All the Riches All Around You

Sometimes, I struggle with the effort it takes to GO camping.  The planning and preparation, the long drives, setting up and breaking down, the unknown challenges along the way....  but every time I look out the window or read back thru the pages of this blog, I'm reminded about how much it's all worth it: to be able to enjoy this incredible planet we inhabit, to be amongst nature and friends and with RDB, to have the ability to travel and relax and really take a moment to just be.

I was struggling this week with keeping our planned camping trip.  I gave huge efforts and energy into two days of spring VECCON at work after RDB and I had trauma-filled start to the week. I had a steroid shot in my shoulder on Monday, and though the procedure itself went fine, the recovery did not: the nurse gave me fentanyl for pain and my breathing tanked from a regular 12-13 breaths per minute down to just 3 breaths per minute.  The nurses had to keep reminding me to BREATHE.  The more I think back on it, the scarier I realize that was.  Add to that, Tali spent the night at the ER vet with the same symptoms that Toby was exhibiting the evening before he died.  She and I are both ok now, but it was a long, emotional week for all of us. 

We had plans to go to Abilene State Park with D&V for the weekend, and by midweek I was wavering back and forth about going.  Friday morning we decided, yes, we'll go, but we'll add in a stop-over about halfway at a KOA Friday night so that we don't have to drive the full 5 and a half hours after work.

It worked out rather well - RDB got us into the Leander/NW Austin KOA Friday evening around dark; we didn't even unhook since we knew we'd be up and out again to finish the road trip over to Abilene to meet up with D&V.  He was so worn out by the drive that I volunteered to hook-up our hook-ups (for the first time, ever! And y'all? It's not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be!) We ventured over to the Cracker Barrel for lunch on the way out - and with a wait of over an hour, we made good use of our parking spot and our fold-out camping chairs!

We were listening to "How to Own your Own Mind" on Audible along the scenic drive.  The first chapter is a conversation with the author and Andrew Carnegie about the mentality of creative imagination.  I was struck by Carnegie's comments about wealth: he didn't see his riches as the monetary gains he had achieved in life, but in the wisdom he was imparting thru the course of this book.  RDB and I both were grateful for men like him who made it a point to see the value in people vs things, and, much like Rockefeller, had a vision to invest for the future.

We made it into Abilene around 5pm, with D&V waving to us as we drove past and into our spot.  We got settled in and walked back over to their site to hang out for the evening.  RDB and I made the decision to leave Diesel at daycare so we could have a restful "vacation" of a trip, but D&V had brought Obi and Revan with them. Rev is Diesel's blood brother from a litter about two years before Diesel's  - so he's an old man of 11+ years at this point.

As the evening wore on, they brought out the SkipBo cards and taught RDB and I how to play.  Y'all - D is _super_ competitive! There were a few times that evening where she just about trounced all of us for making moves that benefited the next person in line, or didn't work in our own best interest.  

It was great to see her smile and laughing; about a month ago D&V lost their young adult daughter, Corbin, to suicide.  We've been heartbroken for them and knew this trip would be healthy and good.  It was sweet to have the chance to talk with both D and V Sunday morning about Corbin, her love for the lotus flower and her narwhal tattoo.  Though we never had a chance to meet her, I could see the love and light that she shined through the memories of her mom. 

Sunday morning we all lazily got up and around. D&V packed up and took their rig back home (only 30-ish minutes away - how nice!) and RDB and I spent the better part of the afternoon exploring the park.  Several camping loops and the nearby Lake Abilene make this park a perfect getaway. You can even rent your own yurt!

The CCC built several structures in the park back in the mid 1930s which still remain today, including a full sized swimming pool and a stone water tower; the nearby plaques state that the swimming hall was built first, and due to a slight miscalculation, there wasn't enough water pressure to flush the toilets so they had to build a water tower.  

Rather than just adding an unsightly metal tank to the top of the building, the CCC built a separate tower nearby. Though it isn't used to hold water today, it still stands as a reminder of what communities can do when they are focused around a central cause. 

RDB and I did a bit of geocaching as well - including our first night cache! It was really a neat add-on to an evening owl prowl.

We drove in to Abilene and enjoyed a nice dinner with D&V and several friends at Lytle Land & Cattle Sunday night.  Though it was a bit of a wait for the large group, the service was excellent and the food was delish!  We were treated to a beautiful sunset as we said our goodbyes and headed back to the campground.

The incredible colors in the sunset were such a joy to watch, as it changed from flaming oranges to dark navy.  Everything this trip just felt so vibrant in color.

From the shades of green in the trees that lined the park roads...

...to the yellow cactus flowers along the drive...

...to the red of the clay-filled water in Lake Abilene...

...to the purple of small wild flowers....

...to the pink of the sandstones in the CCC buildings...

...to the white puffy clouds and the bright blue sky.

Monday morning we woke to a significant rainstorm, but RDB and I didn't let that dampen our plans.  (We just slept in anyway... like we always do!) We took a short trip into Buffalo Gap to refuel the truck and have looong lunch at The Gap Cafe before coming back to pack up and start the long trip home to Houston.  

There was so much about this trip that was genuine and sweet.  I couldn't help but feel so connected to nature and the beauty that is all around us, shared with dear friends.  Truly, to me, those are the riches of our life. 

Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sun sweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

We were in site #59 inBushy Trail loop at Abilene State Park, 50a/W.  Lovely amount of shade over top the camper, a rig any taller than ours might have trouble with the big trees and branches, but it was perfect for us.  Situated in the back of the loop, there was little to no traffic around our site for the majority of our stay.  Even with the massive amount of rain on Monday morning, the site stayed relatively dry - the red clay dirt drains well so there's not a tone of mud around. We look forward to coming back again to hang out with D&V and have a bit more time to explore Abilene. 

For more camping pictures, go here.