Home Again! Part 2

 I forgot to tell you something funny that happened when we were geocashing.  The geocash was supposed to be by a business.  Grandpa went down some steps and yelled "I found it!"  Mom looked and he was holding up a rat bait station.  Mom yelled that it was a rat bait station but he is hard of hearing, so he couldn't hear her.  He started trying to open it up.  Mom kept yelling "NO, NO!"  She then started laughing really hard.  When she got back in the car, Grandma asked if we found the geocash.  She started laughing again as she told Grandma about Grandpa holding the rat bait station over his head thinking it was his prize.  😂

We drove to Louisiana, MO with Grandma and Grandpa the Thursday before we left.  We put flowers on Dad's Grandparents graves.  Grandma and Grandpa also showed the folks where they want their ashes spread when they die.  They thought they had a spot picked out but they said there were too many trees and they wouldn't be able to see the river. They chose another spot that is really pretty and actually where Grandma's sister's ashes were spread.  We ate lunch in that location. The weather was beautiful.

We left Grandma's on Monday and headed to Bennett Springs State Park. Grandpa came along because he likes to trout fish too.  We had a great site our first night.  It had a lot of grass around it.  We had to move the second night because someone else had alread booked the site.  The weather was great!  The evenings and mornings were cool.  Mom and I enjoyed walking around while Dad and Grandpa fished.  

Mom opened up our door because the weather was so nice.

Camping is exhausting.

A view at the river.

Mom always has to take this photo.

We love spending time at Bennett Springs State Park.  It is such a peaceful place.

More to come on our trip in our next post.

Jaxson,

The Greyhound Who Is Happy To Be Back At The Beach

Two Week Vacation - Part 2

 The second day of our vacation began in Washington, Arkansas at Coulter Farmstead. We had spent the previous night there.  We left around 8 a.m. and made our way through Arkansas and into Missouri.  We drove for about 6.5 hours.  We made our way to Bennett Springs State Park.  This is a park that Jack, Scout and Joey loved to visit.  It is one of my folks' favorite places to stay.  I have to say that I agree that is a great place to stay.  I had a wonderful time.

Let's Go Mom!

Where are the waves?

Mom loves this spot of the park.

That's my Dad fishing.

When we arrived at the park, we went to our site.  It was in a wooded section because we couldn't get the section that Mom wanted.  It wasn't bad but it was way too far for us to walk to the areas that Mom wanted to walk plus ticks were an issue.  Dad had brought his electric bike and planned on riding it to the fishing spots.  However, he forgot the key, so he couldn't use the battery on the bike.  We were located at the top of a hill and there was no way he could ride it up the hill.  Mom said she would drive him to the fishing spots. This was fine except that she was nervous about backing up the van into our spot each time.  If you have ever camped, you know that everyone likes to watch each other.  😁We were the entertainment for the night as Mom practiced backing into the spot.  There was only one tree that she needed to avoid and she did that but she still had trouble getting into the spot.  I thought we would never get done practicing.  The next morning, we took Dad to his fishing spot and we headed home.  She avoided hitting the tree and was able to get into the spot in two tries. 😀 We then picked Dad up and she backed in perfectly.😅  She was happy but she still wanted to move to the loop that was closer to fishing.  She found out that there was an opening, so off we went to claim it.  The new site was nice but not shaded at all.  It was a very hot stay but our AC kept us cool.  Mom and I still chauvered Dad around but our site was a pull-thru so very easy for Mom.  Mom and I were able to walk to all her favorite spots and I was excited to get up at 5:30 a.m. and start the day.  Can you believe that?  I normally don't get up until 8 a.m. at home.

We drove into Lebanon on Tuesday.  The folks visited the Russell Stovers Outlet. Mom says it is a tradition. They bought chocolates to take to Grandma's house.  They also ate at Bandana's.  We do not have locations here and Mom loves their garlic bread as well as their BBQ.  I stayed in the van with the generator running the AC.  The folks have installed a pet cam, so they were able to watch me while they ate. We drove back to the campground after lunch and Dad fished again in the evening.

We were sad to leave on Wednesday morning.  It was so much fun.  The folks promised we would return soon. More to come in Part 3.

Jaxson,

The Greyhound Who Loves Camping

Bennett Springs - Part 2 Of Our Final Family Vacation In Our Motor Home

Bennett Springs is one of our favorite places to stay.  Dad loves it because he likes to trout fish.  Mom and I like it because we enjoy our long walks in the morning and evening.  The morning walks are the best.  It is very peaceful.  We just walk and walk and walk.  It is definitely one of my favorite places.  We probably won't be back though unless we rent an RV on our next trip home.  We may just have to wait until we buy another RV which won't be until Dad retires and I will be around 15 then.  Yikes!  So, we enjoyed this trip like it was our last and it was a fun time!

The Mama started approaching us, so we left.

This is the dining lodge.  The folks ate there a few times.  Mom brought me some chicken.

This is Mom's favorite spot.

 

More deer.  We saw them in the early evening near the campground.

I haven't mentioned it yet, but the folks are losing weight.  Dad has lost 30 pounds and Mom has lost 20.  This trip has been a real test for them, but they are maintaining pretty well.  They normally only eat out once or twice a weekend, but since we are on vacation, they have eaten out one meal each day.  They are very careful the rest of the day.  There are just a few places Mom wanted to be sure they ate at and one was Bandana's.  It is a BBQ place that we don't have in Texas.

Shredded pork with beef brisket. 

 Mom said Bandana's was really good.  The garlic bread is 239 calories a slice, so she basically just ate one.  Well, maybe a little of the second one. The coleslaw is 209 and the green beans are 30.  The meat really wasn't bad.  They only eat 1,200 calories a day.  I think Mom figured this meal was about 800, but I could be wrong on that.   I think they are trying to stay below 2,000 calories a day while on this trip and will have to be sure to get back on their 1,200 calories a day when we get back to Houston.

Here are the final pictures from Little Rock of the bridge that was lit up.  Mom forgot to edit them and they are all crooked.

 

Oh, in case you are wondering....we did rent a condo at the beach in Galveston for the winter.  After we get back to Houston, we will start moving our things into a storage facility until we either buy a condo or rent an apartment.  We have the condo rented until February.  Mom said she thinks I will like the condo, but there is an elevator.  😮  Dad said it is very quiet and doesn't move fast, so maybe I will like it.  I didn't like the one in the hotel at all.  If I don't like it, I only have four flights of stairs to go up and down every time I have to go outside.  I figure it will be good exercise for Mom. 😂

Joey,
The Greyhound Who Is Really Enjoying His Vacation

Bennett Springs State Park

We are on vacation!  We traveled to Big Cabin, OK last week for an oil change on the RV.  The place that did the oil change has a small campground.  It was actually really nice.  However, the place that did the oil change is not pet friendly.  They said I was not allowed inside their building.  That could have been an issue if it was raining or hot outside or if the repair took all day.  Mom got my old bed out of the Jeep and I just laid there while the rig was getting serviced.  I actually enjoyed spending time outside, so it was okay.

Our view from the campground.

Us

After the oil change, we drove to Bennett Springs State Park.  This was my third trip there.  It is one of my favorite places. Why?  There is so much room to walk.  I didn't get to fish since Dad was concerned that I might pick up a hook in my foot.  Mom and I did our walking while Dad was fishing.  We walked two miles one day and one and a half another.  We used to walk that far and even farther all the time, but we have gotten out of shape due to the places we have been staying.  It was nice to stretch my legs again.

Spring is just beginning here. 

Mom always likes seeing this scene.

Our stay at Bennett Springs was fun.  However, the water has not been turned on at the campground yet.  We had to fill up our tank which was quite an adventure as it was tight getting our rig into that area.  They were also doing road construction at the campground entrance/exit which presented more challenges for our 45' rig.  We will not be able to drink water from our rig for a while unless Dad sanitizes it since we had to put water in the tank.  Normally, a hose is just connected to the rig and that is safe to drink from. When you turn the pump on, it contaminates your system and it is not safe to drink until you sanitize it or wait about a week after you stop using the pump.  It is a pain because even to brush their teeth, the folks have to use bottled water.  I get to drink bottled water too. 

We left Bennett Springs yesterday.  We had just a short trip to our next destination.  Our engine light came on which caused us to pull over to the shoulder. Not only did the light come home but it made this terrible tone to get our attention.  Dad called the manufacturer of our rig who then called the people who made our engine.  Dad told them the error codes and we were told we could keep driving since it wasn't too far.  They are supposed to call us tomorrow to set up a repair time.  That was not part of our vacation schedule and I bet it will take all day at the repair shop.  He hopes they will come to us, but I bet they don't.  It is still under warranty, so it shouldn't cost us anything but time. 

I am scheduled to have a dental on Friday.  Mom is worried about it, of course.  I am not worried, but I would rather not do it.

Joey,
The Greyhound Who Doesn't Think A Dental Should Be Part Of A Vacation

Vacation Time!

Sorry we haven't been around much.  We are on vacation and apparently, that means a vacation from blogging, too.  We are doing fine, but we have been busy.  We haven't taken many photos.  :-(

We went trout fishing at Bennett Springs State Park.  I am not sure why they call it trout fishing because I never saw a trout.  Dad doesn't let us near the water because he is worried we might get a hook in a paw or that we might see some old bait and eat it.  We basically just walked around the campground.  Mama always likes taking photos at Bennett Springs, but she only did it as we were driving out of the park, so the photos are not that good.

The "waterfalls" at Bennett Springs.

Yesterday, the folks visited their doctor for their yearly check ups.  Today, Scout and I visited our vet.  Our vet has moved to a new location, so we were a little confused at first, but then we remembered him.

Yep, our vet is really called "My Vet".  It's an easy name to remember.

"When is he going to see me?"

"Why am I here?  I am current on my shots."

Scout has lost four pounds.  We thought it was more.  Mama says it is from all the walking we do.  We walked a ton in Houston and Denver, but not quite as much in Fort Lauderdale, but it is still a lot more than we used to do when we lived in a house.  I gained a pound or two, but the vet says it is because I am so muscular.  I am pretty ripped if I do say so myself.  The pictures really don't show it.  The vet was impressed by my body. 

After the vet visit, we went to the car wash.  It was scary!

Mama thought Scout's expression was really funny in this photo.

Mama picked up her mixer, sewing machine and a clock that the folks bought before they married 27 years ago from Grandma's house.  Mama is happy to have these items with her again.

Cookies are in our future.

The folks are visiting the family today, so Scout and I will hang out in the motor home.  We are exhausted after the vet and the car wash, so we are happy to sleep the day away.

Joey,
The Greyhound Who Doesn't Think Other Dogs Go To The Vet On Their Vacation.