Camping at Bastrop SP

We have been camping here for four days the SETPUCCer's do a Christmas camp out we liked the idea of camping in a place we have never been so we come here on the 25 and lucky us we got full hook ups we are staying here for 10 days and is good to have full huck ups never done that So far it has been a great experience the park is huge there a tone of trails we have done red and blue to orange do not know how long we walk my I-pod die and lost the sensor had to go back and find it We have 3 members of the SETPUCC is good to know friend that enjoy the out doors like we do kids have friends We allways meet the peaple that camp next to us and if they have kids even better my kids will have more friends to play with some times I don't see my kids until is lunch or dinner and then they are off again There are no night critters It has been cold for the last two days can't do a fire the said the lost 40 acres due to a fire and it has been too dry one of the ranger said it had to rain 1ft of water for them to lift the ban it got really cold last night we have a small heater that keep the pop-up at a good temperature (76) the highest too hot we keep it at 71 but last night the furnace was on(did not know that) but was in the lowest setting 50 so last night must have gotten down to 50 for the furnace to come on and the other heater was not doing much wow Today we took the kids to the park very nice we hike 1/2 a mile to it and violla we where there we had to go back to start the roast that Sam is really looking forwards.

Thanks giving camp out

Sorry it took me a while We drove there and the roads look so different, we thought we where lost and taking the wrong way Sam said let's call our GPS (AKA Pa-pa) and he told us we where right on track it was getting dark don't really like the time change, the office was still open the park was packed, all sites where taking but 3 so we pick #8 right across from the Bathrooms not that we need it we have a bathroom /shower in the pop-up and we are not afraid of use it we did see a lot of hard wall travel trailer's going to them not us we took the time to washed the gray and black tanks so they don't stick the say was great I got to see more of the park and it is great all the trails they have are so wide no way you'll get lost and it look fun riding a bike (I don't have one but if I did it will be much fun) I make some of the thanks giving dinner at home so all I had to do was cook it the ham was too big for the oven in the pop up so I had to take the bone and cook it with out it turn out fine the stuffing not so hot I have never make stuffing my hubby like it a lot to me I don't care but I try making it and it turned not so good next time I will pay attention how people do it I had a bag of rolls and all day I was cooking the EXTRA ones and we where eating them we took the Directv with us and it worked we can watch all the Chanel's some campers came and look to see how Sam did it so I told him he can go and help them he did and they got to watch the game some times we make great friends with our surrounding campers this trip none they where not out going happy campers such a shame My I pod die and I got the computer but no charger ha ha lucky me some one had a I phone with a charger yahoo The area was putty bad they had to cut so many trees after Ike pass Lake Livingston some trees where lift and you could see the roots they are still working on it it really looks bad I think they should send an e-mail and ask those who like the park to come and stay for free and help clean up I will do it hate to see such a great park in such a bad shape. It rain on us it was windy and cold out side so it was good we had the TV and dish kids had a great time lots of trees on the ground to Clim jump or whatever our next camp out is after Christmas boy that's a long time We are going with the SETPPUC group The park had lots of trails they also let you hike and camp on the way I'd like to do that but I don't have the stuff to do it may be next year and you know it could be cold so I'll just stick to hiking and coming back to the pop up till next time Have a Merry Chiristmas everyone

Thanksgiving

Today we are going camping One of our favorite parks big and lots to do

Camping at TRF

What fun is always to camp we are always so exited and can't wait to go to the Texas renfer we had a blast the first weekend is the busy one kids had fun Sam found a snake small one so Mr Ethan did not wanted to let it go we walk and walk I think that is all we do oh and spend lot of green no is not grass kid want every thing good thing the ATM where not working until right before we had to go back to the site and have lunch but we still use some plastic that is as good as cash between a sword,pet dragon and ocarinas I was up $100 just for that gosh then almonds drinks funnel cake bake potato pretzels and kids still wanted more I thought I had to sell my soul to pay for every thing is a good thing it only happens ones a year for two days for us we love camping here we had to tell some of the big RVs to shut off their generators they did not know it was a family side after 10 pm lower voice and generators off I was trying to take the kid to the main(crazy) area to see the Bonn fire it use to be cool is not any more :( sad we meet a couple Ginger and Mark they introduce a game to us that we have never played (phase 10) it is a great game we got hoked on we end up buying the game from them they where going to camp the 3rd week and we where going to try to meet them again but we have so much going on that weekend maybe next time we did meet some of our Dallas friends we got there Friday around 5:20 and this is how Sam wrote.......

It was funny the next day.. will have pictures posted this week. OK, we have been planning on Boon docking at the Texas Renaissance festival.. We went this past weekend after a bunch of rain. Got there late yesterday, started hunting for a good spot.. almost got stuck before deciding on a spot. Wife wanted the door facing the other direction, so I pulled forward, right into a mud pit covered with grass, to turn around.. left rear tire of my Niagara sunk in the mud up to the Dumping valve.. If it sank any deeper and it would have crushed some plumbing. My Tacoma was unable to pull it out of the mud in that position, couldn't get good traction (07 DC SR5 PreRunner). I don't have 4 wheel drive or a locking rear differential, so I unhooked the camper so I can get my truck unstuck.. once disconnected, I warned the wife to back away and floored it to get UN-stuck.. well... I wasn't stuck anymore, but the ENTIRE front of the pup was covered in a thick sheet of mud! It was covered.

oh, how embarrassing... I backed up from another angle (dryer ground?) hooked up, and still couldn't get it out.. this time, I got both rear tires buried in mud. about that time.. some guy (Alex) was driving by decided to stop and see if he could help. he had a strap and a dodge (OK, fine.. no more Dodge jokes).. tied on to me, I was tied on to the camper, and between us.. we got out of the hole... augh! finally, THANKS ALEX!

I will post some muddy photo's later. I am very sore this morning, as we had to manually lift the tongue and spin it to a dry spot. I have never tried towing through Mud.. I do not plan on doing it again. if you have to... DON'T STOP to back up and angle the camper.. bad idea! I was feeling pretty gutsy with my stock Tacoma, and paid the price. The truck might not get stuck, but the trailer can!! Once it does, you are just going to dig your self a hole.... and the wife will not stop laughing at you as you try to get it out.


Then our friend sowed up we where setting up and so where they I cooked dinner lots as always and told them not to cook we had plenty for every one night time for the kid and us stayed talking BS with some friend and call it a night

Rocky creek

Rocky creek sun rise
We had reservations to camp at rocky creek with the group, there where going to be 25 families. So they decided to cancel the trip we where going too but we have heard so many good thing about this park we just had to ether ruin our weekend or have the best time of our week after waiting to see if Sam had to work for five days the company did not had any power so he did not work for five days Friday morning we waited to see if they where going to call and said we have power come on in and start working no word so we pack the camper and head out we got there at 12:20 left the house by 10:30 so we got there in a good time the sites are very apart big to fit a class A the worn us about the ants and they where not kidding little,fast and they got into anything the play ground was closed for repairs but did not keep the kids from claiming the tree the lake was sandy dark black sand and the water was brown no snakes or fish there where lots of Lilli pads and turtles kids loved it we spend most of our Saturday seating and watching them swim, play and collect clams big ones they wanted to kook them but non of us know how to and I don't think any one eats them Matt and me went for a kayak tour around we travel across the lake and made land we discover some foot prints of deer, birds and cat prints big cat so we decided to pack and go did not wanted to be dinner :) so half way Matt ask me how dip was it and my pedal did not touch bottom and he wanted to do a cannon ball the trick was getting back into the kayak so 3 min latter (can I do it again and again for about five times finally we head back and they stared swimming again it was time for me to star making dinner we had a small pot-luck I had left over roast and I made some enchilada casserole and some salsa with chips some brought BBQ wings sloppy Joe's cheese I can't remember all but it was a feast for all of us we seat around and talk until it was time to go to sleep next morning we had to pack and get ready to leave the place it was fun we well come back for sure and we'll bring and stuff so they don't came home with us
till' the next time we will be at

Texas Renaissance Festival if any one wants to join us let me know.

Camping in the back yard

We have been camping in the back yard not because we did not had electricity,but because we have been in our house for whole 3 week we where staring to go crazy kid always love putting up the tent this time we wanted to not use the inflatable beds so we try it with just sleeping bags Ho that was painful my back is not like it use to I think the last time I slept in a sleeping bag was 10 years ago wow so last night I made me a comfortable bed and I slept really good today we are going to Rocky Creek never been there but all the SETPUCC's friend have been talking really good about this place the plan before the hurricane we had the whole loop about 20 families but now is only four bummer Sam can't wait to go kayaking and fishing it looks like a beach we'll see I guess the menu roast stakes and pork chops rice,sweet potato and salad
"TILL THEN"

Just How I Spend My Birthday

September 16 is my birthday and this is what I did woke up make breakfast and I got to work on my garden cutting, hammering and filling up the boxes with dirt my family took me to Chik-fil-A and every time if some one has a birthday we get to have a very nutty dessert "a Strawberry milkshake the kid love them I don't let them have it all the time so when is someones birthday we have one and there faces are glowing all day after that then we came back home and I kept working on my garden it turn out great can't wait to fill it up with good dirt and I'll be ready to star something don't know what but there is going to be something that night one of our neighbours had a cook off and like 9 family's came by we chit chat kids where playing dogs where having fun so overall my birthday was GREAT. People ask so do you feel old? No I don't feel old just the same as always learning new things every day

Some of Bianca's Video

Video in front of the house the sunset and some dark but you can hear the wind and rain

Ike is here

We just had to get out . We have been watching the news it is a bit depressive. Kids play out side with kite and we just watch them and feeling the wind pick up, we got inside it was impossible not to turn the TV and see what was happening turn it off and watch the sunset go down it was beautiful the wind picked up more got inside we can hear the wind in the front of the house as the night went the wind was blowing the back door too much and we can hear it scary . We did not loose power or satellite so we where able to watch the news. We slept for couple of hours but the wind was strong woke up and took some video watch the news then back to sleep for a bit, kids slept all night did not even woke up good thing in the morning we had some wind not much it was raining turn the TV on then drove around and see some of the trees where on the ground on fences not on houses thank god lots of branches leafs on the ground some parts of Katy does not have power we do luck I guess. We did not get hit as much as Houston we still have the bottle water we did not have to put all our frozen stuff in coolers we thought if we run out of our stuff we just do what (Bear Grylls ) do from Men vs Wild :) great show. The good thing we where prepared we have seen so many people in groceries stores making line to buy stuff did they not get every thing they need?

Hurricane Ike in Houston

Well watching this hurricane Ike. It is going to hit us we have been watching it since Tuesday thank god we are not camping this week, I was thinking to call parks and find out where we can camp for the weekend but I think things happened for a reason right . we are staying home preparing for it making sure we have plenty of food, supplies we campers I thing we know how to survive all the things we really need and things we don't. got some water put some in the freezer we found out if we keep them in a reflective cooler it can be cold for 3 day and don't have to buy ice we camped at Ink lakes and we had a cooler full of frozen water bottles and from where we got there wed-sun they where still a stick size of ice in side so it does work we also have cans cereals and organic milk don't have to be in the fridge kids call it emergency milk, fruits, peanuts, crackers and lots of frozen food hope we don't have to use all of them, so keep in touch and I will have some video and pictures of the storm out from our doors and what are we doing .

Labor day weekend

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This is how our trip goes
From Home to Village Creek SP to Brazos Bend SP to home This picture was taken at Village creek the day we packed and leave.

We have been watching what hurricane Gustav was going to do. It was small, We did not think the storm would hit us there (Village Creek Sp). I asked Sam if he wanted to go somewhere else. He said "No" it is not going to make it there and if it does, we will just pack up and head somewhere else. Driving that way, we noticed there was not a whole lot of traffic going, but there was lot heading west into Houston (Hmm). We got to the park in about 2 hours total, we spent probably an hour just to get through downtown Houston (we live on the west side). Village Creek has one little loop and the sites are very close to each other. they have a tent pad, picnic table, and a fire ring with a bench. It's very wooded and quiet. There were lots of mosquitoes! We did not go and see what the bath house looked like. There were lots of great trails to walk or bike on. On the way to the trails there was a sign warning us about the "poisons snakes", but we did not see any. They said they had a swimming area, it must have been really far as we did not find it but loved the walk.

Sam took his fishing rods and Kayak and he was having a blast. Half way to the swimming area and the kids got really tired. So we found Sam and took the kids to where they had the sand bar. Susie and me headed back on foot to meet Sam, by the launch area, and he took Susie and me over where the kids were. We had a blast, here the water was fresh color brown with lots of sticks. The kids were playing with the sand and I was burying Susie. Then Matt and Ethan liked it so much they started getting buried and I see why.. under the sand was cooler! The kids got in the water while Sam was fishing and Susie was chasing Sam's lure. We headed back to the site and had lunch. Afterwards, we put Mr Ethan for a nap.

The Park ranger comes over and says "we are going to evacuate every one tomorrow morning at 6 am". Sam said "well, we'll just go tomorrow".. and Me "No, we are leaving that area now, lets go somewhere safe". So we started packing and (I have always wanted to do this.. pack and be done quick! I have seen a lot of pop-up campers do it, put every thing inside, and when they get home they clean it). So it took us less then 20 minutes! By the time we passed the office, it had been 30 minutes.

We got to the freeway and it was packed! Cars were moving, but not fast. We saw a lot of trucks getting off the freeway (across the ditch) onto the feeder. Sam sitting there watching, having fun saying ...."Come on, some one get stuck" ..... (he wanted to do it too..). The feeder was empty, no cars driving. The trucks driving off the freeway would get off the freeway and back on miles ahead but we did not do it. We had our second house behind us, and did not want to get stuck. We drove for like 3.5 hours and then.. there was no traffic.. I-10W was closed down to one lane (construction) so all the people that where evacuating got stuck in the freeway thanks to the city. The hurricane is coming and they don't even open it. We got out and did not have to worry about it anymore.

We found a state park that had only one site available. We were not ready to go home yet. We stopped at Brazos Bend where our second chance to see an alligator. We really got the best spot, away from every one. There was a huge field of green with big beautiful trees to shade us while setting the camper up. I made fried chicken and beans for dinner. We had a great night watching Gustav, trying to see which way he is going. We had fun taking the kids for a walk, ended up by the park. We let the kids have some fun playing in the park a while. That evening we sat up watching deer and armadillos chilling out and ran into some friends!

Our Friends have a home close by the park and they came visited our campsite. Like always, we kept them up late but we didn't even notice it was midnight! We have a great time with them and I think they do too. Told them we will visit them and see their chickens and rabbits the next morning. We walked the park trails first to see if we can see at least one small alligator. We did not see any at first, but then there was some people fishing and I saw one moving. Then another moved and we heard a splash.





We heard nothing after that, then you see one moving away and we left on the way back to the campsite. On the way back we got a good look at one laying on a log and we stopped. Took a great picture and Sam wanted to take a better one and when he moved closer they moved. Turns out there was two, we did not see the other one as it blended in with it's surroundings. Now we have a picture yeah!!!!

We visited Mark and Andrea and let the kids brush the Bunny's and pick up the chickens and feed them. We got to see all the vegetables she had it. It was beautiful, makes me want to make my own garden again. A new project for when it's cooler. We drove back to the campsite and had lunch. Then packed up to go home until the next time we camp.

Inks Lake SP

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We decided to go to Inks Lake a day early. The spot Don got for us was the best, hope we can get it again. The park was big, you can hike everywhere. The water was muddy & dark green, but did not keep us from getting in there. We saw lots turtles and a few little fish. We went to the Devil's waterhole and jumped off the little and medium rock. It was scary but fun, the kids loved it! It would be less scary if you could see the bottom.

The bathrooms were clean at the park for the kids. It looks like they have shelters to rent, if you don't want to camp in a tent or travel trailer, and they seem to have AC. There was plenty of room in between camp sites. Some campers had kayaks and jet ski's, my kids got to ride them and loved it! Sam is already thinking of getting one.. Camping with SETPUCC is always fun, making new friends and getting to know the rest better. The Vanishing Cruise was not very exciting for the first 15 minutes, after that, it was worth every penny. Burnet, TX is a great place, nothing but green hills and beautiful scenery will definitely come back












Next camping trip Village Creek
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Inks Lake SP

We are heading to Inks Lake SP by San Antonio. We have no idea how it's going to be or what to expect. This time, we are taking everything for the water. Last time I got so scared, I do not like deep water, and hate to see my kids some where I can not be useful. Also, I felt sorry for Matt as he did not get in the water (because of the depth). So this time, I'm taking the noodles in case they want to be free to swim by themselves. I really hope we like it, so we can say this is a place to come back to. So, stay tuned.. I will post something about our trip.

Brazos Bend Sp

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We love camping why I have no idea. We look for snakes,Raccoons, and Armadillos we walk every where and go any where

We stayed at Brazos Bend Sp known for all the Alligators they have there. Sadly we did not see one we did saw lots of spiders and Raccoons,

they said not to feed them but we just have so much fun with them they are very smart hear good and see in the dark very well we notice big fat ones are the dominate ones. We see lots of Armadillos Sam is always trying to get the tail some times he does the kids love playing pretend, hide and go seek water guns watch TV and video games Oh yes and most of all they love riding there bicycles and wake every one up the little one Ethan has training wheels.
We liked it and I see us coming back to this place to see if we can see an alligator :0)