Prost!

A year ago today, The Girl and I were in Colorado, eating venison sliders and gourmet bacon-wrapped mac and cheese nuggets as appetizers between a friend's wedding and the dinner that followed.  Rain had botched many of our other plans for the trip, but we managed one good hike, a couple nice strolls, and a brewery tour.

This summer, I'm hiking the Appalachian Trail; the couple who got married in Colorado got engaged while backpacking in Wildcat Hollow, a backpacking trip I remember from my youth which for me was distinguished not by promises made, but by my aunt's encounter with pornographic fungus, my cousin's mental breakdown as she tried to play solitaire with a euchre deck, and my brother forgetting to take toilet paper when, in a fit of uncharacteristic modesty, he hiked at least three hundred yards from the trail before digging his cat hole.  It is arguable which of us had a more memorable time in Wildcat Hollow, but I don't want to make a contest of it.  I just have funny stories; my friends have each other, forever.

I wrote this post before leaving on my hike, because although they plan to visit at least once during my long walk north, I doubt it will be on this weekend, and I don't know yet whether I'll be off the trail in time to say this in a more personal manner, so I'm leaving it here to magically appear on the appointed day, and hope that they see it.

Happy anniversary, C and L.  Cheers!

The Girl took this picture on the night before the wedding, as we waited for our monster burgers.  They were delicious.