I practically hobbled like a cripple to my computer this morning to write today's blog post. That's what happens when you carry 30 pounds on your back while hiking 17.5 miles in the mountains for two days. But I must say, though I am hurting today, the last two days of sheer awesomeness were definitely worth it.
In celebration of our one-year wedding anniversary, Kyle and I drove three hours north of our home in northern New Jersey to the scenic Catskill Mountains of New York, where he took me on my first ever overnight hiking trip. We began our hike Saturday afternoon, completing about seven miles (most of it going steadily up-hill). This stretch of trail had some amazing views of the mountains, which totally justified our brutal climb to the top.
We camped at lean-to shelter, which was nice because we didn't have to set up our tent. The downside was the hard planks of wood we slept on, which was torture on my back, but I guess you can't be too picky when you're out in the middle of nowhere.
We tried to build a camp fire, but our attempts were to no avail, as it had just rained the day before and all the wood was too wet to burn. But we cooked canned soup and ravioli on Kyle's little camping stove, and enjoyed the quiet darkness and peacefulness of the woods at night.
Sunday, after an instant oatmeal breakfast, we trudged through 10.5 miles of trail. I must say, those last two or three miles were rough. Around mile 15, I was so exhausted, I had to stop and lay down on the trail for a few minutes, while Bruno stood over me and wimpered. (Our dog was born for the trail - he hiked like a champ the entire way) But then I got back up and trudged on through - and man, it was so rewarding when we cleared the last hill and could see our car parked a few feet up the road.
I will always remember the feeling of solitude and peacefulness I get when I'm surrounded by mother nature. I'll remember the fun of eating trail mix and apples for a meal. I'll remember the quiet of the woods at night. I'll remember the pain in my hips, legs and feet when the going got tough. I'll also remember the inner feeling of accomplishment and triumph when it was all said and done.
But most importantly, I'll always remember (and continue to treasure) my amazing husband, Kyle. He is truly my best friend. Without him, I can't imagine how I could ever enjoy anything in this life as much as I do when we're together. Happy Anniversary, sweetheart, and here's to many more in our future!
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