Honestly folks, my partner Chris started complaining we needed a real break from screens. Just last Tuesday, over burnt toast, they were like “We’re becoming couch potatoes who only see each other’s phone screens.” Ouch. Truth hurts. So that weekend, we tried this whole ‘green couples getaway’ thing near Lake Arrowhead. Spoiler: sunscreen matters.
Scouting the Spot & First Blunders
Woke up crazy early Saturday, threw boots and a half-dead aloe plant in the trunk. Google led us to some forestry service trail, but the parking? Jam-packed like a discount store sale. Drove in circles for 40 minutes, Chris gripping the dash muttering about “nature’s serenity.” Finally snagged a spot when some minivan left.
- Massively underestimated: How many people also had the “quiet nature escape” idea.
- Forgot completely: Actual paper map because “phone service will be fine” – plot twist: zero bars.
- Regretted instantly: Skipping breakfast. Stomachs growled louder than the squirrels.
Hiking the Pine Ridge Trail
Started walking around 10 AM. Trail was dirt and rocks, proper hiking stuff. Saw actual blue jays – Chris almost tripped trying to photograph one. Legs burned after the first uphill bit. Sweat soaked my shirt near the viewpoint. Sat on this big, mossy rock catching our breath.
Chris spotted the picnic area first – a shady patch by a babbling creek. Unpacked the cooler, discovered the cheap sandwich bread got squashed flat under the water bottles. Ate soggy turkey wraps anyway. Listened to water trickling, no phones buzzing. Felt… weirdly peaceful.
Afternoon Paddleboarding Chaos
Rented boards from this shack by the lake. The teenager working there snorted when Chris asked if they’d tip over easily. “Just don’t stand up like a flamingo,” he said. Chris tried exactly that after five minutes. Splash! Soaked head-to-toe, clinging to the board laughing hysterically. I nearly fell off too just laughing.
Spent the next hour mostly sitting or kneeling, paddling slowly. Watched dragonflies skim the water. Tried racing, ended up spinning in circles. Paid the rental fee still damp. Totally worth it.
Campfire Failures & Wins
Booked this basic campsite nearby. Chris insisted they were a “fire-building expert.” Twenty minutes later, we had pathetic smoke wisps and red faces from blowing. Finally used the emergency fire starter cubes we packed. Roasted store-bought vegan hot dogs that tasted suspiciously like cardboard. The cheap marshmallows? Pure gold.
- Absolute Win: The stars. No city lights, just billions of tiny dots. Saw shooting stars – two!
- Fail Turned Funny: Trying to identify constellations using an app. Kept crashing because, you guessed it, no signal. Made up our own: “The Blurry Pixel,” “The Half-Eaten Marshmallow.”
- Lesson Learned: Actual firewood > scavenged damp twigs. And packing extra hoodies? Genius move.
Woke up Sunday stiff as boards, smelling like woodsmoke and dirt. Brewed instant coffee with our tiny camp stove. Packed up muddy gear feeling weirdly… refreshed? No fancy hotels, just us being dopey outdoors together. Gotta say, breathing real air beats scrolling any day. Even with soggy sandwiches and falling in a lake. 10/10 will try being green(ish) again.
