4:00pm: Be sharp! Meet at the parking area for the Environmental Education Center in Tilden Park in Berkeley. In the parking lot, you will pick up supplies. Bring a small backpack. Dress comfortably. The hike will be short. However, the incline is steep in some places. M will lead you to Wildcat Peak. He and I scoped out the trail. He will put K, M, and S in their hiding place.
4:30pm: D and N begin hike.
5:15pm (apx): D and N reach the junction to the peak. D speaks loudly so Sac folks can hear him beginning up toward the peak. After D and N pass, Sac folks should follow - but wait until D and N are out of sight.
At the Peak:
D and N are surprised to find friends enjoying the view. This will be played off as a chance encounter. D might be upset he wasn't invited. Soon after Sac friends come up. This is also treated as a chance encounter.
After talking, D says he would like to have some music. He and J turn on romantic Italian music with a phone connected to a portable speaker.
Then W says he thinks it would be nice if we had candles. He, T, S, and M quickly set out candles and light them.
Then K says she has rose petals and would like to spread them around. She does so.
Then B says he has champagne he'd like to share. He pulls out the bottles, but realizes he doesn't have any glasses.
J and M happen to have some glasses. They announce this and pass them around.
Then D says, "Wait! We can't have champagne without something to toast." This is his lead in to the proposal about which the content you will have to be surprised.
After N says yes (hopefully) and there is clapping and cheering, champagne bottles should be popped.
Champagne (and cider) are distributed. We then toast! We can hang out for a while before hiking down together.
Now, my commentary - Naturally, after receiving the schedule I was highly curious for the big day to arrive. S and I carpooled down to Berkeley and found our way to the park. The weather appeared perfect - overcast but warm, with a lovely breeze. As we walked from the car (we had to park quite a ways away as I was fairly certain a green fiat with Sacramento might catch N's eye) we met B and M, the four of us proceeded to visit the rabbits and goats at the farm until everyone arrived. We gathered and took our 'before' excitement photos.
B and I waiting to hike out.
Unfortuntialzy W and T did not appear and as time passed we had to leave without them or risk begin overtaken on the trail by D and N. Only at this point was it made clear that this would be a several mile loop. Not expected based on D's description of the hike as "short" though the steep incline was spot on. The haze also decided to clear only for the period of upward hiking and there was much dripping of sweat as well as some mild grumbling from several of the group. At last, we made it to the top. At a fork just below the turn towards the top S, M, and myself were hidden behind the brush. Waiting. More waiting. More waiting. Luckily the view was nice.
Eventually D and N passed and we slowly crept out behind them. We'd taken only a few steps towards the top when we were hailed by a gentleman approaching us. In his arms was the most enormous gardner snake I think I've ever seen. In our lengthy talk (which, I'm sure, left everyone at the top, except N, wondering where we were) we learned that he had had the snake for 12 years and often brought it into classrooms or to other events for display.
M and the snake (S stays safely away)
Because the gentleman was headed the same direction he accompanied us up to the top. Much to the squeamish horror of several of the group awaiting us.
Besides W and T getting lost, the next issue was that when the three of us reached the top the candles and music were already out. Which left me without my cue for petals. After confirming with B I said my line (which went unheard by half of out ten person gathering) and brought out the rose petals. Which later was proclaimed several peoples favorite part because it was so hilarious. The breeze had picked up as the fog was on approach and rose petals kept getting picked up by the breeze and launched at people. N may have taken a few in the face. Finally the half filled paper grocery bag of petals was emptied.
This is after most had blown away, verified by the fact that the champagne is open.
B brought out the champagne and J and i worked to assemble the plastic glasses. At this point worried glances towards the snake sunning itself on the outer ring of stone continued and a helpful woman on her bike decided to stop and yell her inquiry:
"What are you all celebrating?"
*crickets chirping*
"Nothing..." (sheepish replay from several of the group). Looks of horror and awkwardness pass between everyone.
Bike killjoy: "You have to be celebrating something! What is it?"
Full awkward laughter is happening as one of the group carefully leads the curious woman away explaining that D is about to propose but has not yet done so and sends her on her way. Finally glasses are distributed and D begins his speech.
The highlight for me was the use of "awesome-ist" in the proposal.
N says yes. Well actually he smiled and kissed D, after which D asked, "So does that mean yes?" which N affirmed, then there was cheering.
Naturally, it was then picture time.
M, me, B, and J
B thrilled with our reflection photo.
K, S, J, D, D, N, J, M, and M
We had a much lovelier hike down the mountain, where we came across W and T on the way down. D and N both seemed pleased. I was happy to provide some diversity to the group, being both the only female and only straight member of the group, which I find hilarious.
Wedding planned for August 2014 - crossing fingers I'm still in the US at that point.
