After Rachel had attempted online dating for 5+ years and Clinton had attempted online dating for less than a week, we connected with a 93% match (since Clinton likes horror movies and Rachel does not). Once we started talking on the phone, we realized how much that we had in common - a love for hiking, a love for reading, a love for puns - and how many times we had almost crossed paths before during our time in Durham. Rachel invited herself to Clinton's house for lunch on 8/20/21 (she brought him ratatouille) and that was the first of four dates that weekend. On 8/22/21, Rachel invited Clinton to join her for a trip to the beach with her parents the following weekend and he bravely accepted!

Rachel and Clinton had hiked at the Eno River multiple times from their first date onward because Clinton and his kids live on the banks of the Eno River (and on the Mountains to Sea trail). On Monday, July 8, Rachel was a little suspicious of the fact that Clinton had put "date night" on the calendar given that they almost always just relax together on weeknights. After making a delicious meal, Clinton took Rachel to the Eno River rock quarry. We hiked down to the water and Clinton pulled out the ring (with the design of a vine). A park ranger started to shoo us out because the quarry was about to close but graciously took a picture of us and congratulated us. We went out to Locopops to celebrate.