With a bit of time before the evening's festivities, Laura, Mark, and I decided to take a short hike through Muir Woods, which was only about a half hour drive from the house. (There's a great trail map that shows the wiggly road from Stinson.) Home of giant redwoods and some great trails, Muir Woods is part of the US National Park system, and a lovely place to spend an afternoon. We chose the Ocean View  Trail, which technically did provide a view of the Pacific Ocean at one point but was mostly a nice walk in the trees. Very peaceful! And along another trail there was a huge cluster of ladybugs, which was an extra little bizarro-bonus.

We got back to the house in time to shower and head over to what was billed as the rehearsal "picnic." Right. Shoulda known, Aunt Carol and Uncle Frank never do anything halfway. This was the swankest picnic I've ever been to! But we managed to bring it down a couple notches by being the loudest table at the party. And I'm pretty sure Mark & Dey's rendition of Motley Crue's "Home Sweet Home" on the grand piano was unlike anything Stinson Beach had ever seen. Party on!