muster the courage to attempt the narrow climb, my sweaty hands clinging as hard as I could to the chain provided, I made it to the top literally on my hands & knees, trembling & unwilling to even crawl to the edge. But I made it, & at Joseph’s excited insistence, I agreed to attempt to climb Mount Storm King.

It will be, after all, the final day of our honeymoon, after a two-week adventure, & we would like to end it with a moment & a view we will always remember. I just really hope this adventure doesn’t have any unexpected challenges because the ramifications could mean an end to our explorations.

Travel

Honeymoon West Coast trip: Mount Hood & Portland (Day 10)

September 10, 2021 No Comments

The Little Blue Engine by Shel Silverstein

The little blue engine looked up at the hill. 
His light was weak, his whistle was shrill.
He was tired & small, & the hill was tall,
And his face blushed red as he softly said,
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.”

So he started up with a chug & a strain,
And he puffed & pulled with might & main.
And slowly he climbed, a foot at a time,
And his engine coughed as he whispered soft,
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.”

With a squeak & a creak & a toot & a sigh,
With an extra hope & an extra try,
He would not stop - now he neared the top - 
And strong & proud he cried out loud,
“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!”

He was almost there, when - CRASH! SMASH! BASH!
He slid down & mashed into engine hash
On the rocks below…which goes to show
If the track is tough & the hill is rough,
THINKING you can just ain’t enough!

Joseph & I both jumped out of bed late this morning in a panic. We had missed our alarm & woken up late. We rushed out of our Airbnb, leaving at the time we were supposed to start hiking at the park, which we still had to drive two hours to reach.

Our plan was to hike Mount Hood. We didn’t plan to reach the top – to summit, we needed a permit & gear that we didn’t currently have. But we still wanted to hike up the side as far as we could to see the view.

Mount Hood has a truly commanding presence. Standing nearly 8,000 feet in the sky, its gray peak draped with snow, towers over everything else in the landscape.

The first bit of the trail was challenging but not difficult. We chatted as we climbed over fallen trees & admired the view. The trail had been marked as strenuous, which seemed inappropriate until we realized that over half of the elevation (over 1,000 feet) was reserved for the final half-mile of the trek upwards. We slipped & slid on the face of the mountain as we scrambled over rocks & climbed over precariously stacked boulders. At times, it was difficult to see if we were still on the trail from our precarious perch.

Our exhausting trek was rewarded when we reached McNeil Point. Clothes & boots covered in dust & faces streaked in dirt, we stood, out of breath, watching hawks soar beneath us in the valley below. From our height, the trees looked like shrubs in comparison to Mount Hood’s tall peak, which still towered high above us. Bright flowers were sprinkled all along the side of the mountain, while in the distance, we could hear water cascading down the mountainside from the melting snow above.

It was tempting to keep climbing the mountain to see more of the view, but we were already running late to drive to Portland for the evening. Summiting was still not even a possibility, even if we cancelled are plans, but it still managed to continue to come up in conversation as we began the walk back down.

With aching feet & tired legs, we rushed back to the truck & started the drive to Portland. We had been out of service all day, so I hurriedly texted our Airbnb host with our updated arrival time & my friend & 4K for Cancer teammate, Madison, with our updated travel plans. Mads lives in Portland, & we had made plans to meet her for dinner. Luckily, our late arrival worked with everyone’s plans, & we still had time to stop at our Airbnb & shower before we went to dinner.

I had not seen Mads in nearly two years, both because of the distance between us & COVID-19. Seeing her again after all this time & once again hearing her infectious laugh brought such joy to my heart. She treated Joseph & me to dinner at Grassa, a local Italian restaurant that serves inventive, homemade pasta dishes. I ordered the Spaghetti Al Pesto, which was rigatoni noodles laden in rich olive oil & homemade basil pesto, sprinkled with toasted hazelnuts, & topped with zucchini strips, basil & creamy mozzarella. Joseph ordered the Pork Belly Mac & Cheese, & we got a side of big meatballs in marinara sauce to share. Mads ordered the Cacio E Pepe, a truffle butter pasta topped with grana cheese.

We sat outside & enjoyed the small town feel of Northwest Portland. Conversation lingered on all of our latest travels – the honeymoon for Joseph & me; Alaska, West Virginia, & many more for Mads. We caught up about the latest in our careers & lives. Mads works at Nike as a Design Engineer, but she also recently began coaching a high school cross country, which is a great fit for her. During our run across the country, Mads was one of our team directors, meaning she helped lead our team through that physically & mentally demanding journey. Her energetic & kind spirit helped us feel at home when we were all so far away.

After dinner, Mads led us up the street to Salt & Straw, an iconic Portland spot that serves imaginative ice cream flavors. In addition to their regular menu, they have a new theme every month which offers a selection of new ice cream flavors. This month’s theme was Camp, which featured Salted Hazelnut Praline S’mores, Cowboy Coffee Grinds & Bourbon, Maple & Bacon Streusel, & Mushroom Muddy Buddies, as well as Bug Juice! Sorbet. Mads ordered the Bug Juice! Sorbet, while Joseph ordered a split scoop of the Cowboy Coffee Grinds & Bourbon & the Maple & Bacon Streusel. I couldn’t help blending two flavors as well & ordered the Bug Juice! Sorbet along with the Strawberry & Coconut Water Sherbet, both of which were vegan.

I have honestly never tasted creamier, more delicious ice cream. The Strawberry & Coconut Water Sherbet was full of sweet, strawberry flavor balanced by the refreshing subtle notes of coconut. Despite the creamy consistency, the first word that came to mind when I tasted the Bug Juice! Sorbet was “juice.” It was a fruity blend fo cherry & grape with just hints of sour lime. The two flavors paired perfectly – I finished my scoop much too fast & wanted to return inside immediately to try more flavors.

The night was ending quickly, so we gave Mads a bittersweet farewell & headed back to our Airbnb to crash for the evening. All along the drive, our conversation traveled between our long hike today, & how we still want to one day summit a mountain, & my 4K journey, which now after two years is still one of the most difficult yet rewarding things I have done in my life.

4K was much like traversing my own mountain. All along the way, there were beautiful views, but the trek was still challenging & left me feeling exhausted but exhilarated at the end. And then, after the summit, the climax of reaching home, the descent was still difficult & less enjoyable. Leaving all the people I had spent seven weeks with & returning to normal life came with its own challenges. Luckily, I had people like Joseph to walk through the descent with me, which always makes the journey down the mountain seem quicker & more enjoyable.

While climbing the mountain today, I was reminded of a poem by Shel Silverstein that I read as a kid & thought about during 4K. The Little Blue Engine always seemed to be discouraging, but I think today I understand it as actually validating. There are some mountains in life that we summit, & then there are mountains that, as much as we want to & think that we could, we just can’t reach the top. Sometimes we have to put in more hard work, much like I did on 4K. But others, like the mountain today, perhaps we were never meant to summit, but to just enjoy the view during our journey. Not all mountains are meant to be climbed. For some, we just have to appreciate how grand they are & remind ourselves that it’s okay if we don’t succeed at everything we try to do in life. Our strength is not measured on the mountains we summit, but in our character when we attempt to climb them.

My 4K team on the last morning of our run

The thing that struck me most about The Little Blue Engine is that he tried to conquer the entire mountain by himself. For all the mountains I have ever summited in my life, I always had other people there, either climbing with me or cheering me on. I could not have made it through 4K without my teammates running with me. I would not be where I am today without my family & friends who have supported me all these years. And there are so many mountains I am facing now, both literally & metaphorically, with Joseph by my side.

Mountains aren’t meant to be faced alone. The journey is so much more fun when there are other people on it with you, & the summit looks even more beautiful when you have someone you love by your side.

Travel

Honeymoon West Coast trip: Crater Lake & Hood River (Day 9)

September 9, 2021 No Comments

Traveling into Oregon, the thing that struck us first was the smoke.

It hung low in the air, obscuring the views of mountains in the distance & leaving a lingering smell of ash.

Our first stop was Crater Lake. The hike was short but strenuous, straight up a rocky trail with a sharp drop to both sides. A wrong step could mean a nasty fall. Though my breaths were heavy & exhausted, I could not help continuing to exclaim how beautiful the view was. Blue mountains overlapped in the distance while pine trees stood tall below. Between the rocks, yellow & red flowers dotted the side of the mountain & swayed in the breeze.

When we finally reached the top of our hike, we teetered towards the edge, taking in the view of the still, blue lake surrounded on all sides by tall, forested mountains. Interrupting the glassy appearance of the water was one, small mountain that grew out of the center of the lake.

Crater Lake was a place we had been looking forward to visiting for the promised majestic views. And it was beautiful, but I cannot even imagine how stunning it would have been without the tint of gray that hung over the entire landscape, sometimes so thick that we couldn’t see the blue lake below.

When our thirst for the lake view had finally been quenched, we started slowly back down the side of the mountain, still stopping every once in a while to gaze out at the arresting views. When we arrived back at the truck, we ate a quick lunch & then began the long drive to Hood River.

Until today, I was not aware that Mount Hood is not just any mountain – it’s a potentially active stratovolcano, meaning it is an elevation of the earth’s crust built by layers of lava & ash. According to ScienceDaily, stratovolcanoes have occasional, explosive eruptions, but the lava is so viscous (meaning it is a thick & sticky consistency) that it does not travel far before hardening completely. Mount Hood has not had a major eruption since the 1790s (U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]).

Mount Hood is our destination for tomorrow, but it still dominated our landscape today with its commanding presence. Mount Hood stretches nearly 8,000 feet into the sky, but its total height is actually over 11,000 feet (USGS, Peakbagger). It is the 28th most prominent peek & the 13th highest point in the United States (USGS).

It was difficult to capture the view in our cameras. The gray of the mountain blended with the gray of the sky, so we accepted this view as just for us & simply appreciated its beauty during our drive.

Our Airbnb was incredible! We had gotten a master suite with a private bathroom, walk-in closet (that we didn’t use), a large bedroom, & a separate room with couches, TV & a fireplace. Downstairs was a home theatre, a gym, &, our favorite addition, a heated pool! Joseph & I didn’t have the chance to do much swimming this past summer, so before we headed to dinner, we both couldn’t resist a dip in the water. We splashed around for a bit, & then changed into nicer clothes for a dinner at Hood River.

Mount Hood sign (Photo by Zaron on Unsplash)

A lot of the restaurants were closed because of COVID-19 or Labor Day weekend. We had initially wanted to go to pFriem Family Brewers, but they were full. Luckily, the hostess had a wonderful recommendation for another local restaurant not far away – Riverside. There was a bit of a wait, so Joseph & I took the opportunity to walk around Hood River & watch the setting sun over the water.

I have never seen such a beautiful & yet devastating view. The sun had turned burnt orange & barely managed to light the sky. Instead of its normal glowing rays, it was a perfect sphere, so much so that I could have mistaken it for the moon. During our walk, it hung low just above the mountain tops, where it reflected into the rippling water below. It was a picturesque view, yet we both knew it was caused by the raging wildfires not far away.

We had been seeing this type of sun now for months off & on, all the way across the country in Maryland, but this was the first time I had seen it so clearly & truly taken in what this view meant. Now realizing this, I wondered just how far away this type of sun could be seen. Was it visible in other countries? Could you see it across the globe? It was as if the earth knew one part of it was in pain, & it wanted to let the rest of the world know. Ironically, it seemed like it was earth’s way of sending smoke signals.

We ended our evening at Riverside for a delicious dinner all made with fresh, local ingredients. It started with the best bread I have ever tasted (which they make in house every day), served with olive oil & balsamic vinegar. I have to say, I am part Italian, so I have had this appetizer many times before, but never has it tasted so amazing. For an appetizer, we ordered bacon wrapped dates, which were served stuffed with marcona almonds & soaking in honey. It was the perfect blend of sweet & salty, with a lovely nutty finish.

For dinner, I ordered the stuffed piquillo peppers, which were soft, roasted peppers stuffed with creamy quinoa & roasted vegetables & drizzled with a creamy, spicy, orange sauce. The dish was entirely plant-based, which is a diet I try to mostly stick to when I am home but have been breaking for this occasion because it isn’t the easiest to keep while traveling. I was wary of ordering the dish because I often find restaurants struggle to enhance the flavors of plain vegetables & grains without meat or dairy, but this dish was delicious & one I would definitely order again.

The restaurant was directly beside Hood River, which provided a gentle breeze & a lovely ambience for our evening. Just beside us was the bridge that led from Oregon to Washington, & throughout the evening, we watched the cars’ lights reflect in the still water below & listened to the sounds of a distant train in Washington chugging by. We were also supposed to be able to see Mount Hood from where we were sitting, but once again, the smoke had obscured this view.

Often on my blog, I talk about the importance of self-love & loving others. Today, what struck me most is how important it is to love our planet. The earth is literally on fire right now, & many of us, myself included, are just continuing on with our daily lives.

I think for me, one of the hardest things is that I don’t know what to do to help, & when I think of ideas, I’m not sure what kind of difference they will make. I am not a firefighter – I can’t help fight the wildfires. I am not a politician, so I can’t help write legislation that will change carbon emissions or make us more eco-friendly as a country. I am not an engineer, so I can’t help make cars that run on electricity or homes that run on solar power.

But I think the most important thing to remember is that we all do play a role. Every little bit makes a difference, & some of the changes can be simple to make. Maybe it isn’t realistic for you to carpool to work, but maybe you can be more mindful of unplugging electronics you aren’t currently using in your home. Maybe you don’t want to eat plant based, but you could switch your household cleaners to eco-friendly ones. There are so many ways to help save this planet, & it’s good for you, too! I forgot how much better my body feels after eating a plant-based meal, but today, I was reminded of how often what’s best for us & the planet overlap.

Even when we are on the road traveling, we have two homes: Our body & the earth. Make sure you are loving them both the way they deserve.

Travel

Honeymoon West Coast trip: Redwoods National & State Parks (Day 8)

September 8, 2021 2 Comments

The air is crisp & clean. It’s icy fingers stretch down into my lungs, freezing my chest but for some reason making me want to breathe in deeper. The sky is gray. Dense clouds hang low above our heads. The smell of pine lingers, foreshadowing the coming colder season. In the distance, I can hear small animals chattering to one another & scuttering along the forest floor.

I outstretch one hand & run it against the rough bark of the tall, majestic giant standing before me. The tree seems to almost radiate a reddish glow, filling my chilly form with a wondrous warmth. I look up. From where I stand, I can just barely see where the top branches reach the sky above.

I wrap my arms around the trunk. They do not even travel halfway around its base. I press my ear against the bark & pull my chest in closer, listening for the hum inside, matching the beat of my heart to the beat of the life inside this ancient resident of earth. It has been standing here since long before I was even imagined, & it will remain here long after I leave this world, every year growing a little taller, a little wider, a little stronger, a little more majestic.

When I was a little girl, I was infatuated with trees. I imagined that I could talk to them, & I would spend hours playing outside with my imaginary friends in the forest. And the trees I dreamed most of meeting were the stately redwood trees in California.

I have finally arrived, nearly 20 years later, & while I am older & wiser now, I do still wonder what these trees would tell me if they could talk. What would they say, after seeing the earth change over the last few thousand years, to someone like me, who can’t even comprehend how long that actually is?

Perhaps they would tell me that life is so much simpler than I make it to be. That in that forest, as much as the world seems to be different, a lot has also remained the same. We all grow, we breathe, we love, & we die. Everything else is not required. When compared to all that has happened on planet earth, the things I worry about in my daily life would not even equate to the width of one ring in their trunk. It does not mean those things are meaningless, but perhaps they are also not worth the worry lines in my own face. Life is beautiful & meant to be savored.

So, when the busyness seems to consume you, & the worries of life are all you can think about, come back to this place. Center yourself. Feel the sun on your skin, the beat of your heart, the air moving in & out of your lungs. Ponder your humanity, & how fleeting it is, & remember that is one of the things that makes it beautiful. Stand tall & grow with confidence. And finally, know that your life is deeply rooted to many others who were here long before you, & who will be here long after you are gone, & that alone gives your fleeting existence on this earth meaning & purpose.

Joseph & I spent the day today exploring Redwood National & State Parks – we did a 13-mile-hike, & then drove, exhausted, to our Airbnb in Medford, Oregon, where we crashed for the night. In lieu of trying to capture every little detail of our day, in which it seemed nothing much happened, I though it better to capture what I felt during our hike, gazing at those majestic trees & feeling the sense of wonder I always had as a little girl when I saw pictures of them.

Travel

Honeymoon West Coast trip: Santa Barbara, Solvang, Bixby Bridge, & Carmel-by-the-Sea (Day 5)

September 5, 2021 No Comments

No matter how well you plan for a trip, the one thing you can always count on is that something will not go according to plan.

Joseph & I had planned on taking a ferry ride to Channel Islands National Park today at 8a.m. It was going to be a short trip – the only two options for a ferry ride back to the shore were 10a.m. & 4p.m., & we couldn’t afford a full day spent on the island. The plan was to run around the loop trail as fast as we could, take in the views, & get back to the ferry in time to return to shore. However, as risky this plan was from the beginning, it became utterly hopeless when we received a phone call from Island Packers Cruises yesterday asking if we wanted to change our reservation to a 4:00p.m. return time because all we had essentially booked was a boat ride. By the time the ferry actually docked on the shore, we would only have a maximum of thirty minutes on the island, if we were lucky, before we had to board once again.

Joseph & I both agreed that we would rather take in the sights another way. So, late last night, Joseph looked up the best hikes in Santa Barbara & chose one that immediately masked our disappointment of not going to an island – we would be going to a hot springs instead.

We woke up early in the morning & drove just 10 minutes away to the trailhead. Instead of going straight to the springs, we decided to take a long, loop hike up a mountain that would take us back to the hot springs on our way down.

The hike was exhausting, but the views were more than worth it. The mountains in the distance were painted against the sky in all different shades of blue, creating an artistic ombre effect. From our lofty perch, we could see the entirety of the town below us, as well as the undulating waves of the Pacific Ocean.

The first thing I noticed as we skidded back down the side of the mountain was that the air around us had grown warm. A moment later, I heard the gentle tinkling of falling water droplets. Less than a minute later, we broke through the trees to reveal misty pools of water stair stepped down the side of the mountain, steam rising off of the surface.

We pulled off our hiking shirts & shorts, revealing the bathing suits we had worn underneath, & slipped into the serene water. The water was so hot that, at first, it stung our skin. I am quite sure it was hotter than any hot tub I have ever soaked in. But our bodies soon acclimated, & we were able to lean against the slimy rocks & relax. There was an odd smell of rotting eggs in the air, which I realized after a moment was from the sulfur compounds that not only give hot springs their many health benefits, but also their characteristic eggy smell.

When our bodies felt warm & loose & we were adequately rested, we pulled ourselves out of the water & trekked down the final 1 1/2 miles down the mountain. We were both hungry at this point from our morning’s adventures, so we hopped into the truck & drove 45 minutes to Solvang.

Walking around Solvang was like stepping into a fairytale. Danish-style homes & windmills lined the streets, & inside each of these structures were local businesses selling items like wooden shoes, sweet candy, & first edition books by Hans Christian Andersen, the pages still intact but yellowed & the covers beginning to peel from the years of storytelling.

Our first stop was Succulent Cafe for lunch. Joseph finally ordered the burger he had been craving this entire trip, & I ordered the roasted eggplant, which came with fresh bread from a local bakery. The eggplant was served in a rich marinara sauce mixed with olives, capers & roasted mixed vegetables. It was a tad salty for my taste, but still delicious.

After eating, we decided to stroll around town & do some window shopping. While we did, we passed by multiple wineries (we were, after all, in the heart of wine country). We decided we would be remiss not to buy a local bottle, & we dipped into one store that happened to be in the oldest building in the town.

Crawford Family Wines is a family-owned winery committed to using only the very best fruits in the country in the making of every bottle of wine. We ordered the tasting with cheese, which came with a flight of five different wines & a container of five different cheeses to pair with each one. The cheese came from the store attached to the winery, Cailloux Cheese Shop, a family-run, European-style shop that sells artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, bread, & accoutrements. The shop is named after the owner’s dog, Cailloux (pebble in French), whose ambitious attitude inspired Janelle, who has a graduate degree in geology, to pursue her passion & open up her own store.

Flight of wine from Crawford Family Wines

I have never enjoyed drinking wine more. All of the wines we tried were smooth, & even the dry reds had bold, fruity flavors. All of the cheeses were so different, from a creamy, soft goat cheese to a hard, smelly yellow cow‘s milk cheese with herbs. Every pairing of cheese & wine was the perfect complement, & after every tasting, we were left speechless & unsure how we would ever choose our favorite.

We finally settled on a 2014 Pinot Noir from Radian Vineyard. It had a brighter & fruitier flavor than any Pinot Noir I had ever had, & the finish was soft & lingered delicately on the tongue. We bought a bottle for later in our trip & then continued our stroll down the lane.

Before we left, I wanted to try authentic Danish food, so we went to Good Seed Coffee Boutique (because dessert with coffee is always better), & then went to Mortensen’s Danish Bakery for dessert. The pastries were huge! The majority of them stretched longer than my face. I wanted something small, so I chose a lemon petit four, & Joseph ordered a chocolate coffee cookie. I know, it’s they aren’t really danishes, but they came from a danish bakery & I have always wanted to try a petit four, so I let it slide.

I was glad I made the choice I did because the petit four was delicious. The soft, biscuit like cookie was smeared with a lemon jam & then topped with mousse-like lemon cream. Then the whole dessert was covered in a thin layer of buttercream with a delicate icing flower piped on top. It was dainty & delicious, the perfect sweet bite.

We left Solvang later than expected, so our next unexpected conundrum was what we should change in our itinerary. Our initial plan was to drive the scenic route to Bixby Bridge, then go to Carmel-by-the-Sea for dinner, & then drive the 17-mile-drive to our Airbnb. However, by now, it would be far too dark to see any of the views on our final drive. So, since we were still full from eating our way through Solvang, we decided to do both scenic drives first & then have a late dinner.

The route was breathtakingly gorgeous. All along our drive we looked over rocky cliffs to the restless sea below. The drive took longer than expected, & we arrived at Bixby Bridge just as the sun was setting. The light was perfect to snap a few photos & capture the scenic moment, & then to just stand together & soak in the view. Green mountains behind us, a rocky valley to our left, & a steep drop to the golden beach below with waves crashing to the shore in the dim light – despite the cold from elevation & ocean wind, we simply could not tear our eyes away. It was only when the sun was completely hidden by clouds that we finally returned to our truck.

Now, it was time for another itinerary change. Luckily, tomorrow was the only day we had planned to sleep in, which meant we technically had time to get up early & still drive to see the views on the 17-mile-drive in the early morning light. We decided to sacrifice rest for the experience tomorrow morning, & for the moment, the most important thing was to get some food in our stomachs.

We drove to Carmel-by-the-Sea, a bustling town despite the late hour & the chill in the air. The weather was reminiscent of fall. We both changed out of our summer clothes & put on sweaters & pants instead, & then headed into the romantic streets lit by street lamps & globe lights.

We decided to go to the TreeHouse Cafe for dinner. The wait was long, but we requested to sit at the bar, which got us seated immediately. While talking to the server & bartender, we mentioned we were on our honeymoon, & the next thing I knew, they were offering us a table out on the rooftop, surrounded by twinkle lights that looked like stars.

Joseph & me at our table at TreeHouse Cafe

For a starter, we ordered Greek Dolmas, a vegetarian dish made of stuffed grape leaves & served with tangy & creamy tzatziki. And for dinner, we split the seafood paella, a warm, comforting rice dish full of shrimp, chicken, sausage, clams, mussels & roasted vegetables.

When we told the server we were ready for our check, he told us not to hurry away, & a moment later, the manager brought us a chocolate cheesecake with raspberry sauce & whipped cream. Stuffed from our dinner but much to enticed to refuse, we both nearly finished off the cake together. Layers of moist chocolate cake & creamy, fudge cheesecake, balanced by the sour raspberry flavor & the creamy & cool whipped cream was the perfect, sweet ending to a delicious meal.

By now, the shops were closed, so Joseph & I walked the main street, taking in the ambience & staying close to one another to keep warm. We arrived shortly at our truck & then, after a long day, finally began the drive to our Airbnb.

All throughout the day, things didn’t go as planned, but they turned out so much better than we expected. We missed out on the Channel Islands hike that promised amazing views, but instead, we got to gaze out on all of Santa Barbara from the top of a mountain & soak in hot springs! Our stop in Solvang was longer than expected, although definitely worth it. Because of our extended stay, we missed driving the 17-mile-drive, but being late meant we arrived at Bixby Bridge right at twilight & got probably the best view of the day, & we are looking forward to the views we will get on our drive tomorrow morning. The restaurant we chose was crowded, so we settled for sitting in the bar, & then a nonchalant conversation turned into us getting the best seats in the house & a delicious dessert.

Life is full of sweet surprises. We just have to remember that when life throws us an unexpected turn of events, it might be to turn us into an even better direction.

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