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. 

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.