Bastrop is Forever Changed

Our trailer, Mingo II, was put to good, if unexpected, use for the last week or so. 

My Big Brother BLEW UP the Barksdale Post Office

Well, not really, but for the two little ladies working in the post office, it must have seemed that way.

Postholes and Ice Cream:

It's interesting what triggers a memory or a comparison to times gone by. It happened, unbidden, to me today while I was of all things, digging a posthole.  (Now the more cynical of you might say that that was just an excuse to stop digging and go sit in the shade - but surely that couldn't be it?)

First Camping Trips are Usually . . . : 7/1-3/2011

My apologies for not posting anything lately.  BB, Henri and me (forget grammar - go for the catchy rhyme) found out that we are "cool weather" campers.  Danged ol' global warming (or is it called climate change today?) has dumped a whole lot of heat and dry on central Texas.

Camp Wood TX: 5-28-30, 2011

For this trip, BB, Henri and I travelled to Big Oak River Camp, on the Nueces River, near my hometown of Camp Wood, TX.

Oklahoma and East Texas: May 16-22, 2011

BB, Henri and I had a great week.  I worked with the Oklahoma DOT folks and photographed heavy equipment for some curriculum UT Arlington is developing for them.  Pneumatic tire rollers in Anadarko, Dozers in Ada, and Front End Loaders in Antlers; it just doesn't get much better than that! (Maybe if I do good, they'll let me come back and photograph things in towns that start with the letter 'B' next time.)

B'Day and Bastrop State Park: 5/5-8/11

Entrance

This trip,  BB, Henri and me loaded up our grandson Grant and made the quick trip from Austin to Bastrop State Park. 

Back to Belton Lake: 4/29 - 5/1/11

This trip, BB, Henri and I went back to Live Oak Ridge Park on Belton Lake.  The weather was great, but very windy on Friday.  Thank goodness it was blowing from the southeast and I was traveling northwest!  We might never had made it otherwise.

#27, Live Oak Ridge Park

I'll Protect You!

Back Yard Bug Chasing!

Henri demonstrates the fine art of backyard bug chasing!



He's great at chasing; just not so good at catching. 

History Galore! Goliad April 15-17, 2011

For this trip, BB, henri and I were joined by two of our Grandchildren, Lydia and Grant, on a trip to Goliad State Park.  We all wished our Grandson Devon could have joined us, but it was a little far to swing by Coos Bay Oregon to pick him up; besides, he was busy winning soccer games in Eugene!  Way to go Devon!

Grant & Lydia on Best Behavior!

West Texas: Work, Art and Bluegrass - April 4-10, 2011

I spent a very enjoyable week in San Angelo working with the San Angelo, Odessa and Abilene TxDOT personnel.  West Texas feels like 'home' to me and this trip was was no dissapointment.  I combined some work with pleasure as I stayed at a nice private RV park on Lake Nasworthy, a very well-maintained lake owned and maintained by the City of San Angelo. 

Lake Nasworthy Sunset

Of Birds and BarBQue!

I know it wasn't a full moon this weekend because the "super perigee" full moon was last weekend, but something was just a tiny bit askew last Friday and then on through the part of the weekend.

The Joys of Home Ownership,Berry Springs Preserve, the Moon and other musings!

Today, I feel a little like the Godfather felt when he said "Look what they've done to my..." (HOUSE, in my case). 

Belton Lake Westcliff Park: 3/11-14/11

For this trip to Belton Lake, we camped on the West side of the lake, at another fine Corps of Engineers facility.

View from Swimming Beach toward Westcliff Park



Belton Lake: March 5-6, 2011

This weekend, we took a short drive north from Austin to Belton Lake, a Corps of Engineers facility located in, ...wait for it..., Belton, TX. Our reservations were in the Live Oak Ridge Park which is immediately adjacent to Belton Lake Dam.  (Map of the Park.)

Our Rating System!

There are three kinds of people in the world; those who know math, and those who don't. 

Regardless of which group you find yourself in, I will try to include some highly scientific and  unbelievably complex mathematical ratings of the campgrounds we've visited.  For a frame of reference, we will normally use two series of ratings:

Fredericksburg KOA

Well, the maiden voyage in the trailer turned out OK, but with a fairly high initial stress level.

Good Grief!

File this under "things they don't tell you when you buy an RV." 

Since the RV show, we have been hitting the stores buying stuff for the new trailer.  It's just like outfitting a new home only things are a lot more expensive now than when we set up our 1st home.

A New RV!

Well, after much discussion, research, dreaming and dithering, we finally bought an RV!  (You should always be careful about going to an RV show.)  Initially, we were leaning toward a 5th Wheel rig which, due to it's size and weight, would require the purchase of a new super-duty tow vehicle as well.  Quite an investment considering neither BB or I can guarantee that we will love the RV lifestyle, or that we will use the RV on a regular basis.