A Hum-dinger of a Weekend

"The map is best read up-side-down, with your left thumb *right here,* and about the time you get to this part (circles road) you're gonna think 'this old man is playing tricks on me'..."  You know it's going to be a great adventure when the host checking you in starts off with the above directions to your site!

And what a site it was! We're camping with D&V at Hords Creek Lake Park this weekend, as they just got a Class C and have spent the last few weeks renovating the inside.  This park is only about an hour away from home for them, so if they have any mechanical issues, they're close enough to not be too worried.  Central-west Texas for us means that we've got a big drive on Sunday when we finally head home - but oh, boy, it'll be worth it! (And if you have to do physical therapy exercises, it's not a bad spot for that, either!)

Thursday evening RDB was able to get another sunset, right from the beach in front of our site.  I'm telling you - I know I've said this a hundred times, but - I really think we'll be back here again, maybe even for a long weekend trip this fall!

Friday day we spent most of the day just hanging around the campsite.  It was one of those perfect weather kind of days where you can just sit out in your camping chair and enjoy the cool breeze, and listen to the birds sing their happy songs.  Speaking of birds - I found a hummingbird nest! 

Ok, so it's not much to see, but these are little modern marvels! Not much larger than a ping-ping ball, the female hummer does all the work to put it together - using feathers and fibers, sticks and moss, and a surprising element to give it the stretch it'll need for 2-3 growing baby hummingbirds: spider web silk!  Such incredible little creatures! And what incredible camouflage! I was only able to realize it was there because the little Miss was flitting about and then sat right on top of it. 

D&V arrived later in the afternoon while we were making a Wal-mart run.  Note: this campground is one where you'll be really glad you're the daughter of an Eagle Scout who taught you to keep a map and atlas in the truck as there is _zero_ cell service out in this part of Texas; I had to use my map skills to get us over to Ballinger and back!  

Along the way, we stopped off for a quick walk around the Runnels County courthouse. They had a pathway filled with beautiful multi-colored iris in full bloom. Lots of mature trees around the square, making it difficult to get a good picture of the building, but the building didn't have the outstanding architecture that many of the other courthouses we've seen in our travels. 

V is the reason we have our Diesel: she has his older brother, Rev, from a littler two years before Diesel's and when RDB and I decided we wanted a pup she picked the biggest boy of the litter for us.  Rev stayed home this trip (he's an old boy now at 11 years and, much like Diesel, has GI issues that D&V didn't want christening their new camper!) 

Diesel as a 6 week old and Diesel as a 9 year old. Big Boy for sure!

Though Rev stayed home this trip, they brought their poodle, Obi.  We introduced the two dogs to much fanfare - Diesel is a spoiled only child and doesn't play so well with others (totally our bad - we could have socialized him more as a pup) but Obi might as well stand for "obedient" as he didn't mind at all.  

Saturday morning we woke to another crisp and beautiful day.  D&V and us went different directions - they had other friends here at the park and were heading out onto the lake to boat around for the day; RDB and I were heading over to the Lehnis Railroad Museum in Brownwood.  How I didn't know there was a mini-train and railroad museum the last time we were there, I have no idea.  I must have been a bit distracted! It's incredible to think that it's been nearly 8 years - and I'm still as in love with RDB, if not more, today than I was on that day. <3

It was such an incredible trip to the railroad museum, I'll have a whole other post about it!

Back at the campsite for the evening, RDB and I played a few rounds of corn hole (you can easily guess who won - I blame my recent shoulder disability) and enjoyed the view of the Lake. D&V and the crew motored by a few times back and forth on the water. 

It was another beautiful evening to be outside and enjoy the park. And I'd love to share RDB's new YouTube channel with you to see these beautiful sunrises and sunsets! You can find it, and subscribe, here.

Sunday morning always seems to come along too soon, and we were each getting ready to head back home.  We had a knock on our door about 11am, and it was  our neighbor, D&V's friend from Oklahoma, 'Nette the Vet stopping by, empty coffee cup in hand, to see if we had any of the glorious black morning drink - her coffee pot had breathed its last. (Don't we know how that feels?!) It's amazing what time spent over a cup of coffee can do: we share so many things in common with the Vet and we walked away with a new camping friend, and hopefully we'll see her again in our adventures!

One last surprise - I was outside with Diesel as we were finished up getting around to leave and heard the high-pitched squeak of a hummingbird.  I looked up to the hidden nest, and sure enough, managed to catch the little flyer bringing back a feather to adorn the nest.  So. Cool.

It was the perfect bow on top of a hum-dinger of a week away!

We were in site #07 at Hords Creek Lake Park.  It's a 30a/W (we thought we had booked 50a - and were grateful that the weather stayed somewhat nice as our AC struggled to keep it cool.)  Even with that small mishap, the entire weekend was wonderful- and we would come right back to this site again in the fall (in fact, I'll probably start looking at booking up our fall trips here in the next few weeks - Covid Campers have really made planning ahead a requirement this year). 

For more camping photos, go here.

Ooooooo-Oklahoma! ./` ./` ./`

"Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...."

After a few days at Lake Murray State Park, I _totally understand_ this lyric now! It was WINDY!!  As I'm typing, the wind gusts around us are 28-33 mph coming across the lake, west-north-west.  Know what, though, I don't mind too much - because the view from here is well... here, just look:

Beautiful, right?  Nothing like enjoying your morning coffee on the couch and having the entire lake as your backyard.

Ah, camping.  I love that we can visit incredible places like this! To be in the mountains, or the forest, or near the beach or a lake with every comfort of home.  It's quiet moments like yesterday (before this crazy wind) that make me feel so blessed.  

We came in Monday morning, though our reservation started Sunday evening - check in is 5pm (2:30 if you get approval from the office) so we stayed the extra time down at the KOA, knowing that we could come in any time on Monday and head right to our spot.  

We got settled in and RDB said: this would be a great place to enjoy a Miller Lite.  Well, I didn't have any (for shame!) so we ran out to the gas station up the road and grabbed a few 6 packs.  And he was right - hanging out, enjoying the afternoon sun, drinking a few cold beers was a perfect way to spend the evening.

Just. Perfect.  (As I cringe at the gust of wind rocking the camper back and forth right now.  Geesh, y'all, this isn't fun!).   We noticed a number of other campers along the shoreline sitting out and enjoying the afternoon; this campground is totally the place for big black dogs - we even saw another black and tan dobie (hi y'all!).  It's so sweet to see others with dobermans out in the parks as well. 

RDB has started up a YouTube channel of sunrises and sunsets on video, so we walked over to the point by the boat ramp and watched the sun dip below the tree line.

Tuesday morning, RDB was up before the sun, as Diesel and I slept in.  Once RDB got his footage, he came back and snuggled up in bed with us.  Sleeping in, for as long and as late as we like, might be one of our favorite things about vacationing this way.  I mentioned how we'd usually be cruising this week, and I can't tell you how many of the best naps I've had in my life were on vacation on cruise ships!

We took a late lunch/early dinner over at the Foggy Bottom Kitchen, part of the Lodge on site in the parks system. We tried hitting them up Monday afternoon only to find that they were closed on Mondays. It was worth the drive back over though - the deconstructed hamburger I had was delicious - check out my Yelp review for more details. 

Tuesday evening we were back on the water's edge, enjoying the "Geese Show."  It was interesting to watch the pairs vs the single - who then went and got her mate (we assume) who came back over to give the firs pair the 'what for.'  It was surprising to me that Diesel wasn't interested in them at all.

RDB set up the camera for another sunset shot, and we enjoyed watching the golden yellow ball slowly sink into the blue waters.  

*sigh*   I love this place.

Wednesday we cooked lunch - have you tried any of the home delivery kits? We're using Green Chef and I love that we get our delivery on Wednesday and I can bring the kits with us camping - everything we need is all ready to go. It makes cooking (and prepping) so much easier!  Lunch was Chicken and Creamy Zucchini Noodles.  Yummy!

We took a trip over to the Tucker Tower in another section of the park.  There is so much to do at this park - over 16,500 acres with the lake, hiking trails, more than 300 RV sites and unlimited tent/primitive camping. We made it over just about 20 minutes before access closed, but even though it was a quick visit up to the tower, it was still worth the drive!

Fitting that the sculpture outside was a giant egg (made with birds in flight). But the really cool thing was the tower itself.

Walking up the hill to the tower gives you great appreciation for the CCC who hauled all the rocks to built the place up the steep incline.

I was instantly enamored with the outside thanks to the guardian cast in stone up above the outdoor fireplace:

The views from ground floor were beautiful, and only become more amazing the further up the tower we went.

The first and second floors of the building act as a museum of sorts - with lots of information on the CCC and the New Deal (all round about the time this structure was built).  And, oddly enough, a large set of bones and as mastodon skull.

I fell in love with this staircase leading up to the second floor.  The place was built for the governor to have as a retreat, but was left unfinished when the cost went beyond the budget. 

With views like these, I would have moved in even without windows or doors!

A few more staircases, including this beautiful spiral one, and we were up at the top of the tower...

Lots of stairs - but it's worth it when you open the door to the top of the tower...

It was an incredible view! We were the last of the visitors up the tower; Sydney, the Ranger, met us as we were coming back in the building to make our way down the stairs.  I had a chance to chat with her and ask why the water is such an incredible shade of blue: no red clay! The rocks and sand that line the bottom of the lake are heavy enough that the water stays clear.  The colors have reminded me all week of the glacial waters in Alaska and the aqua blue waters of the Caribbean. 

Thursday morning we woke up to clear skies, very little wind (yeah!), and packed up to head to our next spot down in central Texas.  About a 4-5 hours drive, so no small feat, but I'm so glad that RDB is willing to do all the work necessary to get us from one amazing spot to another.

We were in site #55 in Elephant Rock campground at Lake Murray State Park.  The site backed right up to the waters edge, which made for the wonderful views above, but you are neck and neck with the neighbors, which is not as fun.  RDB had his eyes on site #68 (he thinks, he can't recall for sure) the next time we come up to this park - it was pull thru further down the loop with lots of privacy.  Truly, any of these sites along the water are worth it - it was just such an awesome trip!

For more camping photos, go here. 

Good News, Bad News

RDB and I are avid cruisers.  Usually for my birthday week, we hop on a Royal Caribbean ship for a 7-day cruise out of Galveston, but with the coronavirus pandemic, and the cruising industry being at a standstill, we took our normal "spring break" a little later in the month, and took off on a week long camping trip.

Darn. ;-)

We're taking the longer timeframe to head to a few places we've not been before - and will even be able to catch up with a few friends that are just getting into RV-camping as well. 

Our first leg north took us back to the DFW area - the Arlington KOA to be specific.  Though we don't think of KOAs as a "destination," we sure do appreciate how conveniently located they are to the things we want to do, and along the roads we travel to get to where we're going.  This KOA was seriously impressive with it's mature trees between sites, and amenities like the swimming pool, corn hole boards, horse shoes, and community fire pit.  We were in too late on Saturday night to get to enjoy the s'mores, but I was seriously considering walking over to the pancake breakfast Sunday morning.  

We spent the better part of Sunday afternoon at Dad and Bunny's - with Grandma G, too!  I had texted them Saturday afternoon on our way up, asking if they would be ok with us bringing over fried chicken for lunch (I know how to bribe - no cooking, no dishes? Instant yes!). It was SO GREAT to be able to see the three of them and, since they're all vaccinated now, to give them hugs for the first time in over a year.   

It was wonderful to be able to hug G-ma G and spend time chatting with her.  She and I have become pen-pals during this last year, I told her: RDB typically brings the mail in, and when her cards arrive, it's "Grandma Mail Day!" and we sit down and read her letters together.  RDB and I brought her an Easter "goodie bag" with few 6-packs of her favorite beer, a new puzzle, some chocolates and other fun things.  She returned back the basket we had left on her front door from last Thanksgiving, when we did the same.  I'll be honest, ya'll, I think her hug, 94 years young and all, was the most intense and strongest of them all.  I'm so blessed to have had her as a part of my life for so long, and so grateful that she lives right next door to Dad. 

All too soon, my phone was reminding me that I needed to take another dose of pain meds - which I had left back at the camper.  We said (hugged) our good byes and spent the rest of the evening back at the KOA.  We were glad to have been able to take Diesel over to Dad's with us, and grateful that the KOAs have fenced dog parks (Kamp K9) where he can have some off-leash time.  We liked the the Arlington KOA had a separated small-dog and large-dog park - though each time we went over it was just us and Diesel playing around.

So, tons of good news this weekend - from a week off work to camp and refresh, to seeing family, getting to hug my G-ma G, a great place to stay over the weekend and good times for Diesel dog.  But you might have noticed the line above about pain meds - and that's the bad news: we had to cut our last camping trip short by a day to get in for an MRI early Monday morning and the results are in: I have a torn rotator cuff and subsequently, since the muscles have atrophied, a winged scapula.  At this point, it's non-surgical (good news!) but it means I'll have to go thru physical therapy for about 6-8 weeks (bad news).  The pain meds definitely help make it bearable (good news!) but they have side effects of their own (bad news).  I had my first PT appointment Friday before we left and met Dale (hi, Dale!) who is also an avid RV'er (good news!) but happens to be retiring next week (bad news - for me at least: he was kind, knowledgable, and really put me at ease about my prognosis).  Thankfully, the exercises he assigned are all things I can easily do while we camp (good news!) but they tucker me out pretty quickly (bad news.)

One final good thing - Dale instructed me to ice my shoulder often (why hadn't I thought of this?!) and it really helps!  I was able to get an ice pack shoulder wrap off Amazon before this trip, and have worn it in the truck as we take off for the next spot; totally worth it!

We were in site #324 at the Arlington (Texas) KOA.  Pull thru site, relatively level, and full hook-ups.  We got a call from the front desk right at noon on our check out day (we were running a few minutes behind) and texts from them before we arrived at the park - lots of great communication, we appreciated that!  We were impressed by the mature trees, all the amenities, and the numerous cabins and tent camping areas.  It's a little oasis in the middle of the metroplex, and we could certainly see using it as a home base when we come back to visit family again.  And get more hugs. ;-)