The Genesis of Our Journey

Our first adventure (not to mention our first time hanging out) took place in one of New Jersey's finest state parks, Highpoint. After a wonderful bike ride on the road within the park, the natural wanderlust within us decided to keep our day going with a hike starting at the parking lot near the monument. Nervous as heck, I decided to take us on the High Point Monument Hike, which led us from warmth of the June sun, into the cool Cedar Swamp. It was definitely a nice transition from the heat of a Jersey summer day.

 Cedar Swamp Trail:

After completing the Cedar Swamp loop from the Monument Trail and time to spare, we headed back to the cars and decided to go on one more excursion.  Making our way down route 209 from the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge towards a lesser known hike (limited parking access right after Chestnut Hill Road) with calm waterfalls, I could feel the excitement build up the closer we got. Never having done this hike before, I knew this experience coupled with my curiosity for Hannah would be a day to remember. A few miles of gentle inclines led us this really tranquil spot:

It was that spot that I will never forget the sight of how beautiful Hannah looked as she cooled off in the stream. Trying not to stare like a creep, I caught short glimpses of her through my peripherals. Here is another angle facing downstream:

"Twitterpated" and slightly scatterbrained from Hannah's delightful presence, we made our way back down the trail. About a mile before reaching the car, we walked off the trail to this pool where the water had collected at one point in the stream that ran parallel. Through the trees the suns rays shone down upon a rock next to the still waters, so we laid there for quiet awhile. As simple as laying on a rock next to some water sounds, I could have stayed there all day with her if only I had known about this hike sooner. Unknowingly at the time that this day would be the first of many, we made our way back home.