We have continued to fully embrace the Livin’ Part of Life here in Maine these past couple of days. While Rick’s post eloquently spoke to what is so special and unique to us on MDI, we also hope to share real insights that are accessible to all when you take the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful part of the country!
Hiking has been an important part of our life together. I grew up not knowing much of anything about hiking or our national parks. The closest I got was one or two overnight girl scout camps in a cabin. So, it’s no surprise that I’m not the rugged type into real “camping”. But I have always focused on walking as my primary form of relaxation and exercise for over 25 years. I did multiple half, and one full, marathons as a walker, raising funds for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I have coaches Andy and Nora still to thank for much of my good practices when I go out for a long adventure. (“always dress for 10 degrees warmer” was just in play this morning) I still love my treadmill and walks around the neighborhood, but hiking has been the ultimate for me. It adds so much beauty, challenge and adventure.
My first adventure into hiking was a huge desire to climb Diamond Head in Hawaii. I had just married Mark in 2006, and it was my big opportunity to finally have someone to hike with. Well, those of you who knew him understand that this was NOT his idea of fun, but he went along with it when I told him it was a “moderate” hike and that I really wanted to go. Well… we did it, but there were times when I was afraid he wasn’t going to make it. I had fears that I would have to call his mom and explain why he ended up in the ER (or worse) due to his first, and only, hike. Needless to say, while I loved it, I put hiking on the back burner since it really isn’t a safe hobby to do on your own, and I didn’t have anyone to go with.
After Mark died and I became even more involved in LLS in his memory, the Team in Training group announced a hike to Zion and Bryce in 2017. Finally, my chance to get out there and hike!!! I didn’t feel right raising money for my trip of a lifetime, so I just made a big donation and off I went. It was AMAZING to be able to hike these two beautiful parks with a like-minded group, complete with guides and transportation. It was the perfect experience for me, an important part of my own healing after such difficult losses in my life, and then I was hooked.
Problem… still no one to hike with.
When I put myself out there on the dating scene, hiking was a huge part of my interest. Thankfully, as Rick’s kids were raised, hiking was fundamental to many of their trips. There are so many pictures on our photo frame of them hiking together in so many parks. So much so that Rick had a picture of his daughter Julia and him on a hike as part of his Match profile. (I did have a friend who thought that Julia was a girlfriend… haha) Anyhow, that was a good sign for me, and outweighed his interest in Cedar Point :). I’m so glad that this match is the one for me for more reasons than hiking, but let’s stay on point.
Since our first hiking experience in Rocky Mountain National Park in 2019, it has been so wonderful for us to do some adventuresome hiking. You’ve heard about some of them on this blog, but it has been a substantive part of the fun in our relationship every year and a huge part of why we got Livvy. We are so excited to hike here again, in one of our favorite places.
Rick’s role as a planner extends beyond basic trip planning to hiking as well. AllTrails is our app of choice, to supplement the National Park Service site. He said he has over 30 hikes saved for us to choose from on this trip! Quite a few are old favorites, but it is exciting for us to have time to explore new spaces, especially on the quiet side of the island.
Yesterday, we hiked something new. Great Notch trail is a rooty, rocky, crazy hike up between two mountains. We felt our age!! Then we followed that to the beautiful Long pond loop trail where we could see the sites from the previous day’s hike on Beech Mountain.
Today, we hiked one of our favorites. Jordan Pond loop is my all time favorite up here for its simplicity and variety (aka easy but just enough challenge for the reward at the end, see below). But today we paired it with South Bubble. Oh baby, what a crazy and difficult hike that is for me. Now I had done it back in 2021, and I remembered it being challenging… but WOW! I am so, so glad that I did it again!!!!! I did require Rick’s arm once for support, and then he had the gentleman’s suggestion for me to go first when he had to push my a*$ up the narrow high step in front of us, but it was oh so worth it!!
We are living our adventure every day, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be fit enough to explore this beautiful island and its many hiking trails
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