April 16-21 Cedar Hill State Park--- Dallas Volleyball Tournament

 Sammi had a volleyball tournament in Dallas Friday thru Sunday of Easter weekend.  Usually we stay at Hickory Creek on Lake Lewisville mainly because Susan has a brother who lives in Frisco that we visit. This year we could only visit one evening so we decided to try out Cedar Hill State Park which is much closer to the Convention Center. It turned out very well as we were only 25 minutes away and the traffic was not too bad. We left Wednesday morning and meanderared along. We stopped at Woodys in Centerville for lunch. We stop here usually because it has trailer parking , The food is pretty good and I picked up 3 lbs of German sausage. We arrived at Cedar Hill about 2:00 pm. This is an old park and a tight fit for our trailer. There are 4 campgrounds but one was closed for renovations.  It sits on Joe Pool Lake but none of the trailer sites have a lake view.  While the campsites are dated the day use area is first class and very pretty along the lake.  The one area I really enjoyed is the Penn farm. Its located in the park which acquired it around 1972.  It has been preserved and there is a nice trail to walk the grounds. The loop is about a mile long and Cooper and I walked it  every day.  Thursday evening we went to Frisco to visit Susans brother. We were in the evening wave for volleyball Friday night which I hate. We actually finished early and got back to the camp by 10:00 pm. We had a 7:30 am game Saturday morning. It was a full day of vb. We left at 4:00 , wore out and headed home.  They played 2 more games after we left.  We played again at 9:am on Sunday morning. They lost that game and we were finished. It was a rough tournament for us, the worst of the year, We were not focused . we were 2-1 on Friday, 4-2 on Saturday and 0-1 on Sunday.  Our next big tournament will be at the George R Brown in May.  Since we got home early on Sunday we got some rest. I had been nursing a toothache since Thursday and it was really bothering me.  I napped most of the day. I didn't"t feel like cooking supper so we went out to eat. I slept late Monday morning. Still feeling bad so we decided to load up and go home. On the way home Susan called our dentist to get me an appointment. He sent a prescription in for antibiotics to take and I don't go in till next Tuesday.  Should have just stayed and got my medicine there. Anyway I felt  better at home the next morning.  Our next trip will be in June, we are headed to Wyoming,Colorado and New Mexico for about two months. This might be our last long trip as I don't like driving long hours anymore.

March 10-14 Spring Break--Sandy Creek with Peyton & Luke

 We got the boys on Sunday. Spent the day loading the trailer getting ready to roll.  We left Monday morning headed to Sandy Creek Campground on Dam B.  It's only about a two hour drive. We got a nice waterfront sites on the lake. The boys rode their bikes and dug in the dirt all evening. It was cool weather and just about perfect. We had chili and hot dogs for supper.  Tuesday morning it was about 39 when we got up. I did frozen biscuits outside in the air fryer but we ate inside.  Pancakes and biscuits with syrup. After breakfast the boys went out for the day.  We did a little fishing but the wind really blew.  Whitecaps on the lake.  No fish were caught.  We were supposed to do hamburgers for supper but I forgot to take the meat out to thaw. Therefore we had chicken strips and fries for supper. Wednesday was a repeat. Peyton did catch two crappie but that was it. That night we did have hamburgers and they were good.  It rained Wednesday night. It didn't rain Thursday but the forecast was rain Friday morning. I decided to pack up Thursday and go home.  No fun camping in the rain.

Feb 23-27 2025 Mill Creek

 The weather has been crappy for a couple of weeks.  The weatherman said it was going to be nicer so we decided to take a quick trip. We had never been to Mill Creek on Lake Sam Rayburn so we decided to try it out.  We left on Sunday, supposedly the weather was supposed to clear up but it didn't. It's only about a 2 1/2 hour drive for us.  It misted and stayed pretty cool the whole way.  I was able to set up without getting wet.  We had a nice waterfront site but is was unlevel. It took every board I had to get trailer level.  Since the weather was nasty we decided to go to a nearby Mexican food place near the dam.  It turned out to be a pretty good place.  Monday morning when I got up it was a little nippy. I went outside to change over propane tanks and somehow twisted the handle off.  I got a pair of needle nose pliers and then proceeded to twist the needle valve off the regulator.  Not able to get propane on.  Since I had left our electric heater at home I headed to Jasper .  Walmart opened at 6:00 am and I was the second customer in. Picked up a small heater and was back at the trailer by 6:30 am.  It was enough to keep the trailer warm.  It was a very foggy morning and it didn't"t clear up till about 11:am.  It kept everything damp and wet outside. Cooper and I got in about a 2 mile walk. Susan had her sewing machine set up and she just sewed.  That evening we went into Jasper to eat at The Cedar Tree Restaurant.  They had a great buffet and very reasonable. That evening we had a great sunset with a little happy hour by the fire pit.  Tuesday morning I cooked breakfast outside as the weather was much nicer.  After breakfast we went and visited my second cousin John Callahan.  He is 96 and lives with his daughter in Rayburn country.  He is still able to get around and walks a mile everyday. We had a good visit.  That evening I cooked hamburgers for supper and we had another great sunset.  One of our camping neighbors stopped by and visited. They are from Wisconsin and just down here beating the cold up north. Wednesday morning was again a little nicer and I cooked breakfast outside again. We didn't go anywhere and just relaxed around camp all day. Cooper and I made several walks.  That evening was a repeat performance.  Thursday morning we got up packed up and headed home.  It was a nice quiet trip. Our next trip will be the grandsons camping during spring break.

Jan 16-19, 2025 Lake Somerville & Volleyball

We left on Thursday for Lake Somerville. Sammi has a volleyball tournament in Bryan Saturday and Sunday. Our plans were to stay till Tuesday depending on the weather.  We stopped in Chappell Hill to eat lunch and I bought some link sausage.  We got to Yegua Park about 2 pm.  There was only one other camper in our loop.   Susan set up her sewing machine and we just chilled the rest of the evening. Lots of deer came out and fwd in the meadow beside us. Friday the weather was really nice. Cooper and I took several walks. That evening we met Mike/Kristi and the girls for supper. We had a fun time. Saturday morning the cold weather moved in. We went to Bryan around 7:30 and didn't"t get home till 4:30.  Sammis team played well.  We were really tired when we got back. The weather forecast was for really bad weather hitting Monday night at home.  We decided to get up Sunday and go on home. Sunday morning it was about 29 with 30 mph winds. It rocked the trailer all night. It was miserable outside hooking up. We made it home about noon. I got the trailer unloaded and the drained all the water for the upcoming freeze. They are forecasting snow for Monday night and Tuesday,

Oct 11,12 Mckenna"s Aggie Ring Day

Friday morning Cooper and I were up at 5:00 making our first walk of the day. It was a cool morning about 51 degrees.  We got the firepit going and had a nice morning. Later that morning we met Kristi and KK at the Aggie Warehouse. Its a huge building with all kinds of stuff. About 200 dollars later we left and headed back to the the trailer.    We were both tired and took a nap. That evening was really nice and we sat out till dark thirty. Saturday morning we got up and headed into College Station for Mckennas ring day.  We ate breakfast at a little cafe in Somerville and got to Kristis AB&B about 10:15 am.  We left for the campus to park and caught a shuttle to Aggie Park. When all our group arrived we headed inside to get Mckennas ring. She was so excited. Susan and I sat in the park while the rest went to Kyle Field to get more pictures. It was just too much waking for us. We all left there and went to Coopers BBQ for lunch. after that we went home to rest awhile. That evening we went to Kenna"s condo for her ring dunking party. Lots of folks and we had a good time. I was wore out when we made it back to the trailer.  It was a very good day.

October 10,2024 Lake Somerville

 We headed out to Lake Somerville for six days.  Our oldest grandaughter Mckenna is getting her Aggie ring on Saturday.  We actually had plans to be gone on a 16 day trip but had to cancel the back end.  The traffic thru Houston was heavy but moving. We stopped in Chappell Hill to eat lunch. We arrived at Yeagua Park on the lake at about 2:20 pm.  When we stopped at the gate to check in I put my truck in park but the the shifter column just went free wheeling leaving me in reverse.  I set my parking brake then got out of truck to figure out the problem. A park ranger truck just happened to pull up behind me.  I was telling them I probably needed to back up and not block the gate. The young lady said your cable  shifter probably came off, She said let me climb under your truck and check it which she did. She then said if you have some pliers I can get you going again. I gave her some and she got me going. They followed me to the campsite in case it happened again. I was able to get backed in before it came off again. Put a tie wrap on it temporarily to hold it in place.  That girl is a keeper for sure.  I called Kyle who lives in Bryan and he went to the auto parts store and got the little bushing and came out and replaced it.  It turned out to be a pretty nice evening.