41 days

And day one of training....

So it was decided that should Brian and I become trek guides, we should be able to, um, climb a mountain. What a crazy idea?

We set off towards Blue Hills Reservation (ok so not quite a mountain, but a collection of hills) for a hike. With ominous skies ahead, which turned into rain, we were on our way towards Boston. Agreeing that we aren't that hardcore yet, we stopped off at Barnes and Nobles to do some guidebook reading and REI perusing while we waited for the rain to pass. Luckily, the weather cooperated and even gave us some blue skies. Armed with a loaf of bread (not kidding) and water we traversed the Skyline trail, which took us up and down the rocky Blue Hills, past Ellis Tower and a weather observatory, and within 10 feet of a friendly little deer.

I have to say that up until the deer encounter Brian could not stop talking about seeing a deer. "Kylie, wouldn't it be cool if we walked up on some deer?" "I'd love to see a deer." "Kylie, if we're quiet, we might see a deer." I wasn't being quiet. I had had coffee that morning so I had "diarrhea of the mouth," as Brian calls it. (Quite the role reversal, right?) The deer was definitely a suprise, especially to me, since I didn't notice and would have walked right past it. On the other hand, the deer had no fear and walked pretty darn close to us. Brian acted fast and pulled out the camera, so we should have some pictures to post soon.

At the end of the hike, we felt pretty good. Tomorrow will tell. We pinky-promised that we would come back to Blue Hills, so hasta la proxima vez!

Y manana, off to the travel clinic. Shots, anyone?