Yeah I totally agree with you about getting outdoors more often. Last weekend I finally made it up to the trailhead near the lake and it was absolutely worth the drive. The weather was perfect not too hot and just a light breeze. We packed sandwiches and sat on the big rock at the summit for almost an hour just watching the clouds move across the valley. I forgot how good it feels to be away from notifications and screens for a while. The trail was a bit muddy in spots but nothing too bad. I saw a bunch of wildflowers I could not identify and a couple of deer near the creek on the way down. Definitely planning to go again next month maybe try a different route that goes around the ridge. A few friends might join next time so I will need to figure out carpooling. Anyway just wanted to share that it was a great reset for the week.

I finally finished that novel you recommended last month and I have to say the middle section really surprised me. At first I was not sure where the story was going but once the main character left the city and headed to the coast it really picked up. The descriptions of the little seaside town made me want to visit somewhere similar. I liked how the author wove in the backstory gradually instead of dumping everything at once. The ending was satisfying but also left a few things open which I usually prefer. I started another book by the same author yesterday and it is set in a completely different time period. The writing style feels familiar but the setting is fresh. I might finish it by the weekend if I get some reading time in the evenings. Thanks again for the suggestion it was exactly what I needed after that last heavy read.