August 30

We arose to our first full day at the cabin, had pancakes and bacon for breakfast (and coffee for me! Thankfully, when I bought Nespresso pods yesterday for the machine they have up here, I guessed the correct model), and headed out for today's adventure.

We hadn't even made it down to the street before we spied our first unusual sight: a pair of bucks with impressive antlers standing at the edge of the driveway. They stared at us --from just a few feet away-- chewing at whatever it was they were eating. Vaguely intimidating, but pretty cool to see them up close.

With that excitement under our belts, we drove a few miles down the mountain to Arnold, where we'd planned to hike the Arnold Rim Trail to the aptly named Top of the World. The trail was a bit more strenuous than I'd anticipated so I grumbled more than I should have, but our eventual destination offered sweeping views of the valleys below and the landscape far in the distance.

We stayed for a while (and consumed copious granola bars) before doubling back to the car. Arnold was crowded (thanks to a craft festival and Labor Day weekend, I assume), so it was a long wait, but the guys secured milkshakes and munchies at the Giant Burger before we headed back to the cabin for a rest (and a game at the kitchen table).

Some of us watched the Orioles decimate the Giants 11-1 on TV before we went back down the mountain for dinner at the Snowshoe Brewery. I perused the menu for several minutes before I decided on the brews and ques pizza, which featured mozzarella, bleu cheese crumbles, onion, apricot ale barbecue sauce, and pulled pork. An unusual combination, but really good. It's fun to go off-book and try out new flavors.

And now we're back in for the night, watching whatever happened to be on TV and reflecting on the day. It's a blessing to have time away with family, so I'm grateful for another set of adventures to remember in the future.