So, let's see where did I leave off? LOL

We got away so late on Friday because I was busy finishing making our food to bring. I had marinated the steaks Monday and left them in the fridge, where they were half-frozen when I was foiling them Friday afternoon. The potatoes had to be scrubbed, sliced, buttered & seasoned, and foiled. I had cooked the bierocks stuffing (hamburger, cole slaw mix, onions & mushrooms) in my crockpot on Monday, then had only been able to make one batch (homemade bread dough & then stuff, pinch tight, and bake) on Thursday evening (BUSY WEEK last week - EVERY single day), so had to make some more Friday. (And this was AFTER the field trip! Glenn let us stop at a travel trailer/motorhome dealership outside Granbury and at a Tuff Shed place on the way home, so we didn't get home until 3pm. I enjoyed the stops, but have decided we need to be heading out of the house towards the campgrounds at 3 or 4pm next time! LOL)

Here's Glenn looking over our lunch/dinner on Saturday...

Here's what he was looking over (bierocks being warmed up and steak & potatoes in foil).

The weather was nippy at night - coat weather. I bought a new coat on Monday before the camping weekend, and left it at an alteration place that evening, to shorten the sleeves. I bought a men's small rancher coat adn the sleevees were beyond long for me. I was able to pick my coat up Thursday afternoon. Wish I had added an inch or two more than where I told her, but spilled milk at this point in time, but it works. (Just not so well when I stretch my arms out.) On Friday, we had 70s during the day. I wore a tshirt with a flannel long-sleeved blouse over it WITH my rancher coat Friday night. Saturday morning I put on my denim short-sleeved blouse with a Big Dogs sweatshirt over it, and about noontime I took the sweatshirt off. I got a bit chilled now and again, but by-and-large was comfortable. DEFINITELY comfortable in the afternoon with the short sleeves. When we left, I had planned on putting the sweatshirt back on, but we were too busy packing up, but with the rancher coat over, it was fine for me, especially since I was packing things up. And it was warm in the car on the little over an hour drive home. We went for just Friday night. Arrived 9pm Friday, left Saturday night about 9pm.

We visited at the other campsites; went down to the "beach" and watched the sand castle contest - of course, I couldn't be on the beach (because of having the dog), so I walked the dog around the park area around the beach. Visited the park store. (And saw my artwork which I'm selling there - well, displaying right now... LOL no sales, but they were closed for about 2 months because of flooding this summer.)

Mike hung with the youth and we practically never saw him. They hiked, visited several campsites, sat around the campfire & told stories, etc. There were probably at least 20 youth, I think. He did have an accident, riding on the pegs of someone's bicycle. Flew (sorta) for about 8 feet, landing on his left hand, elbow, hip, and knee (only slightly) -- major wounds but superficial. (Doc looked at them for me when he had his 3rd doctor visit, which was his 2nd recheck for the bronchitis, and his wounds were doing ok.)

It really wasn't long enough and we ended tending the fire too much on Saturday to warm & cook our food. I think going with sandwich or snack type stuff would have been better, then only have the fire (which we did both Friday night & Saturday day & night) for gazing & poking (love that activity) and for marshmallow roasting. Did have some roasted marshmallows on Saturday night while Glenn packed up. We'd lost Mike, or rather he didn't come back to the campsite when we'd asked him to for dinner - he got caught up with the youth. When he did, he helped with the packing up. Glenn's not into marshmallows; Mike got his fill elsewhere; and I hadn't had any and had even bought some from the Park Store, so was bound and determined to have some myself. When I had my fill, then I helped pack up the things that Glenn wasn't sure of.

Even though I'm not a great fan of tent camping, I can see that this was a good first try, but because it was only one night, it really wasn't long enough to get a good taste. So I told Glenn I was willing to go again -- I want a air mattress though. Also, it'd be nice to have a portable space heater - one of the families had one in their tent--it was downright toasty in their tent. I think that's why I didn't sleep well; I couldn't get warm most of the night. We forgot towels & such (other than my washcloth, handtowel, and hair towel) and I didn't know they don't provide soap in the public bathrooms, so that'd be good to have too. So I want to make a list of "niceities" and "necessaries" for next time. I also told Glenn that next time, we leave at 3 or 4pm from home; we stay for TWO nights (too much work for just one night!); and that we pack up camp about 3 or 4pm the day we leave, whether we leave at that point or later.

So how'd the dog do? She only barked when other dogs passed, and when we had visitors (and not with all of them, just a few). So no excessive barking at all. She hushed fairly quick enough. Probably needs a bit more practice. Of course, she came with us at all times, as you're not supposed to tie a dog out and leave the site. (I'm assuming if you had a trailer or motorhome, you'd be alright in doing so.) She really enjoyed herself, though... all the smells of nature. Mike & I both saw rabbits on the sidewalk (in the woods) between the bathrooms & various sites, so I know she smelled them. At one point we had her with us and I think she saw one, too.

The campsite:

Close-up on Lucia and the tent...

Mike was never around when I was taking photos... LOL So none of him...

So, I guess that's the final installment of our re-introduction to tent camping... or more of an INTROduction.