Mountain Lion Trail

Mountain Lion Trail - Before we started off on this trail, I seriously had to lift up a quick prayer. Mountain Lions are not cute, okay? So you can only imagine the amount of heart pumping adrenaline in anticipation of a potential face-off with this much reckoned feline. Especially, when the first sign you spot says this:

 I know you guys can't read it, but the picture can speak for itself, so go figure. Rattlesnakes and Mountain Lion? Not attractive.

Nevertheless, when you are willing to confront your fears, you just march along and hope for the best. Seriously though, we heed this warning fairly serious. Which meant: no hiking alone and no hiking without gears. Period.

 Here I am with my spears in tow, ready for battle!

um, shall we? why don't you go first, babe? harharhar

 My defender, scoping the area for predators. lol

My handsome shaolin in his elements :)

Trying to look bigger by waving my trekking poles before entering a curve in the path. Seriously PARANOID. lol

 Clear cut pathway, thank goodness! but those bushes make me nervous. Mind games making me nuts!!

Beautiful view on top

this hawk's been circling above us 

My mountain lion slayer. However, I think the it would prolly opt to lick him on the face coz he's just too adorbs! He's really harmless though.

 Despite my paranoia, here I am showcasing my love for photo ops! BTW, getting down from that rock was no small feat huh?! So happy enjoying the view. Makes me appreciate the awesomeness of God's work even more!

After our long walk, we were glad to see our small haven of recluse. Hungry, tired, but Thankful!

Dos Picos

Unlike any other group loving couples out there, hubby and I are quite content traveling as a duo. Though we do not shy away from company of good friends, we usually find solace in each others companionship, rather than in the presence of a larger group.  These mini-getaways were essential in the happy-dopey love affair we share today. People just have to accept that we are attached-at-the-hips, inseparable, and under the delusion that we are a handsome pair! (no bursting of one's bubble here, aight?!). Just leave us alone in our happy little galaxy, sipping our coffee beside our tiny blue speck of a tent, will ya? lol

moving on, our Dos Picos venture was actually one of our favorite camping trips. 

Site #55 was the last available spot that day and we could not be any happier. It's tuck away in this little patch of greens away from the bigger and bustling crowds.   

We have this space to ourselves. Dos Picos is, definitely, one of the cleanest and well maintained campgrounds we have been to. No rats. No roaches. No colonies of unruly ants. It was serene and lush.

  that's my happy camper :]

    

who would have thought, toasting one's feet can give so much Bliss?! 

 keeping warm and cozy with my camping buddy

simple pleasures...

I am assigned to maintain the kitchen-slash-dining mess, a mess. haha

enjoying our cute and seriously dope mini-speaker

the other happy camper

don't I resemble an all bundled-up gnome? hahaha

 catching up with some light reading

 I guess this post is all about ME not Dos Picos and how awesome that place was! lol, I seriously need to get new camping wardrobe. When the temperature drops, it's so easy to grab on the most comfy attire and repeat. I can't wait for summer!

  
This is one of our many attempts to document one of our camping highlights. The bathroom dilemma. Particularly, the night shower dilemma. It's chaotic, yes, but somehow, there is something ridiculously hilarious about keeping yourself comfortable in the most uncomfortable situations! Bathing is just one of those inevitable dilemmas you have to willingly embrace when the comfort zone is compromised! I suggest teaming up with the better half and learn to LOL on the discomforts of solving life's basic necessities in the wild.
Happy camping!

Moonlight Trail

When we camp, it is really not all about smores, campfire, and cooking all day. We actually leave our site to explore the area. This is how we ventured in this trail, simply out of randomness. No plans, whatsoever. No clues, whatsoever, on what lies ahead. haha.

Moonlight Trail and the two unsuspecting duo!

When I am lost, maps don't make sense anymore. But we carried it with us anyways, just so I can look at it and get more confused! LOL 

smiling like he summit!

walking on...

It was ridiculously surreal that we had this place all to ourselves! no other hikers in sight, just us two! 

See how we even had time to perfect our silhouettes?! This trail became our private playground and being silly was just inevitable! teehee.

 T'was fun while it lasted :)

but we'll surely come back for more! 

Campfire

Sometimes, it is just too easy to get eaten up by the mundane things in life. I promised to keep tabs on what we have been doing in 2012, but when one is busy enjoying life, slowing down becomes too hard to master. I can not believe it is April already! Time is definitely hasting and I am lagging!  

Here's a few snapshots of our car camping trip to Butterfield Ranch in Julian, CA. 

Butterfield Ranch is a privately owned campground. They have a few cabins for rent too if you want to be fancy nancy :) but hubby and I prefer roughing it out in our tent, rain or shine. 

We love camping out, it's relaxing. Being able to rob ourselves with home style luxury and just going back to basics is quiet rustic yet romantic. 

  Building campfire from scratch and chilly nights with smores and hotdogs can be quite exciting too!

 Nothing luxurious in camping, it's just us and mother nature. But there is something very gratifying about these simplicities in life that seemed quite intoxicating. Yes, we leave behind the comforts of home, but the experience of randomness in the open field gave us an appreciation of what we often take for granted: TIME, NATURE and LIFE.

So, yeah, build campfires, pitch a tent, make smores, and go back to basics once in a while!