We had heard from some fellow-campers about the benefits of Loop G, so we swapped our site 6 reservation in Loop A for site 195 in Loop G. The change of scenery was refreshing. Not only is Loop G closer to Joe Pool Lake, it’s also more heavily forested, which exposed us to a slightly different ecosystem. Fewer squirrels and blackbirds, more raccoons and possums. Less grass. More traffic. A completely different symphony of birdsong. Oh, and giant spiders.

The site, though fairly level, required unhitching. Our reconnaissance inspection last weekend failed to account for a slight slope at the front of the site, so we had to disconnect. But soon we were set up and working remotely. Another unforeseen circumstance of the new loop: Spotty cell service. Now we know what to expect.

Date Night included the usual cocktails and PBS News Hour, followed by a New York strip steak with veggies grilled to perfection and Parmesan-encrusted potato coins. We barely finished washing the dinner dishes before deciding to call it a night. A clear sign that we’ve changed our diet is the nearly three-fourths of a bottle of Carnivore cabernet left for another time.

Saturday found us engaged in our normal pursuits: Watching “CBS Saturday Morning,” reading The New York Times, pursuing leads on Ancestry.com, brunching, napping. In lieu of the evening news we opted to watch “Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide,” dreaming of the day when we return to the continent that has given us so many cherished memories. After a dinner of grilled salmon, steamed broccoli and cob corn, we enjoyed a crackling, colorful campfire before retiring to Cloud 9 to watch the final episode of CNN’s excellent original three-part series, “American Prince: JFK Jr.” Titled “The Final Summer,” the episode presented JFK Jr.’s final weeks, including the growing tension between his public persona and private ambitions, especially as he struggled with the pressures of running George magazine and maintaining a marriage under relentless media scrutiny. We were disappointed that we really didn’t gain any new insights. One thing was clear, however: The deaths of JFK Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette was a real tragedy. So many young, promising lives cut short.

What if JFK Jr. had lived? Would he have run for governor of New York? He made clear that he was uninterested in the legislative work of Congress, but as an elected executive, could he have influenced the direction of the Democratic party toward a more centrist, reform-minded alternative during intense polarization? What about Carolyn? Already a style icon, could she have had a lasting impact on minimalist fashion that would have saved us from the worst excesses of the 90s? And Lauren, who was working as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, could have easily risen to a senior and highly influential leadership role during the early 2000s. At the conclusion of the series, we just felt sad. They were our contemporaries.

As we wrapped up our weekend beneath the pavilion, surrounded by the sounds of late summer and the quiet hum of Loop G, we found ourselves grateful for the change of scenery and perspective. The shift from Loop A to Loop G brought more than just a new view, it offered a deeper connection to nature, a few surprises, and a reminder that even familiar routines can feel fresh with a little curiosity. Though we’ll return to Loop A for Labor Day, we’re already looking forward to spending September back in Loop G, where the forest feels a little wilder, the nights a little quieter, and the stories a little richer.