April 8th. It had been raining for 24 hours straight. It is 45 degrees outside. He got to the shelter first and claimed a spot, she came up an hour later. He saw this poor soaking, shivering girl approach the full shelter. Like a gentleman, he... asked "yo, is that Lydia?" To which she replied "No", went and set up her soaked tent, got out of her soaked clothes, and into her less soaked sleeping bag. He stayed dry in the shelter until the rain stopped, at which point he got out to socialize. But not with her, because she was still in her tent trying to stay warm. Five months later they have had been through many more wet days and nights. They have been through rain, hail, bugs, heat, humidity, and mud. So much mud. The lows are balanced out by the highs - seeing gorgeous vistas, devouring ramen bombs, or just watching tv movies in a hotel bed. Every day was the Best Day Ever, even the ones that weren't so good. Nearing the end of their journey, her sleeping pad finally gives in and deflates for the final time. He offers her his own pad, so she doesn't have to sleep on the cold hard ground. Seven months after that they moved in together. She was worried that moving and unpacking would stress the relationship. He was worried her cat wouldn't like him, neither worry would come true. Over the next year they travel the country and have lazy mornings in. They go out for fancy dinners and cook together at home. They get bored, tired, hungry and sick. They laugh, dance, joke, and sleep in. They do all of this together. And now they have decided to throw a big party to celebrate their togetherness! And you all get to join in, Congratulations! Enjoy the free food and booze.