Been a few days since my last update! I’ve been spending most of my time prepping for the cruise, hike, and birthday party (in chronological order, not by magnitude of prep).

I finally think we have everything we need for the hike. I’ve been to REI so much, I’ve established residency. Finalized the packing list with our snacks and toiletry items earlier this week. I’ll do a post next week with a gear list and photos.

We’re now in Miami getting ready for our cruise and staying at our favorite spa hotel: The Standard.

This is our third time here and we absolutely love it. It’s so incredibly relaxing. It has a 24 hr outdoor pool, cold plunge and roman waterfall. The indoor Spa has a gym, haman, steam room, sauna, cold room & sound shower. Ana did a body scrub treatment & I did a massage to help relax the muscles from all the Kili training. This year, I was finally able to jump in the cold plunge pool and stayed in for like 15 minutes! (although my gaslighting wife and friends say it was OnLy FiFtEeN SeCoNdS) Last time I couldn’t get my ‘mind over matter’ enough to jump in. Small win, but feels huge as its a mental over physical strength signal that I know I’m going to need much more of for Kili.

We spent the rest of our day by the pool soaking up the sun and partaking a few libations.

Next up, port of Miami! AHOY!