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.)

Since BB had to work part of the day Saturday, we didn't get to the park until just before sundown. It was a beautiful, if windy and chilly evening when we arrived. 

As shown in the video, our campsite was right on the shoreline of Belton Lake.  This is truly a great small park with wide, level and paved back-in trailer sites, plenty of trees for shade and squirrels, lots of birds, and nice restrooms.  The Corps is in the process of upgrading the park and adding additional restroom and shower facilities.


Live Oak Ridge Park - Site 5R



As noted, our site had a great view of the lake and a nice (although chilly) breeze.  The park has about 50 camper spots, each of which are great and more spacious, more private, and cheaper the KOA we previously visited. (And since I'm an official "Old Krock", I can get me an "America the Beautiful" Pass and save 1/2 or more on the regular price of a campground fee!) 

There's probably not a bad spot in the park, although when we go back, we will try for any of these campsites:  5R (where we stayed this time, 11, 15, 23, 29 and 27 (our favorite). 

This site, however, was NOT our favorite.  Sorry - no telephoto on the Iphone camera, but this was a gaggle (murder, covey, pod, clutch - whatever) of Buzzards!

Buzzards!



During the weekend, I got to wondering why there seems to be some sort of cosmic connection between camping and Wal Mart.  On our way up, we were forced to travel IH35 (something I try to avoid like the plague), but were able to tuck ourselves in behind and draft a Wal Mart 18-wheeler for a good portion of the trip.  Of course, while we were there, we discovered that we needed a few more items for the camper (chicken boullion powder, bug spray, wire brush, welcome mat . . .  you know, that kind of thing), so it's off to the Wal Mart - where else?  On our way back to Austin, we put ourselves in the "Rockin Chair" behind another Wal Mart 18-wheeler.  I felt like saying "10-4 Rubby Ducky, I'm in the Rocking Chair! Hammer Down Good Buddy!"

Another thing I found interesting on this trip was while surfing the TV channels - (we TV in the camper because we haven't had a TV in our home for several years now) - and found the "Pentagon Channel."  We watched with pleasure and a great deal of pride, several episodes of the great things that our fighting men and women are doing at Fort Hood, Iraq, Afganistan, and around the world! 

Belton, being so close to Fort Hood, which the largest land-area Army Post in the US, has a strong military influence and support for our military is everywhere.  Fort Hood is the post where both my Son Kelly Paul and I spent part of our time during our respective Army careers.  Coming from the uber-liberal enclave of Austin, this was a refreshing and enjoyable side benefit to the trip. 

Henri rates this park as "ROLL IN THE GRASS GOOD!"  BB and me rate this park as a 4!

We'll be back to this park soon, and look forward to exploring some of the other US Corps of Engineers parks on Belton Lake. 

Henri, however, is beginning to wonder about all this camping stuff.  You see his normal day is something like..."1) eat breakfast then go outside and bark at whatever moves; 2) take a nap in the green chair; 3) move into my office and take a nap in his office bed; 4) go back outside and bark at the neigbor cat; 5) come back in and take a nap on top of the couch; 6) sit in BB's or my lap in the evening while we're listening to music; and 7) go to bed. 

These camper weekends have completely removed all his favorite nap places and played havok with his schedule.  The picture below illustrates the typical position Henri takes just as soon as he gets back home.

Don't Bug Me!  I'm Dreaming about NOT Camping

Till next time!

Web Link to this Park: