One more reason to love RDB...

New campers come with new problems - like how I smacked my head on the drop down queen bed in the back of the trailer not once, but twice, on the trip to Mississippi.  Both times it was such a hard hit that I knocked myself silly and needed to lay down for a bit.  I may not be a natural blonde, but I am certainly a natural klutz, no doubt.  

Bad news - that's how you look when you're laying on the picnic table after the second time you've beamed your brain.  Good news - the view from there isn't half bad:

So, how does loving RDB even more play into this?  Well, notice the packing quilt pushed under my head in the photo:  In my hast to "lay down before you fall down," I just plunked myself down on the bare tabletop.  RDB came over and put the blanket under my head for cushion.  But to add to the hilarity, from that point forward, every time he lowered the bunk in the camper he'd "beep-beep-beep" out a warning and made sure that I was well aware of the 'low clearance' situation.  

It's when he does silly little things like that to keep me laughing, even when the pain of life sometimes makes me want to cry, that makes me love him that much more.

The best time to start thinking about your retirement is before the boss does.

Working this week sure felt like being retired - camping across the country, doing what I love (my job), and spending a lot of time with RDB.  I'm not sure how we got to be so blessed, but I'm sure thankful for it!

I was scheduled to do a set of meetings in Jackson, MS on a Tuesday this week, so RDB and I sent Diesel to daycare, packed up the camper, and took off across the southern states on Saturday. Being the first time we took the bike along, we spent the better part of Saturday morning ensuring that everything was tied down tight.  First night was planned for boondocking in Louisiana, and then on to LaFleur's Bluff State Park in Jackson, MS - about 40 minutes from my client - after that.  

The drive itself was uneventful, in a good way, until we stopped to fix a sandwich at a Wal-Mart just shy of our camping ground.  While we stood in the shade and munched on lunch, RDB noticed that it appeared the camper-top on the truck bed had shifted backwards.  On closer inspection, not only had the camper-top shifted, but it appeared that the entire bed of the truck had moved backwards due to the weight of the trailer we were hauling.  

So we made a detour into the nearest CAT scales (after a funny phone call trying to figure out if we could actually _use_ those scales) and determined that we were exceeding our maximum tongue weight by about 80lbs; adjustments would need to be made before we head home in a few days, but we were comfortable with traveling the last 40 minutes to the campsite.  

LaFleur's Bluff SP is situated right in the heart of Jackson, MS and so there is plenty to do out and about in town (like having lunch at The Pig & Pint or dinner at The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen - big thanks to WLTR for the dinner recommendation!).  The park also hosts a bevy of recreational activities - from the usual hiking and fishing, to the unique: golf course, disk golf, a huge playground, and two museums.

We had to drop the truck off at a local dealership for a fuel filter change (we were working out all the kinks around truck issues this trip, for sure) and so we spent the better part of the morning over at the MS Museum of Natural Science.  It was awesome that we had the bike with us (the whole reason for  a toy hauler) so that we had a set of wheels to head down to the museum - where I think I fell in love with the tiny alligators.

They're so cute... when they're little!

They had a Ripley's Believe it or Not exhibit scattered through out the museum as well.  That brought along a few interesting items to check out.

I found Nemo!

Yeah, Toast!

Can you imagine what he could have done with a computer?

My hubby's such a good sport... ;-)

Man made matchstick car and a car made into a man....

Since this was a work trip, we couldn't spend all day playing around.  RDB got the camper set up so that I could easily hook into the TV and use it as an extra monitor on my laptop.  I'm so glad that he knows the ins-and-outs of technology stuff!

After I got a bit of work done, we went out for a ride on the bike.  RDB had downloaded an app "Offbeat Attractions" (for iOS) that maps out random things like the World Largest Ball of Twine and the Sweet Potato Capital of the World.  We did a quick search and found the Birth Place of the Teddy Bear  was just a few miles up the road in Onward, MS.  You can follow our motorcycle adventures on Instagram: @twowheelthrills 

Work on Tuesday was both good, and bad.  Good: it was an easy day with only two meetings and both were well attended (over 200 people!).  Bad: these were all-hands meetings because the plant is closing by the end of December, and the first wave of about 65 people will work their last day this Friday. I know that the group was appreciative of the information I had to offer, and several sat with me individually to 'run the numbers,' but it's hard at times to reconcile the feelings of overwhelming blessing RDB and I have, when faced with the emotions of what others are challenged with.  I was grateful to come home and snuggle the Teddy Bear who hitch-hiked back to the campground with us.

We packed up Wednesday morning, taking care to adjust - and then readjust - where the bike was strapped in.  Another visit to the CAT scales confirmed that we were now under the limitations of our tongue weight and could travel along safely home.  It was a long haul and I'm forever grateful for my "Camping Chauffeur" who trucked us the whole way home so I could be well rested for work back in Houston the next day.  I had to keep reminding myself: "this is Wednesday night, not Sunday night."

I could get used to that. 

LeFleur's Bluff State Park, in Jackson, MS, allows for a site-specific reservation: we stayed in Site #2.  We were pleasantly surprised at how level the pad was from side-to-side (when you first look at it, there's a pretty steep grade back-to-font, but dropping the tongue solves that.)  The site is directly on the waterfront and made for wonderful bird watching over the lake.  Short walk to the bathhouse, decent showers and good water pressure.  There's a gate code for entry and they emailed that to us ahead of time in case we arrived late.  We also received a call from the office the day of our arrival checking in on us.  (A really nice touch!) 

For more camping photos, go here.

Boondocking Brief: Hunter's Camp, Kisatchie National Forest

Boondocking Brief

adjective: 1. of short duration

Hunter Camp Kisatchie National Forest
Closest town: Leesville, Louisiana
GPS: 31.008608, -93.107597

*It was completely empty when we were here in June.
*Verizon - cell service is hit or miss. more MISS than hit.
*The turn off from LA-10 is Tower Rd and it's _easily missed_ because of the treeline if you're heading eastbound.
*Has a vault toilet onsite, though we didn't utilize it.

*It was dark enough at night to see the Milky Way.

Boondocking 101

*Somebody strike up the banjos....*

...we're going boondocking.

When RDB first presented the idea of "free camping" in far-off-the-beaten-path, no-one is around, leave civilization behind boondocking, I can't say I was thrilled about the prospect.  I kinda like having a few people around, ya know, just in case the crazies come out.

What I didn't realize is this: the only crazies this far out are the ones you bring with you!!

Looking towards the Rubicon....

....and looking the other way.

We'll be venturing into this new style of camping for some of the longer trips out - when we don't want a definitive paid-for campsite, and are looking to use the Rubicon to it's fullest capacity: with the bike still stored, no check in, no gate code, no defined parking spot, could be a national forest like the one above, or it might be a Wal-mart parking lot.  RDB has been finding our spots using a free campsite website.

It's tight quarters in the new camper with the bike in tow, but for a short stop over - boondocking - like this, we can make it work.  We're able to get in, get to the fridge and kitchen, use the bathroom, and crawl (over each other) into bed.

Hello, Harley. <3

I did say "always looking for the next great adventure" when I first started this blog.... looks like RDB is going to make sure we put that to the test!  More to come - click on "boondocking" in the word map over on the right to see the places we've stayed.  It's always good to have you along!

Camping Cache - Huntsville State Park

Found:

Tribute to Courage

28th Anniversary

TxGCC13 Huntsville I

Y-Wolverines

But this guy found the TxGCC13 Huntsville  

one first, so needless to say, we left it alone!  

Happy Campers; Home Again.

We're back home: RDB is currently watching a YouTube video about CB radios, the rain is pitter-patting on the patio outside, and I'm enjoying a good buzz from our back-from-camping visit to Bearded Fox Brewing Co.  It's been one of those perfect weekends again. We're so glad to be back where it feels like home again; happy campers.  

We left out for Huntsville State Park Friday afternoon - we love this park because it's so close to home and that makes the maiden voyage of our new Rubicon "25 toy hauler such an easy event.  We did the same our first weekend with Honey, and we were in the same camping loop (Raven) but the site this time was incredibly shaded and comfortable. 

(BTW - I ought to introduce you to my Yelp reviews - we do a LOT of Yelping to find the best places to eat, hang out, have a beer, etc. If you're not using the app, you ought to be!)

Not a whole lot to do Friday - it's a new camper, and so we spent a fair bit of time getting accustomed to it - including setting up the TV to be able to catch a bit of the morning news on Saturday (rain, unfortunately, was in the forecast.  After Harvey last year, I've had a hard time sleeping when I know rain is coming.  Our house wasn't flooded, but the waters stopped one house behind us, one to the left and three to the right.  It was much too close for comfort.)  Kind of ironic that we bought a new camper the weekend that a tropical wave was heading into the gulf - several families here in our neighborhood lived in their campers after Harvey, while their homes were repaired.

My favorite part of the new camper - brought from our time in Honey - a picture from the day after we were married (also on a camping trip): 

Rich's favorite part of the new camper - the A/C:

We really love it.  It'll be a great RV for RDB, his Harley, and the upcoming trips he has planned.  Since he's taking a sabbatical, we'll likely use a number of the work travel trips that I'm on as potential camping trips (like MS next week) but he'll also travel out on his own as well. I'm so very excited about what the future holds for him!  I have a feeling it will include plenty of this:

We did break out the mini-size dominoes I've been carrying in the campers for what seems like forever.  It was fun to play a few rounds - not really keeping track of who was winning  (me) and who wasn't (Rich). :-)  

Best. Dominoes. EVER. No counting dots!

  

Sleeping in the new camper was a bit of a, well, change (read: challenge).  I had to remind myself - this is a _trailer_ meant to haul a bike, that also doubles as a camper. So the main feature is the ability to toy haul (and I know we'll be thrilled to have the Harley along with us while we're camping) but it won't be the honeymoon suite that our previous camper was.  That's okay - this is a new adventure, and it'll be worth a bit of snuggled-in-really-close-ok-actually-maybe-you-should-go-sleep-on-the-couch version of sleeping.  #worthit  Right? 

Toadie says "G'nite, y'all."

Oh - also - if you're hanging out at Huntsville SP and planning to travel into town for, well, anything - please take Highway 75 to go into town and the service road back down to the camp ground.  Construction right now is an absolutely MESS with closed exits and lots of back-ups.  I won't tell you that we drove off into the median at one point to avoid the traffic because it was so backed up....

Saturday morning we woke up and showered in the campground showers (still, the best showers in the park system - large enough for two people (not that we would know anything about that) and a separate dressing area all behind a locked door - very private). Then we took off for a few Geocaches. We did the Sam Houston Stature virtual Geocache Friday before dinner, but who's counting?

As I mentioned, rain was in the forecast for the weekend; however, it held off all the way until we needed to hitch up the trailer. Of course. See the red push-pin and the random itty-bitty rain cloud? Yeah, that was us about 1:30pm.  The heavens opened up on us and DOWN POURED for about 5 minutes, then stopped,  Rich was drenched.  I brought a rain jacket. ;-)

Looks like Oscar Mayer has the perfect bacon...

We were packed up and heading home about 2pm or so,  and as I mentioned, I wanted to hit a local spot.  Lately, we've been enjoying breweries on our trips cross country, so I Yelp'd for a local place and found the Bearded Fox.  We had never heard of the place before, yet on our way up we saw a car with their logo on the back window.  Circumstance? Fate? Ehn, whatever.  It was simply meant to be.

Much like us getting back into camping.  We're glad to be back, ya'll.  

We were in site #23 at Huntsville State Park, recommended by the park staff and we were glad for that.  It was mostly level and incredibly shaded - be aware though, that the sewer hook-up may be higher in elevation than your hose, which can make for a difficult wash out. We've stayed at Huntsville before: It's Nice Outside, and It's a Wonderful Life.  Still is - a wonderful life, that is.

For more camping photos, click here. 

Crossing the Rubicon

"Julius Caesar's crossing the Rubicon river was an event in 49 BC that precipitated the Roman Civil War.  He was explicitly ordered not to bring his army across the Rubicon river, which was at that time a northern boundary of Italy. Caesar brought the 13th legion across the river, which the Roman government considered insurrection, treason, and a declaration of war on the Roman Senate. This event ultimately led to Caesar's becoming dictator for life and the rise of the imperial era of Rome. ... Today, the phrase "crossing the Rubicon" is an idiom that means to pass a point of no return." 

- Wikipedia

To pass a point of no return.

A lot has happened in the three years since we last camped, and though these few paragraphs won't due it justice, it's worth finally getting it down on paper:

In the fall of 2015, we began the process to purchase the company where RDB had been working for the past several years.  This was actually one of the leading factors that moved us from Raleigh down to Texas in 2011; RDB's dream has always been to purchase an already established company and make it his own. As we prepared ourselves, and our finances, we made the decision to sell the truck and camper (both fully paid for, and discretionary toys) to add to the capital we had raised for the purchase of the company.  So, that's why you haven't seen us since October of 2015...

RDB and I both recall sitting at the company owner's kitchen table that fall, sharing a meal, and having him express to us that he was "ready - as soon as January (of 2016)"  Our dream of being business owners was going to become a reality. But we soon realized - and this is a heartbreaking thing - when someone tells you they're ready but they're not, it becomes natural for them to lead you on, and then eventually back away when they see how serious you are.  By the time we brought the owner to the table with the financing team from our bank, he began to backpedal.

Fast forward to March 2018: talks about buying the company have completely stalled.  Since RDB wasn't under a non-compete agreement with his employer, we believe that when the owner of the company realized he wasn't ready to sell the business, rather than being forthright about his intentions, and out of fear that RDB would leave and create his own company, he began playing games, saying one thing and doing another, became manipulative, and was no longer someone who RDB wanted to work with.

It was March 5th (the day after my birthday) that RDB had finally had enough of the game playing and resigned.

He crossed the Rubicon.

And here, on the other side of that river, the future is bright.  

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