Misery Sickness and A Crappy New Year

 

So, yeah, the title should tell you a LOT about how our Christmas trip to visit family started out, with misery, sickness, and a really craptastic new year. (Although, as I type this, it's Christmas Day, so maybe things _will_ be different by next week.... but I kinda doubt it!)

(and as I type this, in mid February, I can tell you, nope.  It didn't get much better.) 

And you might be wondering what's up with the cat up there?  Well, that's Tali, our last pet and geriatric critter.  We decided to bring her along with us since we were going to be gone from home for another long stretch and it just doesn't feel great to leave her at the kennel for so long.  I wrote a post about Cat Camping and all the preparations we made here. 

........and that's all she wrote, folks.  Well, that's all I wrote during that ill-fated trip, that is.  RDB and I joked at one point, tallying up how many strikes the Universe had against us (Frozen sewer connections, sick cat, the coldest temps we've ever camped in, both of us getting Covid, having to make a decision about taking the severance since my job was eliminated, family drama... and it was only the middle of the trip!) and, as you can see, writing here in mid-Feb, I just didn't have the energy or the heart to get back here and blog about it all.

So, this will be a picture dump of the GOOD times we had. And some of the things that WERE worth remembering.  

E-sports Virtual Reality Arena  

We were at Cedar Hill State Park, Lakeview Site #187, full hook-ups. The entire loop you'll find people parking their cars on the grass, and in some places along the sides of the roads.  It's not great, but its necessary, unfortunately, as the sites are just a smidge too short.   A GINORMOUS thank you to RDB for getting us up there, four days into what we didn't know was Covid, and right before four days of sub-freezing temps while I battled Covid.  (We made it thru three years of a pandemic without ever contracting it, and this week, of all weeks, we got it. UGH.)  We definitely learned some things about being stuck in a camper with each other, miserably sick, in freezing cold weather, for hours on end and I learned just how much my hubby truly loves me and is willing to do to take me camping (happy wife, happy life.... and camping makes me happy.)

./` On the Road Again... ./`

Continuing on the 2022 Texas Miata Challenge with a trip up to north Texas to get the remaining four courthouses we need.  Great news is that we were already planning a trip up to Dallas to visit with family and celebrate my Grandma G's 95th birthday.

I'm so thankful that RDB will drive me all over creation for various reasons - and even drives while I work in the car (yeah, virtual job!) so that we could actually surprise Grandma on her birthday last week. Two trips to Dallas in two weeks would be crazy for some, but not for RDB and me. 

We had a great lunch with She-B at Stirr in Addison on Sunday, before catching the last of the courthouses and heading home. 

On the road again..... 

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Stop #7: Ellis County Courthouse - Waxahachie

Stop #8: Dallas County Courthouse - Dallas

Oh boy, do we have a number of camping trips in Dallas County, and all of them at Cedar Hill State Park!  This state park is a favorite of ours when we come to visit family while we camp, so we've been here in a few different campers, too. Turkey Trip #5: Into the Holiday Spirit, Fine Art, Family, Food, and Friends, Thanksgiving Part 1 and Part 2, and Wow, What a Weekend!

Stop #9: Tarrant County Courthouse - Ft Worth

We've stopped off at the Arlington KOA over Easter holiday last year at the beginning of a longer trip. And the Vineyards Cabins and Campgrounds in Grapevine is another favorite place to stay when we're up visiting family. 

Stop #10: Denton County Courthouse - Denton

Way north in Denton county is Lake Ray Roberts, and two units of the state park are there.  We've stayed at both, and both times I only did photo posts! Traveling for the Turkey Part 3, and Family, Friends, Fotos.

Family, Friends, Fotos

A weekend in pictures, worth a few thousand words......

We were at Lake Ray Roberts State Park Idle de Bois Unit, Site #78. It was a cold weekend, but a beautiful time with friends and family. We enjoyed a great lunch out at a local Mexican food place on Monday before we headed back home.  Mom and G stayed at the LoneStar Lodge at the State park - room #120 had incredible views of the gazebo and lake, and was close to the main lodge lobby.  Mom said she'd gladly come back and stay again - we may have found a way to have others camp with us!

For more camping photos, go here.

for a park drive thru video, go here.