Jamaica Beach - Travel Day (Day 1)

July 15 

The last few days have been a whirlwind: the return from our Branson trip, laundry, riding lessons, packing the camper, and off again.  This time to Jamaica Beach with the RV.

We didn't get it all done yesterday so the last of the packing happened this morning.  Then it was around 9:30 when we were able to leave.  

The humidity at home was stifling with sweat dripping at 82 degrees.  I-45 traffic wasn't bad until around Huntsville.  Even though it was around noon the traffic got pretty wild through Houston.

After getting through the city we stopped around 1:30 at Bass Pro Shops in League City.  I bought a rod for surf fishing, looked at the boats, and had lunch in the camper.  It is a small store but heavily focusing on saltwater angling.

When we arrived at Jamaica Beach RV Resort everyone else was out and about.  We had to adjust the screened tents to allow us more room, but that was a quick job.  It didn't take too long to set up.  

Dad's site was having breaker issues so I tried to find a work around until he can get the park to deal with it.  Then I set up the Blackstone to make burgers when everyone was back to camp.

Activities this evening:  some kite flying, some catch with Sadie, and drinks, among other things.

Lance stopped by to say high, and Steph, Fergus, and I rode our Lectrics to the beach until it was it wasn't too dark to get back.  Soon showers and bed. 

#Summer2025 - Branson Day 6 & 7, and the drive home

July 10 -

It is relaxing here.  But Brandon is known for ita shows, and this year, there was a production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.  So after a quiet morning, lunch at Hook and Ladder Pizza, and a stop at TSC, we went to the show.  It was spectacular.  Sadie asked to do the backstage pass, so she enjoyed that!

The huge Aslan puppet and the mice

Mr. And Mrs. Beaver

Professor Digory Kirke

The White Witch

Then back to Lilley's for leftover burgers and a quiet evening.  

July 11 -

Our last day. Kay and Marvin left for home this morning.  Steph, Sadie and I rented the bass boat again for a 2 hour outing.  The fishing was better with a bit less current but more wind.  Sadie seemed to enjoy herself a bit more this time.  8 rainbow trout caught with 5 kept.  

Mom promised Sadie a shake from Steak and Shake so the three of us did that.  The Schetchers outlit wasn't a deal, so we didn't stay there long. 

Supper was fajitas.  Then we started to pack up for the trip home.  We leave tomorrow early.  Until next time!

July 12 -

Heading home.  Storms this morning so that made the last of the packing difficult, but we were on the road by 6:15.  

Now we have to do laundry and get packed again!  Busy days!

#Summer2025 - Branson Day 4 & 5

July 8th, our 19th anniversary!  We have been quite a few places on this day in the past 19 years.  We seem to travel now because June gets so busy with summer school and horse activities.  

Today was characterized with a quiet morning.  The water was still fast so dock fishing was out.  

We started a few years ago picking a nice place to eat for our celebration and since Sadie is older we let her go along.  We chose the Downing St. Pourhouse, an English style pub with excellent food.  Sadie had fish and chips, Stephanie the Shepherds Pie, and I had the mahi sandwich.  We also tried the poutine!  Very good!

Since we were near the College of the Ozarks we visited the greenhouse and the mill.  Then ice cream at the Keeter Center.

Stephanie and Sadie drive back and I went to the Branson Landing with Mom and Dad.  They wanted to visited the farmers market.  I wanted to see a boat for sale at Bass Pro.  Then back to Lilley's.  Tacos for supper, a walk, then off to bed.  

Day 5, July 9th.

Today ends a summer session so it was a bit of work from the road.  Another session at another school began yesterday, so double.  

We decided to take a boat out so we chose a bass boat.  Steph was the only one to catch fish; one was 15 inches.  It was in to go out but expensive to rent.  Worth it though!

Mom and Dad, and Kay and Marvin went to the Sight and Sound theater to see the musical about David.  We stayed around and napped, then took Sadie back to Books a Million and we got some items at Aldi.  Then I cooked burgers on the grill, went for a walk and closed out the night.  

This place never gets old!

#Summer2025 - Branson Day 2 & 3

Day 2:  Today was a lazy one.  Besides a few forgotten items that needed another trip to Walmart, today was about staying at the lodge.  It was hot today, and the generation on the lake had the water rolling.  It is predicted to be that way all week.  Table Rock Lake is 10 ft high and the COE is trying to get the levels down.

At home rains continue off and on.  It is cooler there than here.

Tomorrow we plan to go to Springfield to check out Bass Pro Shops.

 

Day 3:  We got up this morning to journey to Springfield to Outdoor World.  Nothing in particular to see.  We just hadn't been in a few years and it is always changing.  

Mom and Dad dropped their dogs off at PetSmart for grooming then headed north.  Bass Pro Shops always impresses.  

Stephanie got new shoes and I looked, and dreamed, about my future fishing boat, and Sadie got a new mug for her hot chocolate.  Then to Lambert's in Ozark.  It is an experience!  Way too much food. 

Back at Lilley's and we sat for a time watching the water rolling by.  I threw a few lines but the river current was much too strong.  Sadie wanted to get a few things so I took her to Merrell Outlet for some school shoes and she got herself a new book.  Traveling back was the most vibrant rainbow I have ever seen!

We walked a bit but today was tiring.  We shall see what tomorrow, and the weather, holds.

#Summer2025 - Branson, Travel Day.

We can be boring sometimes.  This summer vacation is a carbon copy of last year.  Back to Lilley's Landing in Branson.

Last year, however, a massive hurricane rolled through Galveston, making it uncertain if we would be able to keep our future reservations.  This year, on July 4, a deluge of rain fell on the Texas Hill Country raising the level of the Guadalupe River from dry to over 30 feet.  The death toll is unknown, but projections are that it will be high.  They have our prayers.

We didn't set the alarm this morning, getting in no hurry to leave.  The little town of Clayton, OK, has their Independence Day parade at 11 am, and last year we got stuck in it.  So, leave a bit later - in this case, 8:30 am.  

We took our usual route.  Mom and Dad left at 6 am and went through Dallas.  No one has issues and we arrived at Lilley's at 5:30 or so.  Supper was a rotisserie chicken from Sam's Club, and then it was to Walmart for a few things.  Fairly standard and little to get excited about.  

The drive here is pretty as always, so here are a few snaps of the drive.  We are hoping for a relaxing week!

Memorial Day

This weekend, Memorial Day, was a bit unusual.  From Saturday with Friends in East Texas at their farm to a day at the racetrack 

A few weeks ago we received an invite to Bazette to the farm owned by some of our oldest friends' grandmother.  She had passed away a year ago and they wanted to get together at her place for a cookout.  It was great to see some folks we had not seen in quite some time.

Weather was beautiful but hot.  A good time all around.

Then Monday morning storms came through.  A few limbs of the large tree with bees in front of our house came down.  It turned much cooler.

Steph wanted to go to Lonestar Park with some friends of hers for Mother's Day, so we got a table at Silks.  All you can eat, all day buffet.  Dangerous.

It was a fun day.  Wet and nasty, but fun.  A good kickoff to summer.

Spring Break, Last Day.

Our last day at Lilley's was quieter, with a morning in a rental job boat.  We only caught 3 but they were large and nice 

Leftover pizza for lunch and a quiet afternoon, then to the Keeter Center at the College of the Ozarks.  Hamburgers for supper.

Before packing up what we could a nice neighbor took our pic.

Our trip home: we left at 6:15 and was home by 3:30.  Not bad.  This is a fantastic place to go to.