sent from: Corte Madera, California, USA. destination: Long Beach, California, USA

We sat in the car, alone in the car park, watching the storm pass through when the Park Ranger stopped by. Visitors are obviously unusual at this time of year in Pacheco State Park. We stood in the rain chatting with the Ranger, who was happy for the conversation, even as we got progressively wetter. I had proposed in the park, I explained, and wanted to take a walk with my wife in the hills. As I said this, the shower turned into a torrent and mud rose around our boots. The storm drove us back into the car and we waited. I was despondent; the sun was setting and I’d been looking forward to walking in the Park again for the last two and a half years. The clouds broke just long enough for us to clamber up to a nearby tree on the hillside. We stood under the dripping branches and made a pact to return, and the rain wouldn’t stop us again.