If you had told me on the first day of this trip that I would ever appreciate a night’s rest in a sleeping bag, I would have laughed. All that comes to mind of that first night is tossing & turning my aching body, wishing desperately for something more separating me from the rocky, cold ground beneath. But after 10 long days of hiking, I don’t think I woke up once last night. We slept in, & I awoke blissfully rested & cozy in my sleeping bag, appreciating its warmth & comfort from the cold, mountain air.

Today’s only task was to drive back to Bozeman. The adventure is drawing to a close. After 10 days of climbing mountains, walking main streets & gazing at incredible stars, it is time to return home.

On our way, we stopped by Starbucks, & we were greeted with a fun surprise – the first pumpkin spice latte of the season. Fall is on its way. It’s a time of change, of bittersweet endings & new beginnings. It’s fresh, exciting & something I am actually looking forward to returning home for. As beautiful as the West is, there is no better place to be for fall than the East Coast to see the leaves change. 

The drive flew by as we chatted & listened to music. Most of the shops were closed when we arrived in Bozeman, but the restaurants were just beginning to open for dinner. We chose to eat at Plonk, an eclectic restaurant with inventive cocktails & delicious food. I ordered the Indian Paintbrush, a cocktail made with citrus vodka, sour lemon-lime & fresh raspberry purée. Joseph ordered the Whistle Pig Old Fashioned, which was made with Whistle Pig Rye, Whistle Pig Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup, bitters, & a lemon & orange oil. To commemorate our anniversary a few days prior, we ordered the Ploughman’s Platter, a charcuterie board with an array of delicious meats & cheeses. For dinner, I ordered the Grilled Salmon, which was served overtop grilled broccolini & topped with salt roasted beets & tangy horseradish cream. Joseph ordered the g.f.b., a burger made with local beef & topped with smoked cheddar cheese, house-made dill pickles, local greens, fresh tomato, citrus aioli, & spicy chimichurri & served with fried tri-colored fingerling potatoes. 

Our stomachs were full, but we couldn’t resist one more taste of local Montana ice cream. We stopped by Sweet Peaks for a scoop each & relaxed as we licked our frozen treats. The sun was still up, but we were too tired to keep exploring. Instead, we drove to our Airbnb to get ready for our flight home the next day. I fell back onto our bed & immediately sunk into the soft mattress with a satisfied groan. 

“Oh, wow, you’re not going to believe this,” I said.

“Is it good?” Joseph asked. 

“Don’t come to bed until you’re done packing, because you’re not going to get up after you feel this,” I said. I had forgotten just how comfortable a mattress was. Despite being sad to leave this beautiful place, my excitement began to grow just to have the comforts of home once again: A bed, a hot shower, a temperature-controlled environment. 

The trip was amazing, & I am sure within a few days, I will be ready for our next adventure. But right now, I’m excited for the next chapter of our lives. I’m excited to be home, to see the people I love & to see what joys this next season will bring. And most of all, I am grateful that no matter where this life takes me, I always have my adventure buddy for life by my side. 

Life is meant to be experienced & savored no matter where it takes you. From summiting mountains to long days at the office, every day is a new adventure, & I will always be grateful that I am one of the lucky souls that gets to experience it.