Campground Opening and Spring Break Visits!

You can see the increased activity in the last few weeks (since the controlled burn) by the rangers and volunteers to get the unopened campgrounds at Reynolds Creek Park and facilities at other parks ready to open on April 1^st – when the gate attendants will be on duty.  Dick and I have been asked to set up the computer and printer in our gatehouse (little did Ranger Anderson know – until I told her – that Dick is the one to do this and I will be his “go-fer”, as needed).  We have also been asked to clean the areas around the campsites that the mowers cannot reach.  Dave and Sue will help us with this “project”.  Thanks, y’all!  On Wednesday of this week, I also have a meeting to take notes and Dick has a meeting to take pictures, both with Ranger Anderson for her water safety seminar.  In addition, we have to be ready to move next weekend (so the gate attendants can move in) and get ready for our trip back home and to Colorado in about 4 weeks (more on this later).  Looks like not much down time for a bit – and you thought not working and/or retiring was rest!

The week before spring break, our neighbors Dave and Sue had a visit from Sue’s Mom and sister Kathy (from Minnesota).  One evening (when the wind finally died down), we all sat around a campfire and enjoyed the night sky.

Judy, Sue, Dave and Kathy
(with Dick taking picture)

Last weekend, we traveled to Tomball, TX to see the kids and grandsons and celebrate our grandson Colby’s 5^th birthday with our daughter-in-law April’s parents, Jay and Sue.  As you can see, Colby had a Star Wars Lego birthday and we had a great overnight visit with them.

Colby with his gift from his Mom and Dad and brother Ben

Ben with his t-shirt from Colby

"Look at all the gifts from Mommy and Daddy,
Mama Sue and Pop, Grammy and Grampa and
Aunt Shell and Logan!"

Make a wish!

Cousins Colby and Logan building Legos

"Look at all the Legos I got for my birthday!"

Michelle, Logan, Colby, Ben and Mike watching a
Star Wars movie

On Sunday morning, after an excellent breakfast, we caravanned back to Waco, TX with daughter Michelle, grandson Logan (11) and Radar (our Schnauzer grand-dog).  After traveling through lots of rain, the rain finally stopped and the sun peeked out of the clouds.  Even though very wet at the campground, Michelle was able to find a dry spot to set up camp.  She decided she wanted the tent camping experience for her and Logan’s spring break.  Later in the week, she told me that it felt like she had a room of her own at our RV and, miraculously, we had no rain showers – lots of overcast skies, humidity and a few sprinkles, but no rain – until Friday night when Michelle said there was lightening, thunder, rain and wind, which Dick, Radar and I slept through!  Fortunately, thanks to winds (which we are not usually thankful for), the tent was dry just after 8 a.m., so Michelle was able to pack up to leave.

"This looks like a dry spot!"

Home, sweet home!

Monday was spent around camp with me catching up on washing while Michelle and Logan rode their bikes and explored the area.  That afternoon, I took them to see a few other parks around Waco Lake and by the COE office to meet a few people.  Thanks to the COE crew, Logan was given a t-shirt, coloring book, colors, Frisbee, etc.  He thought that was pretty neat.  Thanks, y’all!

Tuesday morning, we drove to Glen Rose, TX (only 1 hour, 20 minutes from Reynolds Creek Park) and toured the town, plus Dinosaur Valley State Park.  We enjoyed our visit, but were disappointed that you cannot see dinosaur tracks because they are under muddy water.  There are some great camping sites and it is a good place to visit, so check it out at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/dinosaur_valley/. 

Logan at the courthouse in Glen Rose, TX

Heading to the river in Dinosaur Valley State Park

Michelle and Logan

 Before heading back to the campground, we stopped for lunch at The Green Pickle in Glen Rose, which had the most scrumptious hamburgers.

Logan with his Legos at The Green Pickle

Judy, Dick, Logan and Michelle - hamburgers
at The Green Pickle in Glen Rose, TX - Awesome!

We had planned a drive to Llano, TX for some Cooper’s Barbeque on Wednesday until we realized that it is almost a 3-hour drive – a bit too much for a day trip just for barbeque.  So Michelle, Logan and I drove to Austin (almost 2 hours) to the University of Texas (UT) campus.  Logan will be in 6^th grade next year and really wants to attend UT, so we first visited the visitor center – picking up a map and some other information on the campus, plus taking pictures.  Next, we went to the University Co-op, which houses the book store and everything UT – where Logan was able to get a few mementoes.

Logan at UT stadium

Logan at UT visitor center

Logan at UT Co-op

Logan on UT campus with Texas State
Capitol in the background

Michelle, Logan and Judy on UT campus

Logan with UT clock tower
in background

After touring portions of the UT campus and the “drag”, we searched for an Austin-type place to eat lunch.  We went to Threadgill’s and had an awesome meal of grilled rainbow trout on a bed of crawfish etouffee, which was delicious – and Logan had a fairly large chicken fried steak on the “kids menu”, which he thoroughly enjoyed.  Needless to say, we had leftovers for later in the day!

Logan and Michelle at Threadgill's

After lunch, we toured The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, which was very reasonably priced and well worth it.  We took over 2 hours touring the 3 floors, but did not have time to go to the Imax theatre.  The 1^st floor is “Encounters on the Land”; the 2^nd floor is “Building the Lone Star Identity”; and the 3^rd floor is “Creating Opportunity” – bringing Texas history from the Spanish exploration up to present day.  I recommend this museum to everyone, so check it out at www.thestoryoftexas.com.  Logan, who had Texas history in 4^th grade and loves history, went from one exhibit to another, watching videos at various exhibits, and was very interested in all of the exhibits.  A new exhibit entitled “Texas Music Roadtrip” is running from March 17-October 14, 2012, covers 100 years of music in Texas and looks really interesting.  I want to go back one day and bring Dick, too!  Unfortunately, we could not take pictures inside the museum, but I did get a shot in front of the museum on the plaza.

Logan and Michelle on the plaza at The
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

We did not realize that the music festival was going on in Austin, so traffic and people were both heavy, but it was fun being back.  We ended our day at the Arboretum with Amy’s ice cream!

Thursday was spent around the campground for Michelle and Logan to fish, hike and ride bikes.  On Friday, she took Logan to Legoland Discovery Center in Grapevine, TX, which was part of his birthday present.  From what they said, it was great fun, but lots of people.  If interested in bringing your Lego lovers, go to http://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com to make plans.

On Saturday, Michelle and Logan broke camp, packed up and headed back home, via Austin to visit friends.  It was sad to see them leave, but we will travel to Houston and Louisiana the 3^rd week of April and, hopefully, they will make the trip to Colorado this summer – as will Mike, April and the boys!  Now, we are preparing for our next adventure – May 10-October 1, 2012 at Mary’s Lake Campground in Estes Park, Colorado as volunteer park hosts for Larimer County.  After storing our RV for 10 days or so and visiting the kids, grandkids, family and friends, we will begin the trip on April 24^th, with stops along the way.  Hopefully, the weather will be mild enough that we can set up camp prior to training on May 10^th.

After Dick went fishing (successfully) for a few hours this morning, we “battened down the hatches” to get ready for lots of rain (3-6 inches predicted) later today through Tuesday.  I am just glad it was not last week and hope it dries enough for us to move to our temporary site next weekend.  More on that later!

Again, thanks for stopping by and see ya!  ~Judy~