Small Things With Great Love

There are summer weekends built around adventure, and then there are summer weekends built around endurance. With Texas locked in the grip of a weeks-long heatwave, we knew this trip would require a slower pace, a little patience, and a willingness to let the weekend unfold gently. We arrived at camp Friday afternoon in time…

It’s Complicated

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…

Beating the Heat

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…

Back to Baseline

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…

Rattling, Not Rattled

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:…

America at 250

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…

A Weekend Worth Remembering

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…

Campfire Nights to Ballroom Lights

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…

A Traitor in the Tree

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…

Cool Comfort and Campfire Calm

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…