into the woods

That morning brought along with it a cool, gray fog... something I was getting used to by now.  Christopher shot me a glance with a loving smile as I awoke.  Another adventure was about to begin.

Since the place we were visiting today was too far, and too high, to venture by walking, we had to secure another form of transportation.  Off we went to get a car.  The hotel set up everything for us... very easy, and upon arrival we went straight to the front of the line.  It almost made me feel bad to look around.  Although there weren't very many people in there on this holiday, it seemed the few who were had eyes on us.  Then to treat us even better, we were upgraded to a convertible.  Not necessary in my eyes.  It wasn't even warm enough out to use it, so it felt wasteful, but a tad bit of excitement couldn't be helped.  What if it did get warm and sunny enough to use.  Doubtful, but there was still hope.

On our drive, we had to cross The Bridge.  The bridge that couldn't be hidden by the vast cloud covered sky.

Although this time, it didn't seem as large and erie as it had before... now that we were in a 3000lb lump of metal molded around us.

We made our way over the bridge, as safe as ever.  The adventure just beginning to unfold in our eyes.  Farther we went, higher we went.  Up and around winding roads taking us up this mountainside covered in vegetation.  If the sun was beginning to shine, I wouldn't be able to tell. The tree covering was too dense.

I'm glad I wasn't driving, it would've taken us substantially longer to get where we were going.  All the twists and turns would've had me driving much, much slower than we were moving.  Christopher seemed confident, though, so it only made me feel that way too.  I'd grab his free hand and hold on tight when the corners seemed to quick, and I could see it would make his lips turn upwards and his eyes smile.

A few times when we rounded a curve, we were exposed to the cliff down the side of the mountain, as well as the view of the city, breathtaking... even when looking through fog.  The sun wasn't peaking through quite yet, but maybe it was just too early.

As we made our way to the famous woods, Muir Woods, the trees just seemed to climb taller overhead.  We drove until we could drive no further, here was the trail we were looking for.  

Sporting our shoes suitable for hiking, along with hats and gloves to fight of the chill in the air, we were on our way... on foot.

It seemed like we were surrounded by a flood of green.  Everything was green, very green.  And covered in moss.  And wet.  But it was beautiful.

To look around it seemed like a place out of this world.  So cut off from the fast pace of downtown life we'd seen.  We just stood in each others arms, breathing in the fresh air, quiet.  It was quiet.  We could look up and see the sky playing peek-a-boo through the tops of the trees.  A family of dear walked timidly near us, heading to the brook up ahead.  We just took in the serenity.

It was just us... and nature.  We walked, we climbed, we mostly followed the path which was sometimes wide, sometimes narrow.  Sometimes crossing the brooks or rivers, sometimes continuing on ahead.  No plans, no interruptions.

We found trees large enough and hollowed to climb in.  So we did, not without checking for animals and spiders first.  There were none to be found, so we entered.

We must've been in the forest for awhile, because we eventually began to feel the air warm up a bit.  I heard a small laugh as this excited me... I never stay quite as warm as Christopher, my love, does.  With the warm air must come something else, right?

Then we saw it, the sunny streaks bursting through the massive trees around us.  It was a beautiful sight.

We knew we'd been there for awhile now, although time just seemed to pass so easily, so quickly did it slip through our intertwined fingers.  It was time to find our way back out of the woods.  

Good bye Muir Woods, it's been delightful.