Montgomery City, MO camping - June 24 - 26th, 2011

Hermann Missouri 1st Camping Trip

June 24th - 26th, 2011

Bob, Debe, Aiden, Denali, Micah & Checly (Daniel & Tara stopped in but stayed with the wedding party at the cabins made available)

After selling our pop up camper, we decided to upgrade to a pull behind trailer. We thought we better take a short camping trip to get use to the camper. So off to Hermann Missouri to the Lazy Day Campground which was within an hour of our home town. It is a very nice campground with a pool and nice sites with some shade. We arrived early afternoon and started the process of setting up the camper. This trip reminded us of our first trip in the pop up camper back in 2002. After getting all set up, Bob, while walking the dog, ended up with a broken ankle. Well, another eventful first time camping trip. But this time, Debe would be the one to get hurt. Yes, within an hour of arriving, she ended up with a hurt ankle. But we wouldn't know how bad for a couple days. Below you can take a look at the pictures and see what you think.
Even with the pain of the injury, we would have to enjoy the trip just the same. So, while Debe enjoyed the camper's bed, the others headed to visit the area which included a shopping trip.

That also included hanging out at the camper, eating ice cream, and enjoying family.

Since this is the first camping trip - how about a few photos of the new camper. Now that we are "empty nesters" we decided a camper with a bedroom for us, then triple bunks for grandkids to join would work just fine. lol If the parents come along (and others with no kids) then they can bring a tent, sleep on the couch, or put the table down to a bed. This camper is set up to sleep 10 people but any camper with 10 people in it at once will be miserable.

Saturday morning it was up and off to a friends wedding where Aiden would serve as ring bearer for his fifth time. Yes, he has become one popular addition to many weddings. You heard the story of being a bridesmaid but never a bride, well thank goodness Aiden isn't old enough to be a groom. lol Since this was a country cowboy wedding - jeans, white shirt and cowboy boots where the choice of dress. He loved it.

After a shirt change at the wedding, It was time to enjoy the reception. We aren't prejudice but aren't those some good looking kids/grandkids.

After taking the camper down and preparing it to take back home (thanks to our son Daniel and his wife Tara coming by to help us) it was back home. As the toes begin to turn black, it was time to get Debe to the hospital emergency room and get the truth of what was going on.

If you guessed broken, well - you are right. Fractured/chipped ankle. And a torn ligament. So with a temporary hard bottom cast with an open front for all the swellling it was back home and to an Orthopedic specialist a couple days later.

The good news, we enjoyed the trip. The bad news, months of recovery for the ankle. With high 90 temperatures, Debe was lucky to forgo a cast and have a boot. But with a busy daily schedule - it will only slow her down, definitely not stop her from doing all she has during a busy summer. Thanks for joining us for this weekend, eventful camping trip.

The End

Dallas, TX June 11th - 15th, 2011

Dallas, Texas

June 11th - June 15th, 2011

Bob & Debe

(meetings for Bob, relaxing for Debe)

After a relaxing flight to Dallas, straight thru for once, it was off to Advantage car rental to pick up our car. Nothing fancy, just something to serve the purpose of getting us where we want to go. We headed from the massive airport of Fort Worth/Dallas to a prebooked hotel - Quality Inn in Fort Worth. This had been booked on hotels.com and we have stayed in Quality Inns before. This one had a swimming pool, breakfast included, and internet. While Bob would be at the Convention and meetings, Debe would be laying by the pool keeping in contact on the internet. But for the first time, we were totally disappointed. The pool was broke, the place was really the bad, rooms smelled mushy - just not good. We were able to contact hotels.com and cancel and get refunded which was great.
While searching for rooms via internet, we decided to grab a bite to eat. One restaurant that we miss in St. Louis area is Fuddruckers. (our youngest son's favorite restaurant) As we enjoyed the massive burgers and unlimited fries, we sent photos via cell phone to torture him. lol
With full bellies, we headed to the Westin at the airport. What a difference between the two hotels. We used points for the room but upgraded to a suite which was really sweet. This gave us free internet and a fabulous breakfast every day for just $30 more a day. And wow, what a room. Between watching the planes land just out one window (one runway was very close to the hotle) and enjoying the very nice pool, there wasn't much time left for internet.

One thing we wanted to do was go back to the Wet & Wild we had taken the six kids to back in about 1987. (before we were married or had the youngest son) At that time we felt it was huge and we all loved it. On the main street close by you could find about anything you wanted. Wet & Wild was now owned by Six Flags and was renamed Hurricane Harbour. The Six Flags was very close by and was HUGE. So many roller coasters. Also stadiums that house the Texas Rangers, football team, and/or other teams were close by. We paid the $12 parking fee and heading into the water park. At over 100 degrees, this was going to feel great.

We had been told you can get $5 off per ticket with a coke product can and/or go by McDonalds and pick up a coupon. We did the latter. Fair warning - purses and bags are searched on entrance into Hurricane Harbour. No food and drinks allowed. They want you to buy everything from them. ;) Hurricane Harbour definitely wasn't the Wet & Wild that we remembered but we weren't in our early 30's either. After about 3 hours of getting thrown around waterslides and standing in lines, we were ready to go.

We had our first dinner at Fuddruckers but we also headed to Red Lobster (Debe's favorite seafood place), to Dennys, and ordered calzones in the room.

NO, we didn't sail off into the wild blue yonder nor did we have a beautiful sunset to add to the blog. But we did enjoy the time away, just the two of us enjoying life and each other.

THE END