hi, kashu.

the itinerary

One waterfall, one lunch, one drink, and absolutely no productivity.

we have both worked hard enough for one week. this is the reward.

your pick Saturday, Sept 12 or Sunday, Sept 13

Red covered bridge on the road into McConnells Mill State Park — the road in. yes, through an actual covered bridge.

stop one

morning · your driveway

The Drive

about 1 hour · north of Pittsburgh

You are, and I cannot stress this enough, the passenger princess. You will not touch a steering wheel, a map, a parking meter, or a gas pump. You will never be asked "which exit?"

The aux is yours. Entirely. Full dictatorship. Play whatever you want, the sad ones, the embarrassing ones, the same song four times in a row. I will not skip a single track. I reserve only the right to sulk quietly at a red light.

Hell's Hollow Falls, McConnells Mill State Park — Hell's Hollow Falls. the actual payoff.

stop two

late morning · McConnells Mill State Park

Hell's Hollow Trail

about 0.5 mi · flat · genuinely easy

Terrifying name, completely harmless trail. It runs about half a mile, flat the whole way, packed dirt and a boardwalk, the kind of walk you can do in whatever shoes you already own.

It ends at a waterfall tucked into a mossy limestone hollow with an old lime kiln beside it. That is the whole hike. Maximum reward, almost no effort, which is my favorite ratio in life.

Slippery Rock Creek running through the gorge — Slippery Rock Creek, for the obligatory photos of you

also

midday · the gorge

Boulders & the Old Mill

optional · unhurried

If we have the time, the gorge below is all giant boulders and fast water, with a 19th‑century grist mill and that red covered bridge sitting right on the creek.

I will take an unreasonable number of photos of you here. This is non‑negotiable and has already been factored into the schedule.

The covered bridge over Slippery Rock Creek in afternoon sunlight — somewhere with chairs, finally

stop four

afternoon · on the way back

Lunch

sitting down · unhurried

We come off the trail and we go eat. Somewhere warm, somewhere you can sit for a while, somewhere with food worth the half mile we just heroically walked.

No rushing to the next thing. The afternoon has nothing else in it, which is the entire point.

Pittsburgh skyline at night — Pittsburgh, once the sun is done

last stop

evening · Pittsburgh

A Drink, Then Dinner

a bar, then a proper restaurant

We end in the city. A drink first, somewhere with low light and no hurry, and then dinner at a proper restaurant.

There is no plan for what time we leave. That is on purpose too.

hi,Kashu.

will you go on a date with me?