Impromptu Weekend at the Lake

The Good

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly all wrapped up in one weekend. I decided to go out camping Friday after work. Hitched up the camper and then when I tried to lower it to lift the foot under the jack, the jack died. No up or down or light. Nothing! Manual crank was so tight, I couldn't budge it. Got help from Daddy and my son to get it going. "Camped" in the driveway. Left the house in time to get to the park when the office opened on Saturday morning. God bless the neighbor who came over to help me crank the jack to unhitch!  I had to pull forward in the site to avoid a tree at the door and one at the back where the slide comes out. Got set up and wouldn't you know it? My drinking hose was about 5' too short!!! Started feeling like this trip was not meant to be. But, I had water in the fresh tank so I made a go of it.

The lake is a little low and the water is warm (like a bathtub), but still a nice weekend getaway. People were swimming, kayaking, tubing and skiing behind boats and jet skiing.  Burleson and Lee counties are in a burn ban. No fires or charcoal cooking right now. The rangers have nice hikes and activities planned between the Birch and Nails Creek units. Be sure to check their calendar. If you don't have a Texas State Parks Passport, get the Centennial edition this year and get it stamped at each park you visit. There are several other 100 year items as well. Pray for rain for this whole region!

One of my neighbors in the park suggested that the little inline fuse to the jack may have blown and sure enough! Good thing I travel with an assortment of them! Fixed and ready to go. Campers are some of the coolest people!

NOTE: Site 43 has NO shade over the parking area or picnic table. 42 is a nice shady, private site with its own little trail to the lake and it's the answer to life, right?!

Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park

Check In: 2 pm   Check Out: 12 pm
👩🏻‍💼 Staff was friendly and helpful
🚻 Restrooms and 🚿 Showers in each camping area
🛒 Small Store with snacks, Texas Parks items, books, souvenirs, etc.
💩 Dump Station
🚶🏻‍♀️🚴🏻‍♀️ Great trails!
🌊 Water access from several of the sites

📋 Site #44

• 🔙 Back In
• 🅿 Site Pad: Asphalt, about 12' wide, but trees close on both sides. Had to adjust front to back to avoid trees with door and slide. 
• ↔ Spacing: Spacious
• 🌳 A little shade, good on the camping side in the afternoon.
• 💧 Water faucet on back of power pole. Power and faucet are at the back end of the site. Hose hookup is at the front of my camper. Needed a hose longer than 25'! (at least I did)
• ⚡ Electric 20/30. It has a 50 amp plug, but only 30 amp breakers
• 🔥 Fire Ring w/adjustable grate (but can't use because of burn ban right now)
• Picnic Table: Wood with metal legs. One of the boards on the table top is warped. Gets morning sun, but afternoon shade
• Lantern Hook
• 👀 Great view of the lake, nice breeze when it's blowing

Regular cost per night $25

Discounts: Texas State Parks Pass - half off second night, daily fees waived, 10% discount in store

My total cost for 2 nights: 💲30 = Avg $15/night
🚘 51.3 miles round trip - 9.75 mph

💜 Highlights of this trip:

👩🏻 Camped alone. Visited by my brother on Sunday.

👀 Saw tiny insects and flowers on the Lilliputian Walk
🚶🏻‍♀️ Walked  Eagle Loop trail
🐦 Lots of songbirds, buzzards, egrets, deer, lizards, Eagle (always a treat)
🛶 Got out on the kayak to start building back some of my upper body strength
🌲 Lots of shady areas in camping loops and trails. Everything needs rain!
🍽 Ate at Texas Seafood & Steak in Somerville for my brother's birthday, then DQ for $1 dip cone (reward in the app). 
👩🏻‍⚕️ Slipped off the top step of the camper in my wet water shoes and broke my big toe

 

The Ugly

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to see some of my favorite RV and Camping products from Amazon

(and some for the Sticks N Bricks, too)

The REALLY Good!