We arrived at camp shortly after noon on Friday and immediately set to work getting Cloud 9 set up before the Texas heat reached its full intensity. Within a short while the awning was out, the campsite was organized, and we were able to settle into the shade before the afternoon became truly oppressive. We…
With an oppressive heat wave bearing down on the area, we adjusted our schedule and arrived at the campground late Friday morning, hoping to get settled before the worst of the afternoon temperatures arrived. It proved to be a wise decision. Our new air-conditioner quickly justified its purchase, bringing the cabin to a comfortable temperature…
There is a certain satisfaction that comes with finally closing a chapter that has lingered longer than expected. After six weeks of appointments, repairs, waiting, rescheduling, and expense, we headed to McClain’s RV to pick up Cloud 9 following the installation of a new air-conditioner. The experience was well worth the wait. The customer service…
Five weeks is a long time to be away from something that has become part of our rhythm of life. After more than a month without a camping trip, we finally hitched up the Airstream Friday morning and headed for camp, eager to reclaim a routine that had been interrupted by a seemingly simple project:…
This weekend, as the Blue Moon shone brightly overhead, we spent time around the campfire, settling into a reflection on our nation’s 250th birthday. Two hundred and fifty years. That number gets thrown around a lot, like it’s supposed to mean something all by itself. And it does, in a way. It means endurance. It…
We arrived at Loyd Park on Thursday evening, easing into the long weekend with intention and just the right amount of anticipation. There’s something about getting an early start, staking out our space, and settling into Cloud 9 that feels like reclaiming time. Chef Cliff kicked things off in classic fashion with Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwiches…
We rolled into camp Friday afternoon and eased into our familiar rhythm, laptops open just long enough to finish the workday before giving ourselves over to the better part of the evening. Cocktail hour set the tone. The drink of the night was a gin and tonic with a Mediterranean twist, built on Gin Mare…
We arrived at camp on Friday afternoon with the kind of anticipation that only a weekend outdoors can bring. Lunch was simple and satisfying, meatloaf sandwiches that tasted even better as leftovers. Afterward, we shifted into work mode, each of us tackling the tasks we’d brought along, determined to earn the slower pace we were…
We pulled into camp Friday morning with a sense of relief that had nothing to do with finally leveling the Airstream. Jon had just come from the Texas DMV, where he was at last able to renew his driver’s license after what turned into a months-long process. What we once remembered as a routine errand…
We picked up our Airstream on Friday morning after a month in the repair shop near Alvarado and nearly $2,000 of work. With the trailer finally back in our possession, we drove on to Loyd Park hoping for a calm spring reset and a reward for our patience. Arriving at site 7 was like visiting…
We arrived at Loyd Park on a gorgeous spring afternoon, the kind that makes you feel as though the world has taken a deep breath. Loop A had been completely overtaken by the 27th annual Be Happy Chili and Wing Cook-Off, so we settled into a site in the quieter Loop G. Site 196 suited…
We arrived on Friday afternoon ready for a spring‑like escape, with temperatures in the low 80s, clear skies, warm breezes, and the first blossoms sprinkling the forest. It felt like we were on the cusp of renewal. Then, on Saturday morning, everything changed. Jon awoke to the news alerts: President Trump announced that a joint…
This weekend, as we settled into our campsite, we found ourselves reflecting on a week of news that revealed much about who we are as a country and who we are becoming. The death on Tuesday of the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the relative lack of attention was on our minds. House Speaker Mike Johnson…
We arrived Friday afternoon, grateful for a weekend away from the bustle of our weekday routines. After our Date Night supper, we eased into the quiet with a campfire before collapsing into bed, happily exhausted. Saturday unfolded exactly the way we love: a slow morning with The New York Times, a bit of Ancestry sleuthing,…
There are moments in life when we feel a kind of fatigue settle in, a weariness that makes us want to turn the page, change the channel, focus on literally anything else. We’ve had plenty of practice at that over the last year. The controversies have blurred together. The outrages have stacked up. And now,…
Garinns on the Go 