Michael and I met the old-fashioned way... Tinder. 

It was the holiday season of 2019. We spent our first few months getting to know each other and figuring out one another in the early months of 2020. Then, as we all know, COVID struck. 

Michael is an emergency room nurse, so there was a lot of uncertainty about how we were to continue dating. Getting into the outdoors and hiking in the Tahoe backyard came to be a middle ground, embarking on day hikes to accomplish the Tahoe Rim Trail and to have a strong relationship. 

Between the pandemic, wildfires in Northern California and Nevada, and life in general, we eventually finished the Tahoe Rim Trail in late July of 2022. 

While the feet were elevated, beers in hand and spirits high, the obvious question came out "What's Next?" 

We have traveled around the Western United States to various National Parks, explored our home state Nevada and in general explored every chance we can get. We knew we wanted to go somewhere internationally and hike! What better place than England to begin our international hiking adventures? 

Before we knew it, we were on a plane (a very, very delayed and chaotic plane) to England. We showed up to St Bees without any of our luggage due to the delays causing havoc on our luggage transfers. Nonetheless, spirits were high and we were ready to walk the Coast to Coast. 

We did the 13-day circuit. It was challenging, but so worth it. 

Our luggage reunited with us on our last day in the Lake District. By then, we had a perfect system down for washing the same pair of socks and undergarments. The Yorkshire Dales and the Moors were amazing to walk through. 

In a country with millions of people, we barely saw anyone and what a moment of solace that was. As we got closer to Robin Hood's Bay, we were excited but sad to see the journey come to an end. We hobbled down the ramp to throw our stones into the North Sea. After the stones left our hands, Michael turned around on one knee and proposed. 

Little did I know that our parents and close friends were watching our walk end in anticipation of this moment. 

It was such a beautiful moment for our relationship to have been founded on hiking, and to begin this next part of the journey. 

I know I am so thankful for Michael – for not only is he the best hiking buddy, but he is my best friend. And I am so thankful for our Coast to Coast walk to end and the next part of our life's journey to begin.

Words and photos by Dianna King who travelled on a Coast to Coast self-guided tour.