Back from a Big Break
It's been three and a half years since I've posted anything on this website. A lot has happened in that time!
The last time I posted something I was in my 20s (just barely, but still), I was single, living in an apartment in North Asheville.
I am now 33, married, own an awesome little craftsman-style bungalow built in 1925 (that we did a ton of work on in a years time) and have a wild but incredibly sweet mini aussie doodle puppy.
I don't know that I had any specific reasons for taking such a long break from posting on this site. It just kind of happened that way. Life got busy. During the past few years I've also been focused on my health. In November of 2018 Alexandra and I were camping with two of our wonderful friends on the west rim of the Linville Gorge when a tree fell on our tent in the middle of the night. Aside from the psychological trauma we've suffered from that event, the physical trauma takes the top spot for me as far as injuries go. Alexandra suffered a broken bone in her leg and I suffered a broken pelvis that still causes me trouble and probably will for many years.
I think the best way to update everyone is to share some pics from the last three years. Maybe in the future I'll make more detailed posts about each experience. But for now. . these will have to do. Life just keeps moving so fast! Hope you enjoy.
September 2018, I took my first trip to the Pacific Northwest. I visited Mount Rainer National Park (pictured above and below), North Cascades National Park (third image) and Olympic National Park (fourth image). The trip blew my mind and gave me a new appreciation for that part of the country.
November 2018, this tree fell on our tent while roadside camping on the west rim of the Linville Gorge. Alexandra broke her fibula and sprained her ankle terribly. I fractured my pelvis in three places. It still puts me in a trance when I look at this picture.
After a long recovery from our injuries Alexandra and I got engaged and took a trip to Oregon in September of 2019 where we visited Mount Hood National Forest, Silver Falls State Park and the Deschutes National Forest. Oregon is an incredible place and we both promised to return someday for more adventures.
Alexandra and I got married in the summer of 2020. The below picture was taken by Ben Clark who shot our wedding ceremony and small dinner we had with our immediate families. It was incredibly sad and emotional to cancel our wedding party we had planned with our extended family and friends. Ultimately we are happy we still got to marry each other despite setbacks from the pandemic.
We actually bought our house right before we got married but spent the first year of our marriage fixing it up and making it our own.
Due to Covid, our honeymoon was delayed a year. In the summer of 2021 we were able to finally visit Yosemite and Sequioa National Parks. They were magnificent. I understand now why they are so popular.
In the fall of 2021, Maple entered our lives and she keeps us busy 24/7. We're in the training process and are slowing introducing her to the trail! How exciting. Alexandra took the below picture of Maple and I.
That's all for now. Thanks always for checking in,
JD
