Nick & I aren’t big Valentine’s Day people. In general we find dining out as a couple on or around V-day to be a bit obnoxious, if not awkward. It always feels like everyone is looking at each other, trying to measure their love with their partner in comparison to fellow diners. With that said, we are not against doing anything on Valentine’s Day, so we made a plan to meet my mom for a hike and make chicken pot pie for dinner later on.

We decided to go on a hike through the Marin water district, from Deer Park in Fairfax to Phoenix Lake and back. This was my favorite trail as a kid and I haven’t hiked it in over fifteen years, so I was very excited to return. I was very nostalgic on the trails, remembering twists, bends, trees, views. Fifteen years later it was still breathtaking and unbelievably green. Oh to be in Marin again!