After spending over 5 hours in the car and playing our own version of 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon (with different actors) and listening to Matt's very large I-pod music collection, we neared Muncho Lake. It was almost 5pm at this point and we were only about 30 minutes from Liard Hotsprings. I was slightly curious as to why we needed to stop for lunch at 5pm when we were so close to our destination. However, I know how Matt gets when he needs food so I went with the flow.
We drove past a campground at the south end of Muncho Lake called Strawberry Flats Park and Matt said "I wonder if I should have stopped. I hope there is another stop". I assured him that there likely was since the lake looked huge and this couldn't be the only place to stop. (Secretly I was hoping that we would pass the lake and just drive all the way to Liard. My butt hurt and I was ready to soak up the hot springs).
We saw a lodge and Matt pulled over into the parking lot. All of the signs leading to the lake said "No Entrance - Registered Guest Only" so I again convinced Matt to keep driving. "There has to be another stop. Don't worry about it. The lake is huge".
We kept driving and shortly came upon the actual Muncho Lake Campground. It was practically deserted with only one camper that I could see. We pulled down to the picnic site and got out and started making sandwiches. The lake was beautiful and I understood why Matt liked it so much.
We ate our sandwiches and packed everything up. Then Matt asked me to walk out onto the dock to take some photos. We walked out and it was gorgeous. The lake had that bluey-green water that northern lakes are known for. He pointed out some hills behind us that he used to climb up when he was a kid. The lake was surrounded by trees and inbehind us were green reeds that added to the overall effect.
Matt asked me how the drive was going. I replied that it was going good. (He seemed to be acting a little funny. But I wasn't really sure why.) He then told me that he loved me. I told him that I loved him too. He said "well thats good". Then, to my great suprise, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him and spend the rest of my life with him while pulling a box with a goergous ring in it.
Okay, kids, after 10 3/4 years, I had sort of accepted that Matt and I were never going to get married. I figured that if I wanted it to happen I was going to have to ask him myself which I was really keen on. So needless to say, when he got down on his knee, I was shocked. Especially when I realized the thought that had when into the planning of the day. I immediately started to cry and started to walk backwards in my disbelief.
The next thing I remember was Matt saying "don't fall off the dock". I turned and realized that in my state of shock I had almost walked backwards off the dock we were standing on. That would have been classic, and later Matt said he should have let me do it because then we would never have forgotten the day. I still hadn't said anything so Matt asked me "Well, what's your answer". Of course it was yes.
There was some teariness on both sides as Matt slid the ring on my finger as well as hugs and kisses. We took some photos and got in the car and continued the drive. It took a number of hours for what had happened to sink in. It was a wonderful day and the spot was perfect and a place that I will remember forever. Although, for anyone else who has gone through it, the shock was so great that I could barely remember what he said.
We drove on the hot springs and enjoyed the champagne (got drunk) that Matt had bought in secret, cooked and ate veggie hot dogs with 8 million bugs, as well as had a soak and swim. It was a wonderful day.
We had a great holiday and have now started into the whole wedding planning. We have always talked about a destination wedding and a beach scene has always been in my mind. So we will have to get cracking and make some decisions pretty quick. We will let everyone know whats up as we know what is going on.
Congrats!! So, when's the big day?! ;-D
ReplyDelete