Two months later, Gisela invited Nadim to join her for a camping trip in Point Reyes with a large group of friends. She had reserved a campsite that could accommodate 12 at Wildcat Campground, located at the end of a seven-mile trail along the rugged Pacific Coast. Within a week of the planned trip, however, all of Gisela’s friends had dropped out for various reasons. When Gisela told Nadim she was inclined to call off the camping expedition, Nadim insisted they still go. What Gisela perceived as “flaky” behavior by her friends, Nadim perceived as a rather auspicious sign from the universe. He could not pass up the opportunity to get his new crush to himself for a weekend of adventure. Gisela encouraged Nadim to invite his friends. A few days later Nadim said none of them could make it, but the truth is he never asked any of his friends to join.

The camping trip — highlighted by a cold plunge into Bass Lake, an impromptu game of beachside baseball using driftwood and pebbles, various wildlife sightings, and a visit to Alamere Falls — solidified and deepened the bond between Gisela and Nadim. It was the first of many memorable adventures together. A little over two years later, Nadim got on one knee and proposed to Gisela at the site of their first camping trip.