Camping, the results.

This picture was on Day 1. Still smiling. After a very quick and uneventful drive to Lake Texoma, we found our campsite - close to the restrooms, close to the playground, close to the neighbors. Seriously, lots and lots of neighbors. It was a DFW Refugee camp.

Without a boat, and not intending to spend $150 for a two-hour rental, we decided to make do and have fun in other ways. And I am proud to say, we did it. Geocaching (4 sites!), hiking, fishing (for about 10 minutes), making friends at the playground, skipping rocks in the lake and evading giant spiders took up the majority of our time. Cooking - lots of Dutch Oven usage - took up the other time. What didn't take up too much time: sleeping. Four people in a four-person tent is a little squeeze, but cozy. Things we could control were great. Barking dogs, car alarms and slamming car doors in the middle of the night, not so much. After getting into the tent at 9:45, and being rudely awakened almost every hour by the other refugees, the call of nature came early. It was pitch dark and (finally) quiet when the kids decided they'd had enough tent imprisonment. The day started around 5am. Interestingly enough, days seem to last forever when you start that early. Revenge is sweet, because our kids have never been described as "quiet." Take that, Dog.

Somewhere around mid-day, the idea was broached (I'll never tell by whom) that we shouldn't spend another night in the tent. After all, a selling point of this location is its close proximity to home. After toying with the idea all day, and the looming probability of more tent-dwelling, this time starting at 7:45 instead of 9:45 (the kids were wrecked after a full day), we told them that at night-fall, we'd depart. It's very telling how readily they accepted that proposal. Apparently the night really had been that bad. By the time we'd packed up the entire campsite it was full dark - around 8:30pm - and the kids were both whining, almost sobbing - "hurry up! I'm ready to get in the car and go to sleep!"

The neighbors may have thought we were crazy. We think we were pretty smart. After all, there's no place like home - and a bed that doesn't deflate around 4am.

Camping

Camping. Most people shudder when you say that word. Everyone I know, actually, except two people. My husband, and my son. They love it. Their "Campfire" scent is my Chanel.

I embrace Camping. It will not beat me, I will prevail. AND ENJOY. It's been suggested that my naivete contributes to the optimism. If so, it's ok. Ignorance is bliss, and anticipation.

Thanks to Walmart, I will cover the germy outdoor picnic table. The dutch oven liners - I applaud your innovation. I will use you, and no lurking bacteria (from the cast iron one must never use soap on) will touch this family. Marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers? Best. food. ever. What's not to like?

Fishing? As long as I don't catch anything that has to be removed from the hook. No worries there. Sleeping? Eight years without has prepared me for the worst. Bathrooms up the hill? The extra walk will burn off those marshmallows.

No problem!! (fingers crossed!)

West Texas Weekend: Lajitas Resort

Look at this great place I found. Well, found in cyberspace, that is. But I plan to go as soon as we are able. The 8 hr drive from Dallas doesn't seem so bad when you factor in the cost, beauty and remoteness of this little gem. Of course, for a weekend getaway, flying is probably preferable. But I'm putting this on the calendar for next Spring Break and taking the whole crew. Imagine how pretty the weather will be in March!

Lajitas Resort, between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, along the Rio Grande. (Close to Marfa, Texas, another place I've been dying to visit. But that's another blog.)

Behold.

Lobby Casita - sleeps 6

One of the many guestroom types

where I would park myself while Marshall

took the kids horseback riding

Spa Golf

La ed on FM 170 between the Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch

Park Pictures

We had a blast at the park with John, Paula and Autumn.  It's Martin Dies, Jr. State park, between Jasper and Woodville, and it's really beautiful.  

We went fishing (Gabe and Paula rode their bikes to the fishing pier.  Brave girl, Paula!) and hiking.  We saw alligators in the water and some beautiful birds.  (water fowl is the correct term, I believe.)  The only thing I hooked fishing was my head.  Indeed, casting proves to be trickier than one would think.  So far I have not developed the brain fever that I was sure would occur from the  bacteria-laden, lake water coated, fish-hook that I speared in the back of my scalp.  I guess Marshall and John were right when they said "Nah" in response to my question "should I put some antibacterial ointment on this?"  hmmmm.

On Sunday we went to the Snake Feeding at the Nature Center, and Gabe went to "snake school."  The Ranger there taught the kids all about the snake and how he eats.  Note the look on Gabe's face when that snake grabbed the mouse.  Whoa!  Something you don't see every day in Richardson!  

We did see about 4-5 in the water.  Crazy, though VERY interesting.  Luckily the park has spent a lot of time and energy figuring out how to keep them uninterested in humans.  There are leash signs all over the park - meaning you MUST keep your dogs on a leash at all times.  Apparently an alligator's favorite snack is dog.  Therefore, if a dog gets in the water the scent will attract the alligators.  Not a desirable swimming companion in the swimming hole!

We are looking forward to going back in August and spending some time in the mini-cabin.  It will take me that long to pack...

Camping Prep

Well, the duffel is packed, the air mattress is beside the door.  Yup, it's camping time.  Somehow I feel that we're taking much less than we will actually need.  I thought camping required all kinds of accutrements.  Yet while packing it felt almost, well, ridiculous, to pack an entire bag of different types of shoes.  More shoes than clothes, in fact.  I am just praying that Gillian will sleep and that John sprayed the everloving @#$ out of that shelter with bug spray, as he promised he would.  If she sees one bug it's bye-bye sleep for us.

We are so, so excited to see John, Paula and Autumn and to experience their new life at the Park.  Not so much about the alligators though.

One thing I have not forgotten is the pile of protective devices.  Bug spray, Sunscreen, chapstick, inhalers for the lung-challenged in our family, bug bite cream, assorted antihistimines, and fruit roll-ups (protection for adult ears).  Update to come Monday.