I used to go with an old girlfriend a lot. The first few trips were easy summer trips consisting of 2-3 couples. (Couples trips are really very nice.) I'd always scout any new routes in spring and I was always amazed how much easier the same routes in summer were.

One trip that was just the two of us I'll never forget. It was a long rainy, windy day and we couldn't find someone's favorite campsite and were forced to stop looking due to worse weather. After finding a site and putting up the tarp, I found her weeping, essentially blithering while sitting in the middle of the tent with everything in one big heap around her because there was some water in a corner. (I sopped it up with a handkerchief...) After a candy bar and a hot cup a soup all was fine. We did a few more trips together after that. Paddling together is much easier than living together.

My wife used to do one trip with me every year but she's only good for about 8 days before she misses her family. I can accept that, she makes 'em worth it. She's not gone since our daughter was born though so I really miss my trips with her.