I lined up Miller’s Tree Service to come about a month ago now to clean up a bunch of mess left by the previous owner of my new home. They had 2 full days of work taking down a couple dead trees, a couple live trees, cutting a driveway into the backyard and finally removing a slew of dead trees that were piled randomly in the woods behind the house. Miller’s did a great job and I would recommend them to anyone.

We capped off the week of hiking with a show at The Anthem in DC. Tim and I arrived at the hotel fairly early, got showers, and headed out to NW DC for lunch at Federalist Pig. Lunch was phenomenal as always. We had just made it back to the hotel when Nicole called saying she was there. I ran down to meet her and help carry stuff up to the room. It was a beautiful day at the Wharf. We sat outside and drank a few adjacent to The Anthem then may our way inside. We got the rail and had a great night enjoying Shovels & Rope then The Wood Brothers.

As Tim and I prepare to start our 100-mile hike this Saturday, I am filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness. We have spent weeks training, gathering our gear, and planning our route, but the reality of what lies ahead is starting to sink in.

I can’t help but think about the challenges we may face along the way. Will we encounter unexpected obstacles like rough terrain, inclement weather, or even wildlife? Will we be physically and mentally prepared for the endurance required to complete this long-distance hike?

But despite these uncertainties, I am also feeling incredibly inspired and motivated. The idea of challenging ourselves, pushing our limits, and exploring the beauty of the great outdoors is what drew us to this hike in the first place.

I know that the journey ahead will not be easy, but I am confident that Tim and I have what it takes to make it to the end. We will rely on each other for support and encouragement, and we will draw strength from the incredible scenery around us.

I am looking forward to the sense of accomplishment we will feel when we complete this hike, and the memories we will make along the way. As we set out on this adventure, I am grateful for the opportunity to challenge ourselves, grow as individuals, and deepen our friendship.

We have been looking at houses for the last few months and finally found one we liked enough to put an offer on. The seller accepted the offer and it looks like we’ll be closing the deal before the end of the month. Nicole and I are ready to open a new chapter in our life together.

I surprised Nicole with a trip to Asheville, NC for our 1-year anniversary. We stayed at Carolina Bed & Breakfast for 3-nights. Best dinner was at Plant in downtown Asheville. It’s a vegan restaurant and neither of us are vegan but that didn’t matter. The food was phenomenal. On Saturday we visited the Biltmore to tour the grounds, do a little wine tasting and experience an Italian Renaissance art exhibit. That evening we dined at Jargon. My meal wasn’t very good but Nicole loved hers. On Sunday we made our way home. We stopped at a brewery in Galax, VA that had some pretty good pizza and sweet potato fries.