First, I think we must set the record straight. Prior to Katharine and I departing for what would turn out to be our engagement trip, we had been dating for five and half years. During that time we had so many amazing experiences together that I knew I needed to make the engagement memorable.
For nearly six months, I planned a ten-day trip in a vacuum with virtually no input from Katharine. A few well-phrased questions for Katharine were all I needed to hone the plans for the trip.
On a damp January evening, I picked Katharine up from her office to begin our journey. At this point she had received 7 clues, which only told her what climate she was to prepare for and what to pack along with a few dead-end clues to through her off my trail. Beyond those few details, she left New York City unaware of what was planned.
Over the next 10 days we would explore southern Florida, with our final destination being Key West. A reservation error and subsequent rental car upgrade added a new character to the trip, a bright yellow Camaro, which very much resembled Bumblebee from the Transformers films. Katharine, Bumblebee and I traveled south from Fort Lauderdale exploring the coast, the everglades and the Florida Keys as we approached Key West in preparation for the surprise trip to Dry Tortugas National Park.
Dry Tortugas National Park is an island more than a two hour ferry ride west of Key West into the Gulf of Mexico. Most known as the prison that housed Dr. Samuel Mudd after the assassination of President Lincoln, Dry Tortugas National Park is home to civil war brick structure, Fort Jefferson. The location was perfect as it provided a beach, potential for an incredible sunset, privacy, and the ability to return the same spot in the future, all of which were the requirements for the proposal.
It is important to mention that Katharine and I have enjoyed camping a few times over the years, but the remote location and limited transportation options make traditional camping more complicated. To camp on the island, you need to have enough water for each person per night and you can only cook with charcoal or Sterno. Try boiling water with a steady ocean breeze with Sterno!
After a ferry ride, snorkeling, exploring the fort and lying on the white sand beach, we sat down to make dinner. A meal of backpacking fajitas and boxed wine with a sunset view at water’s edge was the result of calculated planning. According to Katharine, she had no idea when or if I was going to propose until I setup the camera. The rest is history, and after five and half years of our shared journey, Katharine accepted my marriage proposal.
