A South Carolina Rehearsal Dinner

Confession: I'm a sucker for Nicholas Sparks stories.

     Yes, I pre-order his novels before they are released.  Yes, he is my Facebook friend.  Yes, I own and constantly watch every one of his movies.  Yes, I drove two hours to meet and get his autograph.  Creepy?  A little.  I wouldn't necessarily call it an obsession.
     Lucky for me, the rehearsal dinner for the South Carolina wedding took place at one of the filming sites for the Nicholas Sparks movie, Dear John.  Of course, I was probably the only one to be giggly-and-all-smiles excited about it, but to each, his own.  The restaurant, or really just a hole-in-the-wall, is known for their steamed oysters.  Set right on the water, they harvest their oysters on sight, and put them back in the water, only to be harvested again years later..  As you know, I'm not a seafood person, but that didn't stop me from shucking some oysters!

A local beer, Palmetto, with a cluster shuck of oysters.....did I get that right?

Beautiful endings.

And the sun set, leaving remnants of the day before and hopes of the day to come. -That Was All Me

Where people crowd around tables and shuck oysters until they can't shuck no more.  (Don't be perverted!)

Where our party resided.

Some of my lady friends.

Glasses are needed for two reasons: one, to see where to open the little buggers, and two, to protect the eyes from any material that has simply gotten away.

I think one might call this dusk.

Perfect evenings call for a good cigar.  Thanks, Uncle J.

     The rehearsal dinner was definitely fun, but Nicholas Sparks made it all the more memorable!

Hiking Big Devil's Stairs with our Best Friend

"A dog is a man's best friend."

     Has any best friend of yours given you a 6am wake-up call every Saturday?  Has any best friend of yours pooped in your yard and then expected you to clean it up?  Has any best friend of yours asked to go on a walk and then just yell at squirrels the entire time?  Okay, some qualities in having a dog don't live up to the old saying; however, having a dog has been one of the best experiences I've ever had.

Our best friend pooping when we want to take a picture.  "Smile" has become the new command for "Go potty."

     Most recently, we headed back to Shenandoah National Park for another fun-filled day of hiking.  This time we took our best friend, Maya.  No bears were going to cross our path with her around, that's for sure!
     We chose to complete the 11-mile trek on Big Devil's Stairs trail.  With her short legs and long body, Maya completed an impressive 6 miles.  We took turns carrying all 12lbs of her for the other 5 miles, but during those 6 miles, we were entertained beyond a doubt.

"You mean I have to jump this crick?"  (If Maya could talk, I'm sure she would have somewhat of a redneck accent.)

"So didn't quite make it across.  That water's cold, eh?"  (With a little Canadian.)

"Bat dog! Give me somethin' more challenging, yo!"  (And some gangster.)

Yes, we have become those parents.

"How many pictures are we going to take today?  Squirrel!"  (The girl has some major ADD.)

"Check out that view!"

"While you get that shot, I'll go ahead and poop over here.  No worries, you don't have to pick it up.  Consider me wildlife."

"Would someone remove my vest, so I can be completely camouflage?  It's the only way I'm going to catch anything around here."

Lunch break!

Pdub's turn.

PDub's makeshift walking stick.

"The hills are alive.....with the sound of music."  Where's my backup?

All tuckered out.  "Would someone give me a rub down?  Awe, that's the stuff."

     With our hike in the Andes still in our minds, this hike was simply okay.  Hopefully, we will find some other trails that will satisfy our breathtaking (both cardio and sightseeing) needs.  Either way, we enjoyed having our best friend with us!

Inca Trail--Day 4 and MACHU PICCHU!!

     How does one define the "butt crack of dawn"?  Is it the first sight of daylight?  Is it when the rooster crows?  No matter, we were up well before it on our last day of hiking.  3:30am, that was the time we awoke to complete the last leg of our journey.  Distance: 4 miles.  Destination: Machu Picchu.

Entering onto the trail.  Things just got real.*

Rise and shine!

Candid?*

More stairs, but today we have a goal.  The main event: Machu Picchu!!

The train station and town of Aguas Calientes.  Where those, what some may call, "smart folk" take the train from Cuzco, sip on their wine, and walk about Machu Picchu all clean and stuff.  We like it rugged.

We were going to make this a family photo, but somehow our lens fogged up.....and Maya didn't want to do the trek (something about her legs).

Our first stop, Intipunku, meaning Sun Gate, which overlooks Machu Picchu.*

Waiting for the clouds to lift, so we could see Machu Picchu.  We tried blowing all at once, but they wouldn't budge. *

Passing the time by taking some pretty photos at Sun Gate.  The clouds never lifted.

Please don't touch the Chinchilla.

After Sun Gate, we stopped at a large, sacred rock where three mummies were found.

     Some of you are probably wondering what the deal is with Machu Picchu.  Well, first, it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.....5th grade knowledge, guys, come on!  Second, it is an Inca ruin untouched by the conquistadors, preserved throughout the years by its hidden location, and only recently found by Hiram Bingham (a Yale professor) in 1911.  This lost city was believed to be an estate for the incas (kings), or really a getaway with religious benefits.  It was built on and around mountains that hold high sacred meaning to the Incas.  Additionally, its location is in alignment with key astronomical events.  We can only guess that it wasn't the Incas that built this in 1450, but instead, aliens; it's the only explanation.

     So after 26 miles of walking with 20lbs on our back, not showering for 4 days, sleeping in a tent for 3 nights, using the wilderness as a restroom, and experiencing the microclimates (from rain to dry sun to fog to wind), we finally arrived at our final destination....

AND......WE MADE IT!!!

Moments to stop and take it all in.*

Happiness is walking for 26 miles to a place you can get to by train.  No just kidding, the sense of accomplishment and the purpose behind the hike will always be a treasure.

Sexy posing for like the millionth time.

I asked Moses to part the clouds like he did the Red Sea, and he must've heard.

Loving life.

Spectacular views.

Postcard!

From the top of the world.

Baby steps.

Jazz hands.

Similarities?

Life is just too awesome.

Baby steps?  Machu Picchu (old peak) mountain is in the background.

Is that a mad scientist?  No, just a fellow hiker.

Manny teaching us about the Temple of Wind.

Feeling the nice cool breeze in the Temple of Wind.*

Into the skies.

The Temple of Sun.  The two windows were constructed at perfect angles to determine the timing of winter and summer solstice based on the shadow angle......aliens?  I'd have to agree.

Where the Flintstones got the word "bedrock."

Sitting in the Inca's (king's) quarters.  No worries, we were cordially invited.

Maybe not this guy though.

Everybody look!.....or not.*

The different types of stonework.  Unbelievable how their pieces fit together perfectly.

Running water for like 500 years now.*

Cheese!

No horseplay among the rocks!*

The quarry, where the Incas selected and carved the perfect rocks for the perfect fit.*

Suave.

Some lovely looking ladies, especially after 4 days without showering....or curling irons, mirrors, or make-up.*

Llama or alpaca?

Iguana or lizard? 

A photo opportunity.*

To infinity and beyond!*

Relaxin'.....Not to be confused with chillaxin' for the heat was on.*

The size of this place was unbelievable.....no, magnificent.

A scene from Glee; PDub had the lead.*

One last shot before we immerse ourselves back into society. 

So, uh, what are we going to do about that rockslide that blocked the road?*

Because sometimes beer and pizza should be your first back-into-society meal.

Cuy, or guinea pig.  It's a delicacy in Peru.  Tasted like chicken.

If I can't throw it, can I place it gently somewhere?*

All we wanted was a real toilet, running water, and some alcohol.  Love our new Australian friends!!

Life is what you make it!  Quite frankly, I've made mine amazing.

*Thank you to my fellow hikers for letting me use your pictures.