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.

Easter Weekend at Magnolia Ridge

I can't say enough, how much I love to go camping.  And when it's with good friends, and great little kiddos - there's not much that gets better than that!

RDB and I left out Thursday evening after he got off work. We were excited not only for the long weekend and extra time camping, but also that we would introduce the crew to one of our favorite parks: Magnolia Ridge Dam.  We had been there for our first just-us trip last season, and really loved the spot - and it has the added benefits of being a Corp of Engineers park, so you can reserve specific sites before you get there.  That's nearly a must when you've got a big group camping together.  This weekend it was RDB & Me, The 5 J's, and R(m)B.

Yeah, that only took about 10 shots to finally get a good one!

 

We had a huge set of sites - right along the water's edge - which was perfect for all the activities we had planned.  (And the tent that R(m)B brought along - I mean, it was a *big* tent!)  RDB and I got to enjoy the quiet to ourselves Friday morning until The 5 J's rolled in - and then the party started!!

The 5 J's have one of the coolest campers on the planet - it's KJ's parents from when she was a kid - and wow, it's still in awesome condition considering all the places it's been to.  I'm pretty sure if there's an award out there for the "Most Retro Camper" they'd win - hands down!

 

RDB and I got to hang out with the girls while their parents took off for a Wal-Mart run (and took LJ with them, because: "You don't just unleash The Boy on people!")  We spent time doing crafts, playing with Diesel, and picking up pine cones and kindling to get a good fire started, and anxiously waiting for R(m)B to arrive.

 

We got a great fire going and enjoyed a quick dinner once R(m)B arrived.  I couldn't help but giggle at the setting up of the tent - I think just about everybody had a hand it in at one point:

Saturday morning the Easter Bunny (aka Martha Jo) arrived - we had mimosas and chocolate to enjoy for the adults.  Unfortunately, we also had a heavy dose of rain - so for the better part of an hour, we played and drew with chalk on the concrete under our campsite table (Thanks, Mom, for giving me the chalk - it was a lifesaver!!)

 

 

While we waited for the rain to dry, the kiddos (and Big Kids) went over to the Kid's Fishing Pond to toss a few lines in.  One thing that's neat about Magnolia Ridge is that they've created a fully stocked kid's fishing area (with some pretty strict kids-only fishing rules).  Too bad no one told the fish they were supposed to get themselves caught!  Regardless, it was nice to be out in the sun and enjoy the day.

 

 

In the afternoon, once the rain ground had dried, we did our traditional  egg hunt.  I think we had a few dozen (too many!) eggs for these four kiddos.  They had a blast trying to find them all!

 

 

We sure do love camping - both on our own, and with the crew.  You can always find a few moments of peace and quiet and fun.

We camped at Magnolia Ridge Dam Park in sites 31 and 32.  Not a lot of shade in site 32, but they're both within a short walk to the bathhouse and a leisurely long walk to the playground and Kid's Fishing Pond. RDB and I were scoping out site 27 as a potential single site for our next trip back there (because there will be a next trip!) and we know site 18 is a nice one as well - just a good bit more boat ramp traffic near it.  Woody and Jeni are the camp hosts, and they are the sweetest people you'll ever meet.

For more camping photos, go here.

Things That Go GRRRR in the Night



Magnolia Ridge Damn - 20ft from the lake... and the gators.

 Our first attempt at setting up at night on this one - we got to the Magnolia Ridge Damn about quarter to 10 - after the guard house had closed for the night.  The set up was really not that difficult thanks to our Coleman Quad Lantern. It was a life-saver on the last trip with the group, too, now that I think about it. 

We drove past the boat ramp to our site - suprized by the rather large owl that flew in from the lake and perched not but 15 ft from us.  We found our spot, and with it being so dark, we didn't realize how close we were to the water's edge.  In fact, I reserved this spot specifically for the on-the-water view.  But in the middle of the night, when you can't see anything but a few feet in front of you, and you hear:

GRRRRRRRRRRR-RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

coming from the water, you forget the 'beautiful view' and wish you were back in your very comfortable home with bricks and sticks around you. 

RDB knew what it was immediately - it's the mating bellow of an alligator.  Gee, Thanks, I feel so much better knowing that that sound has *teeth*.  I was much happier once we had the roof popped up and I could start setting up inside the camper.

The weekend weather was amazing, especially given the fact that we had a huge downpour through the week.  RDB and I got up early, enjoying our coffee outside.  We had a mom and two kids camping beside us this weekend - it was awesome to see the way they interacted, and that 'Mom' was doing this on her own.  She let us know there's a pick-your-own strawberry farm down 190 towards Woodville, though we were too happy in our chairs to want to go check it out. Maybe next time.



"Those people got it made."

The view was worth it.  We were a few spots down from the boat ramp - not close enough to be bothered by the noise, but we could watch the guys float and putter by on their bass boats.  The family in the site behind us caught a few rather large bass.  It was just a beautiful day for sitting back and relaxing, and watching the "Turtle Show."

This is site 18, at Magnolia Ridge.  It will probably be a repeat for RDB and me - its just the best spot for sitting back and enjoying nature (even if that means being awakened by bellowing alligators at 3am).  It's in the care of the Corp of Engineers - say "hi" to Woody when you check in.  He's a great, friendly host.  Firewood can be had (25 sticks for $10) right outside the park on 190 - look to the where they're building the Haunted Acres.

And, yes, there's a Wal*Mart about 20 minutes down the road in Jasper.  Only 2 trips this time.

For more camping photos, go here.