travels with the bear

Since the last time I was in this space, I have driven from California and back.  There was Koda Bear to pick up.  We camped on the way back at Davis Mountain State Park.  It is becoming one of my favorites.  I like the quiet and the clear skies.  There is room to run and jump and climb.  I have not been there long enough to do any hiking but maybe someday? 

I could see myself hanging out there with a book under a tree.  I could hope.  Especially when dinners are made with simple ingredients over flame.  There were hamburgers and pan fries with salad for dinner.  All the hamburge was cooked into patties and we at that for days.  

I completely misjudged the traffic out of Los Angeles.  Koda Bear is just north of their and to get back to this house you have to drive through or around LA.  The wrong choice was made.  I think there is always a learning on every road trip or camping trip.  We were supposed to also camp outside of Tucson with the saguaro cactus but we did not.  Maybe next time?

When we got back to the house, there were things that needed to be done.  Meals decided upon.  Laundry.  Homework.  Playing.  Mending a shirt.  Bicycle riding.  Every moment was full.  We did not even get to go see the movie we wanted to see we were so busy!

But Koda Bear now has his own skates.  An eBay find that made him grin.  He was slow start because he had only ever used rental figure skates before.  But he was the last person off the ice.  Just like the Tall Short Person always was.  I feel like another monster was created.  I am going to need to keep coaching just so he can skate.  But I am enjoying the little bit of coaching I do.  It pays for my ice time and a little bit extra.  I find I smile a lot.

Now, I have to get back into the normal swing of things.  It will get all changed up again later this month.  More camping is planned.  Makes me smile.

winter camping

Winter camping in Texas is always interesting.  Over four days the temperatures went from the 70's to the 20's.  It was probably not the wisest thing I could have done.  Especially since I am still healing from an ear infection.  But it was lovely in its own fashion.

Inks Lake was down eight feet which meant we did not stay in our normal camping site at the park.  That was actually a very wise thing because somehow the new to us camp site was very sheltered.  When the wind came up, we were not hit as hard.  

The camp site we normally chose is right on the lake.  Other sites are not very close.  We always have a lot of birds.  But they are mainly water birds.  This new site had a lot of cardinals, which were just a lot of fun!  They were cheeky buggers.  By the last day, they were coming up to the picnic table even when we were close.  It is pretty amazing how well they blend into the trees and underbrush even though they are so red.  The females are not though.

The lake was down on purpose by the Colorado River authority.  Inks Lake is created by dams on the Colorado River in Texas.  The river authority had lowered it so maintenance could be done to structures on the lake and the dams themselves.  It happens about every ten to twelve years we were told.  If you do no time it right, you do not see it because Inks Lake is what they call a constant level lake to help with the effects of drought.  If it is not at level, drought is bad.  They also had the electric turbines going at full speed so there may have been a greater demand for electricity.

Even though it was cold, it was pretty.  We walked about thirty miles over those four days.  Just walking.  My cheeks are very red from wind and sun.  Even though we are home, I would still like to be camping.  It must be a fatal flaw that I would like to be going more.  Or it could be, I just like being outside.  That is probably what it is.  Except, it is hard to take my sewing machine outside.  I would miss that.  It would mean I would need to do more hand work.  Which is not a bad thing.

More babbling obviously going on.  I may laughed at! 

Seem to be chasing autumn

There has been a bit of weekend camping going on.  I love it.  It does mean there seem to be less hours to do in the week but I will take the relaxation every time.

I have been doing lots of little steps recently.  I have to do a so I can do b.  It all ends up in a finished product but the stories are not really worth telling until I have everything together.  And I am working on Christmas already.  That will be be able to be shared until the gifts are delivered.  Or maybe a few pictures of the process.

I am feeling better.  I had a conversation this morning that made me realize that my feeling the under the weather, whether allergies, easily injuring myself, arthritis, or infection, has probably something to do with stress.  The biggest stress factor happened about two months ago with Harvey. 

I am very much one of the lucky ones.  As well of most of the people I know.  There was a roof to repair and the inside repairs due to the leak.  But nothing was lost.  But if a helicopter circles for too long, I can tell.  Since I am one of those who has a tendency to just get on, I am thinking that my body is reacting for me.  At least the Black Hawk helicopters are no longer trying to change my heartbeat.  They flew that close.

Chasing autumn.  Camping more.  Trying to slow down, which I am horrible at.  All these things are helping.  As well as good friends, good food, quiet when needed.  But Harvey still keeps popping up and there is still a lot of recovery that needs to happen.  Whether that is emotional or physical for the Texas coast and anybody who was here during the storm.

beach camping

I did not get to SAFF like I hoped this year.  My back would not have sat for 20 hours.  It is less then that in the car but I am just adding stops and such.  I could have flown but then how would I have brought fleeces back?  It is all about the logistics.

The suggestion was made of a camping trip to the beach.  Since camping can occur on Sunday nights, camping was to be had!  The flexibility of not "working" Mondays is huge.  I put working in parenthesis because work always seems to happen but no specific location is needed.  Therefore, part of the run of the silvers we became.  Silvers are those who are retired and travel/camp on the shoulder seasons when kids are in school.

There was no surf but there were cooler temperatures and lots of beach to walk.  The insects were not even hovering due to the wind.  Even though camping items were forgotten, it was very comfortable and restful.

The grasses even looked a bit like autumn.  Though by the time we left the beach it did not feel like autumn.  It was a lovely break from everyday life and the city.  We have decided to do more of this type of quick camping this year.  I do believe part of it is to see if we would use a van conversion.  Converted for camping.  Of course we would but this is the test.

More this weekend!  I am looking forward to it.

back from adventuring

Koda Bear is back with the Tall Short Person.  But at the very last minute, adventuring was decided upon.  Koda Bear really likes to sleep in tents.  So does my Beloved.  I found state parks to camp in across the southwest of the United States and the boyos could not have been more pleased.

Davis Mountain State park is one that I have wanted to visit in the past.  I want to go back now.  I would love to hang out for a week.  There was just not enough time.  The skies were so clear!  It is near the MacDonald observatory so I should not have been surprised.  

We were supposed to camp at Picacho State Park between Tuscon and Phoenix Arizona but 115 Fahrenheit was just too hot.  It was a hotel night.  But Stoney Creek Campground in Mount San Jacinto State Park south of Palm Springs California was lovely.  The elevations meant that it was cool.

I had time to finish a present between hikes.  

There were so many rocks for the Bear to climb on!  Places to run down hill because it is the best according to him.  He gets his energy from running down hill.  Most times he is pretending he is riding a motorbike so it is a lot of fun.

But Koda Bear and my Beloved could have their adventure of sleeping in tents.  Which was really what they wanted before Koda Bear landed back with the Tall Short Person.  It is lovely to watch.