RDB's birthday weekend and it's Labor Day with a Monday off, so I took Friday as vacation and we headed out to Lake Somerville State Park, Nails Creek Unit to make a long weekend of it. Being in finance has it's benefits -market holidays- and having friends in finance is awesome, too. Those same holidays meant that R(m)B(r) could join us! (Notice the added (r)? They had an addition to the family since the last time we were all camping!) Just us adults for this trip though, as R kept saying: "Don't you threaten me with a good time!"
Nails Creek is set up to be an equestrian park, but with the flooding that took place back in 2015 they've shut down access for horses. The pens are still a part of the sites though, and though we didn't use them didn't mean they weren't getting used....
That little guy had zero fear of RDB and I (Diesel was napping in the camper, so, thankfully, they didn't have any interaction.)
Dinner the first night was "whatever you can find" since we got out of town before we had a chance to get any grocery shopping done. Thanks to the ingenuity of a previous Facebook post by my friend CS up in New York, we made Pop-Tart PB&Js. That's roughin' it, I know.
RDB and I have both been getting over a bit of a summer cold this week, so we really didn't have much by way of activities planned for the weekend. Lots of hanging around the campsite, some studying for me, and enjoying what were perhaps the most beautiful sunsets we've had the chance to enjoy while out in nature. It's been great to have the Kawasaki so that we can zip over to the better viewing points to enjoy those huge Texas skies.
R(m)B(r) were on their way over Friday night after dropping the kids off with family. RDB and I were able to get out and get the shopping we needed done. Unfortunately, along the way to the HEB in Brenham we managed to pick up a rock chip.... well, more like a boulder-chunk - it was larger than RBD's credit card!
It was SO NEAT to see R(m)B(r) show up with the pop-up we used to camp in! I love that we're in the new toy hauler (and that set up is sooo much easier) but we had lots of really great memories in that pop-up! They even taught us a new trick on the way to put out the awning that we had never figured out. We spent a few hours playing Mexican train dominoes in the camper before we called it a night.
Saturday afternoon we jumped in the truck and took a drive over to Round Top for a birthday treat at Royer's Pie Haven (we would have gone back to Blue Bell, but unfortunately, they're not open on the weekends. Bummer!)
It was a great choice though, since it was right back to the same little old-timey town square that R(m)B(r) had visited on their last no-kids vacation. The pies, by the way - were OUTSTANDING!
So outstanding, that you could just drink it up with a straw.... well, at least R thought so!
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| "Don't you threaten me with a good time!" |
We spent a little while walking around and enjoying the cute shops (some with waaaay overpriced but pretty pieces) and each picked up a bottle of delicious bloody Mary mix to enjoy back at the camper. The trip to find a liquor store was a bit of a misadventure, but when you're with friends, it's fun regardless!
Saturday night we fired up the grills - RDB and I had a HUGE steak to cook, and R(m)B(r) had a beautiful piece of salmon in a marinade so tasty that I should have written down the recipe! It was dark-thirty by the time the grilling was done. Darkness doesn't change taste, though - and that was a really enjoyable meal!
Sunday morning I had my nose so deep in the books that I hadn't realized it had been raining. R(m)B(r) shot us a text saying they were packing up with the short break in the radar and heading on home (a day early). I couldn't blame them - there was a storm approaching in the Gulf and it's just so much easier to pack up the pop-up when you're not in the middle of a downpour. So, we followed suite and packed up ourselves.
There are so many things that can keep you from camping - I need to study, we don't feel well, there's a storm coming, it might rain, we damaged our truck - but if you keep wasting time thinking about and focusing on all the things that could go wrong you miss out on all the amazing things that can go right - hanging out with dear friends, lots of laughter, traveling to cute little places, great food, and GLORIOUS sunsets.....
We camped at Lake Somerville State Park, Nails Creek Unit, sites #36 (us) and #34 (R(m)B(r)). Nice, large - both had pens for horses which increased the distance between each site, and we were at the head of the trail that led to the bathhouse. The above sunset pictures were from the boat ramp, which was the best spot to watch the sky turn such brilliant shades of pink and purple and blue. Just be aware of slithery 'friends' up that way since it's close to the water.
For just a few more camping photos, go here.
