Love often finds us in the most unexpected places. On Friday, October 20, 2017, the University of Oregon Geology Club's camping trip to Redwood National Park set the stage for Mel and Ty's serendipitous meeting. Mel, ever the dedicated student, arrived armed with her laptop but unprepared for the great outdoors - no camping gear, no warm clothes, just an expectation for a nice weekend in a hotel with friends. Enter Ty, the knight in shining flannel, who volunteered to head back down to the gear vault and fetch supplies for the damsel in distress. Little did they know, this act of kindness was the first spark in what would become a globetrotting romance. The van ride was filled with laughter and easy conversation as Mel, Ty, and the rest of the Geo Club journeyed south. Once at the beach, all 30 students engaged in an epic game of "Ninja," a battle of reflexes and strategy... As fate would have it, the final showdown came down to Ty and Mel. In a twist that would foreshadow their future dynamic, Mel emerged victorious. As the sun began its descent over the Pacific, the group started to disperse for dinner preparations. Seizing the moment, Mel invited Ty to join her on a nearby log to watch the sunset. What started as a simple invitation turned into hours of sharing stories, dreams, and laughter. The crashing waves provided a soothing backdrop as they lost track of time, engrossed in each other's company. By the time they finally looked up, stars had replaced the sun, and a connection had formed between them as solid as the ancient redwoods. Little did they know, this magical evening on a weathered log would be the beginning of their own epic love story, one that would rival the grandeur of the very landscape that brought them together.