Happy Birthday Keith!

Happy 45th Birthday Keith! When I asked Keith what he wanted to do for his birthday, he didn't pause for a moment when he said the magic word: "Skoki!!"

For our run in to Skoki Lodge, we enjoyed a perfect September day. Just check out the photos. Really. It couldn't have been any better! The larch trees have just changed color and were all bright yellow. In contrast with the green pines and the turquoise lakes and the white glaciers, it was glorious beyond words.

Happy Birthday Keith!

Just look at my hubby run! He was so excited to be running on these beautiful trails and is really enjoying the excitement of being new to a sport. In a nutshell, he is stoked on trails and trail running right now. He had improved a lot this summer - what a stud.

Weeeeeeee!

Calm.

The larch trees were fun to run through - forests of happy, yellow, mellow trees on a calm, sunny, blue sky day. We only saw a handful of people all day.

After the 12 km run into Skoki, we had a quick coffee and headed out to Merlin Lake. There, we enjoyed a run off trail on the plateau and meadows above Merlin Lake. We even snuck in an afternoon nap in a sunbeam in the forest. After, I got to enjoy one last skinny dip of the season in Merlin Lake. Keith's not a cold water guy - he always just shakes his head and smiles. I think it was the last swim of the year.

Merlin Ridge in the distance

Merlin Lake

Heading back to Skoki

A Very Happy Birthday Boy

We headed back to the lodge and enjoyed a spread of all of my favorites: cheese, chocolate, grapes and red wine! As always, there was some good company at the dinner table and our friend Katie the lodge manager cooked up an incredible feast. The best part was the massive chocolate birthday cake. That night, we slept really, really, really good!!

The next morning, the weather clouded over and we got to enjoy a run in the drizzle. While it was grey, it was just as beautiful but in a different way. We were both running with big perma grins and enjoying the perfect cool running temperatures. The fall colors were brilliant.

On Packer's Pass we had a nice little birthday surprise - a big herd of sheep! They were peaking over the pass at us and as we continued running they stampeded over the other side of the pass. It was pretty cool.

I think it was a perfect way to spend a 45th birthday. Happy Birthday Keith! I love you!