So much to share, BUT where to start??? Since we have a small family and they seem to live all over the country, we made plans to hike and visit family to celebrate. Our two grandsons are our #1 family priority, so being with them, our daughter and son in law (who has a HUGE and wonderful family) trumped going farther than Kentucky. If you would like a snapshot into a portion of our 50 years of marriage, which includes divorcing and remarrying, click here for the Table of Contents to see 26 chapters of our “marriage blog.”

First stop in our celebration was a week in Sapphire Valley, NC. 4/4-11/2025. Less than six hours from our home in Myrtle Beach makes it our closest and the BEST place to hike! Our condo was newly remodeled so was a wonderful blessing as we made it our “home” for a week. We took a short walk, but steep decline and incline back up after a little over a six hour drive. We relived all of our previous hikes so tried to figure out where to go to hike. Bill had been putting in a lot of hours and manual labor changing our kitchen cabinets (we have lots) to white. And Debbie, me, has been enduring some muscle-skeletal issues. Here is a photo of Bill outside our cabin/condo. And then a surprise waiting for us to honor our 50th Anniversary! So sweet!

4/5/2025 Bill wisely said let’s just start with a relatively easy hike around Lake Fairfield. We also need to acclimate to higher elevation since we live at sea level! The lake is in a private community. Our condo has privileges to use the facilities. It has a bit of a rough terrain, slight elevation and was a good workout for me (Debbie). Bill had to slow down a few times for me to catch my breath. We made it 3.68 miles in an hour and 40 minutes. Off this path is a route up to the top of Little Bald Rock Mountain. We have asked others in the area if they have ever been to the top. No, until this day, FINALLY we met one. She’s a very fit young lady. She it’s about the same as the steep hike to the top of White Mountain. Bill had been feeling really fit, so I encouraged him to tackle it. Below is the Little Bald Rock Mountain in the background of where we park. Such a lovely walk/hike for nearly four miles around the lake.

4/6/2025 We’re grateful our church is on-line for those who can’t make it in person. So first we enjoyed our worship service then an outstanding teaching sermon on Daniel.

Then, Bill tackled the Little Bald Rock Mountain trail! It reaches 3,780 feet elevation, but not sure what the elevation the lake registers. He accepted the challenge under the threat of rain and lightening! Did I mention there was a lot of rain during our first few days which limited our drives to trails. This was close by and we knew it could only be but so muddy. We walked 1/4 of the trail around the lake. Not bad, so he decided to go for it while my task was to go back to the car and figure out how to get it close to the trailhead. It was indeed a task but I made it while he continued to climb and feel challenged!!! He did it and it was so encouraging as to his level of fitness. Below is at the trailhead but I didn’t get the actual “sign” – which doesn’t say much. This blue sign does warn to “hike at your own risk.” So we knew there was something challenging about it….He went a total of 4.3 miles and how an elevation gain of 1,014. He was “moving” nearly two hours! So proud of him!

4/7/2025 Due to a lot of rain, back to Fairfield Glade Lake. BUT what a HUGE improvement for me, Debbie! I knocked 20 minutes off of our time around the lake! No stopping and no huffing and puffing. Oh how I have been feeling so much older. A tidbit on our 50 years together. Bill has always stayed in shape by physical labor – like chopping up cords of woods from our property in Virginia. Debbie, by running, started in college, then chose a career where staying in shape was mandatory. I had my own gym equipment set to using gyms to stay in shape. Bill sort of mocked “gym rats” but guess what? He now is one!!! As he ages, he now sees how beneficial it is….And he now can run circles around me. Below is a screenshot of the hiking trail around the lake with our “vitals.”

4/8/2025 Returned to a favorite, Rainbow Falls. Again, due to the rain, but thought this would be OK no matter. And it was! Clearly, I’m still trying to get back into shape. We were here a year ago. I caught a virus so stayed home the last 4 days while sending Bill off to max himself in hiking. He does have to go slower for me. All that to say, he had no problem on this a year ago. It is a pretty steep decline and then incline. I was fine the first time we hiked it. BUT this time, I had to stop and sent Bill on after a little over half way! It took me about 15 minutes, but decided to start hiking towards him. What a laugh as I made it to the waterfall, where he was enjoying a nice long chat with another couple! I was fully recovered and we made it back to the car without too many stops! Here is my view as I hiked up to the actual falls! Note, Bill never meets a stranger!

4/9/2025 Off to the main attraction that brought is here initially in 2019, Whitewater Falls. Bill read “Upper Whitewater Falls is not only the tallest waterfall in NC, but the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, though some may disagree with that title. Regardless of where you stand on that dispute, there is no denying the beauty of this massive 411-foot waterfall. Protected by Nantahala Forest, this waterfall is accessible by a short hike that leads to a viewing platform.” Our first time here, we not only did that short hike, we went on and on and on….via the Foothills Trail. Sadly, this hike was not saved in our All Trails app. But it says it is about 7.8 miles We may not have gone the entire route bit I know we did most of it. I never had to stop – then. This date, we did the shorter hike from the parking lot, to the observation tower, then down to the Foothills trail and back up to the parking lot. I never needed to rest but was ready to call it quits once we got back to the top – and parking lot! First is the view of the upper falls, from the parking lot. Then we walked down 1/10th of steps to the overlook. The young lady who took the picture asked if we wanted to show the falls….not sure why we didn’t take the hint! But I thought the view of the upper falls was sufficient!

4/10/2025 Back to our faithful Fairfield Lake. Again, rain rain go away, come again another day! Another test of my endurance and it looks like I’m ready to tackle the Smoky’s!!! This photo below is from All Trails app that shows a bit of the topography of what became our favorite hike during rainy season!

4/11/2025 Our official anniversary date!f And our travel day from what we say is one of our favorite nearby hiking areas to our “other” favorite area, the Smoky Mountains. Afterwards, we now say our go to and favorite place to hike is here, in Sapphire Valley. But all was not lost. Part 2 of our celebration coming up next!

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬