It’s Not the Ocean

The view of Joe Pool Lake from our weekend perch was enhanced by the sound of waves lapping against the shore. Earlier in the weekend, winds of up to 30 miles per hour contributed to the formation of white caps, proving that even an otherwise placid body of water can be churned into a frenzy.…

We’re On–and In–Cloud 9

Longtime readers of this travel blog know that our new Flying Cloud 25FB is our third travel trailer and our second Airstream. Our relatively brief travel experience has taught us many things about life on the road, among which are the importance of having a fully functional kitchen and a spacious bathroom, as well as a bed…

Christmas in the Land Where Palm Trees Sway

No, we didn’t Christmas in Hawaii. Rather, we spent the holiday at Lake Livingston, in Onalaska, Texas. The weather was mild, the views spectacular, and the KOA campground exceptional. This is the nicest campground we’ve experienced thus far. Tucked among the Piney Woods of East Texas, the campground wraps around the shore of Lake Livingston,…

Smarter Than the Average Bear

The first weekend in December found the Garinns camping at Jellystone Park Camp-Resort near Burleson, Texas. The park “caters to family fun offering numerous activities and amenities on-site.” Our experience: screaming children, sputtering golf carts, nearby construction work and overly commercialized characters at every turn. Finally, around mid-day on Saturday, the winds calmed, the campers…

Changes and Chills

October brings seasonal change to North Texas. We experienced that change firsthand as we went from warm afternoons to chilly nights and crisp mornings at our lakeside retreat in Cedar Hill State Park. Brisk breezes prompted bundling up in blankets as we snuggled with our canine companions. Of course, October has also brought a job…

The Marks That Time Has Made

As we approach a full decade of marriage (we were married on Dec. 18, 2004, so we began our 10th anniversary almost a year ago), we’re grateful that we know each other better than anyone else knows us. We see each other’s faults and follies, and we lean on each other’s strengths and steadfastness. We…

The Sun Sets on Summer

We managed to squeeze in one more September camp-out at Cedar Hill State Park to close out our summer season, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. Temperatures reached the mid-80s during the day and the low 60s at night, making for great hikes and pleasant evenings. Plus, with partly cloudy skies, we were…

Hanging Out in Hico

We returned from our first rally with the Heart of Texas Camping Unit, exhausted and exhilarated. The three days we spent with dozens of other Airstreamers were filled with lots of laughs, great food and good advice. We arrived on Friday morning and, as is our custom, immediately took the dogs for a walk around their…

First Date

We’re about to have our first date with the Heart of Texas Camping Unit, our local affiliate of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International. We’ve been anticipating this event for months–a weekend campout at the City of Hico’s Bosque River RV Park. We’ve been assured that the Heart of Texas unit is a laid back group,…

Warm Winds

Labor Day brought warm winds to Joe Pool Lake, a welcome respite to the stifling humid heat of the previous days. We relaxed inside the rig, with the dogs nearby, baroque music playing and breakfast cocktails at the ready. With a 2 p.m. checkout time, we didn’t start packing up until after we had our…