Auld Lang Syne

Thursday, New Year's Eve, we made the move from Jordan Lake to Falls Lake.  With a run to WalMart to restock and the new site a fair bit further away from family (down some windy twisty back roads), there really wasn't much else we did that day except to head over to A&R's to smoke out steaks and enjoy a quiet NYE with them.

New Year's day, back at the new camp site, RDB and I started the year of right with a few mimosas.

Diesel, being too young to drink, spent the morning sleeping in and goofing off.

We had hoped to see RDB's lil sis and her family during our week in Raleigh, but it didn't work out.  We stayed at the campsite Friday day hoping for one last try, but it just wasn't meant to be.  

Thankfully, there were others who made the effort to come see us on our last day, including MS, one of RDB's long time friends, SPNC drove up after work, and A&R came back once more.  

RDB grilled out hamburgers...

MS had brought a few nice cigars...

SPNC got to play with Diesel for a bit...

And A and I got to enjoy time chatting about life and family, frustrations and gratefulness. 

I'm certainly grateful to have such a loving family in my life. And RDB's tea the next morning just confirmed even more-so what I already knew: 

Saturday morning we packed up from Raleigh and hit the long road back home.  We're taking a much slower pace, and a southern route, and I'm so looking forward to these next campsites and the adventures they will bring.

We were at Falls Lake Recreation Area, Rolling View loop, Site #25.  30amp and water - which they DO keep on during the winter months. The picnic table and fire ring are down a set of steps on a lower level of the site, and as you keep going down you'll be right on the water's edge.  Plenty of room side to side to be able to park the trailer and truck next to each other. Very wooded - I'd imagine during the spring and summer months you probably can't even see the water, and in the fall, perhaps the leaves changing colors would be magical.  It was a nice site, but we likely wouldn't come back to this one - simply because of the driving distance from north Raleigh down to Garner where the family is. 

For more camping pictures, go here. 

And for a quick primer on Auld Lang Syne, go here. 

A Slice of Paradise

Monday evening, after we set up the camper, we drove over to RDB's parents to have dinner (RDB was craving Smithfield BBQ, so we checked that off the must-do list).  It was great to see them and spend a bit of time with R Sr before he was scheduled to head into work (night shift). JN and BNDN live just a few houses up the street, so they and the kids came down to see us (and Diesel) before we headed back to the campsite.  NC is under a state-wide curfew (10pm) as a way to combat coronavirus, and we wanted to respect that, so we made sure to get back before then.

Tuesday morning I got the blog caught up on our cross country chaos (the view above was my "desk" that morning- my goodness, I could work from this place forever!) RDB took a shower over in the bathhouse (we're conserving water in the camper since we don't have hook ups). He came back over and showed me the set up - no adjustments for hot and cold, and no knob to keep the water turned on. Come to find out, it's like the sinks in public bathrooms that are motion activated - he had to keep dancing in the shower to keep the water running!

JN and the kids came over to the campground after lunch and we did some geocaching.  It was great to introduce them to the sport and to get out and enjoy a bit of the woods around the park.

We took dinner over to A&R's - including my favorite no bake pumpkin cream pie - and then brought the kids back over to stay the night in the camper with us. C cracked me up with his comment on the way back: "I wanted to see if I can handle the intensity of camping."  Oh, bud, there's nothing intense about "glamping" with us! 

I mean, when you get to sleep inside four walls on the Lazy-Boy residential pull out sofa sleeper, I'm pretty sure you're way past roughin' it!

Wednesday morning RDB's long time friend Cupcake came over. (So, obviously his name isn't Cupcake, but RDB has two friends here in NC with the same first name, and since this one's wife has a cupcake business, well, that's my nickname for him!) He brought his fishing gear and RDB got a fire going (it was back into the 20*s again last night).  The kids did a little fishing, more exploring, and we all just enjoying being out here in this great campsite.

It was really great to see Cupcake and hear all the laughter between RDB and him; we were so grateful that he made the effort to come over to see us on this trip - good friends are hard to come by!

Ok, so maybe I call him Cupcake for a few reasons.... ;-)

We loaded the kids into the truck and took off down south to go visit Spuds.  We couldn't stay for long (he was still at work) but it was worth it to get the few moments with him and for the kids to see their big brother.  We're hoping he gets a bit of time off work New Years and we'll get to spend more than just a moment with him.  The B men can really grow that facial hair!

We rounded off the evening back at the camper with A&R and the kids in tow.  Since they live just a few houses down, the kids will ride back with their grandparents this evening.  In the meantime, we're enjoying a couple glasses of wine (the adults) while they (the kids) are playing our Nintendo switch.  

Today is Wednesday (I have to keep reminding myself) and we're about half way thru our time here in Raleigh.  Tomorrow we switch campgrounds, need to do a Walmart run to restock, and then plan to spend New Year's Eve down at A&Rs smoking steaks and welcoming in another year.

We were at Jordan Lake Rec Area, Poplar Point in site C37. WE WILL BE BACK. It was such an incredible location with the view of the lake and the length of the site.  50/30amp and water, but know that in the winter months the camping loops do not have water at the sites though you can get your tanks filled again with potable water at the bathhouse and dump stations. Internet here was fast enough that I could blog and upload pictures without much issue.  We loved this spot, and kinda wish we were here for the whole week!

For more camping pictures, go here.