What a perfect weekend to get away. The weather agreed with us, for the most part. With the exception of some strong winds, and short, but heavy rainfall on Friday night, this weekend was picturesque as The Girl and I traveled down to her old stomping grounds, to go camping on Loft Mountain in Shenandoah National Park.

We arrived a bit after 10:00 PM on Friday night, to find our tent already set up, a fire going strong, and drinks being poured by the remainder of our camping crew. We woke up early on Saturday a little worse for wear, and, after a great breakfast over the camp fire, we set out to do some hiking and generally interact with nature. Saturday night was spent recuperating from our day’s hike, and enjoying more good food and drink, and a ‘dramatic re-enactment’ from The Girl as entertainment.

This weekend was exactly what I needed. I really appreciated being able to relax and take my mind off of everything but the world around me for a couple of days. No worrying about work, or fretting over Ole Miss football, or planning for the wedding, was just what the doctor ordered, and I’m very appreciative of the rest of the crew for really doing the bulk of the planning to make the weekend happen.

The scenery that we encountered was breathtaking, and I only wished that the pictures that I and The Girl took could honestly do it justice. I leave you now with a photo of our fateful camping crew, as taken by L, she of the engagement photos, and a photographer so knowledgeable of the ways of her craft that she is actually able to be in pictures that she takes:

(click on either photo for a link to the full set)