RV Trip to Cute Little Bonham State Park

This past Saturday, George and I trekked on over to Bonham State Park in Bonham, Texas in the RV. We recently bought bicycles and passes for Texas State parks so we were (and are) on the lookout for parks with bike trails. Bonham State Park has 11 miles of trails and it's only 90 minutes from our house. A couple of state parks are much closer but this was a last minute trip and the closer parks were full.

According to the Texas State Parks video about Bonham State Park, it's one of the smallest parks in Texas. In fact, there are only 14 RV spots! Nevertheless, it's a comfy little place for fishing, swimming, hiking and biking. Paddle boats and canoes can be rented too.

The view to the lake from our RV.

We took a morning walk on Sunday.

George and the girls walking

down to the covered pavilion.

From the pavilion, looking 

over to part of the RV area.

We were parked next to trees on the farthest end.

You can see our front wheels just above the 

gray and yellow tent and just past the white pickup. 

From the pavilion, the left side of 

the lake and a volleyball area.

Can you see the two chairs on the point?

People are fishing in that spot.

From the pavilion, the 

right side of the lake.

As you can probably tell, the beach is 

near the pavilion too. The ducks were 

keeping it warm until swimmers arrive.

In the distance, at the far end of the 

lake is a wooden one-lane bridge.

George and the girls.

Three girls.

We really loved this quaint park!

Amidst all those trees around the lake is a road. George and I biked around it and it was fun, except for the part where we couldn't make it up a hill so we had to walk our bikes up but it didn't take long. The park is so small that the entire ride around it took less than 20 minutes. I think Geo said it was about a mile and a half--something like that.

The night before, George explored one of the trails on his bike. He said the trail was quite wooded and he cleared out every cobweb in the process! One cobweb was stretched across the bike path with a GIANT SPIDER in the middle! YIKES! He threw his arm up and kept truckin' along. That experience is the reason we decided to ride on the road. Fall would be awesome though and we will check it out then.

Sunday was Father's Day, and Josh and Sheri came out for the day.  Michael had to work so Michael, Crystal and the boys didn't make it. We chowed down and had a nice visit. Unfortunately, we forgot to get pics. 

On Monday morning, we planned to bike around the lake some more before heading home but it was pouring rain. All in all, it was a very nice spur-of-the-moment trip and we will go back.

Happy Trails and Smiles to you!     

D~~~~

The Stowaway Snake

Ever find a snake in your car?

We did!

Not all the way inside but close enough.

After driving about 13 miles to Home Depot, George got out, looked down, and with his door still open, he told me:

“Oh my gosh! Come look at this!”
And he chuckled!

I was already out on my side and instantly had a gut feeling that it was a snake. I slowly peered through the inside of the car over to his side and I could see it all the way from there--a brownish, slimy snake! YIKES! 

I was traumatized!

He said it was a rat/bull snake which I’m told is not poisonous but it doesn’t matter.

A snake is a snake!

It was in the crease where the door opens. 

Here it is after it retreated a bit.

You might need to 
enlarge the pic to see it 

(assuming you want to see it!)

Obviously, it was out quite a bit farther since I was able to see it from the other side by looking through the inside of the car!  

Two young guys tried to help us but by the time they got a long pole, it had moved down into the trim behind the door step. A Home Depot worker also tried but to no avail. He was able to see that it had now moved up into the area above the tire but he couldn't get to it. You couldn't see it with the hood opened either. 

I vowed not to get back in the car or drive it EVER again but George and the Home Depot guy convinced me that it couldn’t get inside the car. If I could have thought of another way to get home, I’d have taken it but I couldn’t so I reluctantly got back into the car. I rode in the back seat though!  

When we got home, George still couldn’t find it so he did the only thing he knew to do, he went into the house and laid in the recliner. However, I continued to freak out!

About an hour or so later, he went back out, pulled the vehicle into the shop and removed the part above the tire. He looked in the engine, and all around underneath the vehicle but he still couldn’t find it. He said it must have gotten out.  

Guess what?  

I’m still not driving that vehicle. 

Nope!

This is the second snake we’ve seen in a few weeks and possibly the same one. Some years we don’t see any, and the years when we have seen them, it’s usually not until July or August. This was in May!  I'm thinking we’re in for a very slithery, slimy, snaky summer! 

I AM traumatized!!!

I had George switch vehicles with me because I cannot bring myself to drive that one. I don't know when I'll be ready to drive it either! I did ride in it the other day but I kept my feet up on the dashboard!

Creeped Out, Traumatized, 

and Definitely NOT Smiling,

D~~~~

Lakeside Campground, Oklahoma~Memorial Day Weekend

For Memorial Day, we RV'd on up to Lakeside RV Park in Oklahoma where we met up with several other folks. Lakeside is on Lake Texoma and it turned out to be only 70 miles from the house! YAY! 

We didn't get many pictures, only five to be exact, and these were the best three. 

Almost everyone in the group had some sort of an issue this trip--a blowout, a boat that wouldn't start, levelers that wouldn't level, clogged black water tank, lost hitch pin, and major allergies--but you know what? It didn't matter. We still had a good time!

We really liked Lakeside, and it will be a good location for short weekend trips since it's so close to the house. I hope y'all had a great holiday weekend too!

Smiles,

D~~~~

By the River RV Park~Kerrville, TX

We recently RV'd on down to Kerrville, Texas and stayed at By the River RV Park and Campground which is on the Guadalupe River. We were expecting four RV couples the next day, and another couple was driving down for the fish fry. It was scheduled for our final night. The day we left, Rick and Carrie did too, and we followed each other.

I call the bridge out our window a "footbridge" even though a few cars did go across it. I have no idea why or where they could have gone. The other side is an island. I think it's where folks tent camp although I never saw any tent campers. It looked more like a deserted island to me. We found it to be quite a lovely dog walking island.

We had gorgeous weather every day too!

On the first day, while waiting for other couples to arrive, we drove into Fredericksburg with Rick and Carrie. We shopped and had lunch on the patio at Silver Creek Beer Garden and Grill. 

It was quite good too!

While we were eating, I noticed a sign stretched over the road that was advertising a music festival in Luckenbach, and it just so happened to be this weekend! Woo-hoo! Luckenbach is 13 miles down the road from Fredericksburg so when we finished eating, we did some shopping and then headed to Luckenbach.

The Luckenbach Post Office and 
a box displaying music line ups!

We shopped at the Post Office which is actually a General Store with a bar in the back. The historical marker says the post office operated briefly in 1858, and was reestablished in 1886. 

I wondered if they still processed mail because it doesn't say anything else. It's doubtful especially since the entire town is that post office, a dance hall, a covered stage, some food stands, bathrooms, etc. 

Who would they process it for? 

Themselves?  

If that's the case, I process mail! I get it out of the mailbox, and take it in the house where it is distributed to George or me, or my favorite place, the trash can. Some of it eventually goes into my least favorite place, a file! 

That's processing mail, isn't it?  

Now that I got the mail issue off my chest, back to Luckenbach...

As usual, there were lots of bikers.

Actually, it was mostly bikers.

I LOVE these trikes!
Don't you?

The yellow one is my favorite.

Carrie and I are standing in front of the dance hall. I've been to Luckenbach three or four times now but never when a band was playing in the dance hall. 

I would really like that though!
Maybe one of these days...

According to the music lineup, a band was about to play on the stage behind the Post Office so we headed that way. We were able to perch ourselves at a shady picnic table, smack dab in front of the stage too.

Perfect seats for a 

perfectly beautiful day!

I wanted to stay long enough to hear Tom McElvain. I knew he was from Gainesville, and heard he was good. Indeed, it was true, I loved his music! I found out today that Michael (my son) went to school with him.

We watched all of Jake Martin, and 
heard four or five Tom McElvain songs.

I could have hung out in Luckenbach all evening listening to bands but we needed to move on so we did.  One of these days...

The next evening was our fish fry!

Great chefs at work.

Visiting!

Chow Time!

 Walking~Linda B., 

Left, top to bottom~me, Katy, Linda M., & Sandy, 

Right, top to bottom~Forrest, Carrie, Charlie & Joe

The fish fry was excellent!

Absolutely scrumptious!

Enjoying the evening!

Of course, we had a very nice time!

Smiles,

D~~~~

Surprise Party!

A few weeks ago, we went to a surprise party for our friend Mark.  He works with George.

He turned 50 as you can see!

The party was catered by Blue Mesa Grill.

Excellent food!

Just a few other pictures.

I thought we had more pics 

but I'm not finding them.

It was a very nice time!

We just got back from an RV trip.

I'll post those pics next.

Happy Smiles to You,

D~~~~

Learning to Ride (or Steer)

Since Triston has grown up in the country, he never learned to ride a bike so George taught him when they were here a few weeks back.  

It didn't take long before 
Triston was on a balanced roll!

Preston and Triston 

had fun riding bikes.

George got a new toy too, 

and he had to learn to ride it.  

Okay, maybe not ride it but he 

had to get a feel for the steering. 

The first task was 

backing it off the trailer.

Triston looks a bit worried.

We have lift off!

That was easy.

Of course, Geo was 
rockin' and rollin' in no time.

Now if he would just learn 

that it's the grass you mow!

Not the cement!

Preston wanted to mow too.

His day will come!

Smilin',
D~~~~