howdy howdy

We are in Elberton, Georgia for a bank job… well a bank remodel. The job actually started 2 weeks ago by another superintendent who was filling in until Buddy could get here. The campground owner helped us get backed into the site, apologized for the wet ground, said it had rained 11" in the last 2 weeks. Buddy apologized right back, stating that he was the reason for the rain, sticking out his hand, "Howdy, they call me Muddy Buddy."

Elberton is the granite capitol of the world, we passed by many granite plants, giant hunks of granite, tombstone manufacturers, we hope to get to the granite museum in town soon, and of course out to see the Georgia Guidestones, aka 'America's Stonehenge.'

The campground owner is John and his son Barry runs the place. Barry was very nice and helpful, made sure we had everything we needed, made sure we had his cell phone programed into our phones, just call anytime. He used to work for DirecTV and has all campsites wired for DTV, just an extra $10 a month and he will install a receiver. Pretty neat, one less thing to drag out and set up, the satellite dish. But there is no DVR, so we are watching TV old-school, whatever happens to be on, if we want to watch something in particular we have to be on the couch at that time, no recording for later. I like it, keeping it simple. But Buddy is itching to get out the satellite, he does love his toys. 

Lots of very tall pine trees here, hence the name Pine-Der-Rosa Campground. 

Actually this is the second time Buddy has camped here, he was here 9 years ago working on the same bank, stayed in this campground in his dad's old Holiday Rambler. When time to leave, John talked him into selling his camper so it could stay there and be rented out for fishermen coming to the nearby Lake. So after we got all settled in, we walked over to see the old camper, it is still there! 

snowbird

after a week of snow on the ground, the only place not covered is where Buddy's truck was parked, so that is where the birds are looking for food 

winter camping

Horseshoe Acres Campground, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky

baby its cold outside

Well we came back to Kentucky after Christmas to COLD weather. We thought maybe it was just a cold snap, will warm up soon. But apparently not...

So time to winterize the camper. In addition to the usual things like insulation and heat-tape on the water line (which we did in the fall), it is time to go BIG and underpin the camper with insulation board. We have only done this one time before, in Rapid City, South Dakota. We have been in warmer climates since then and were thinking Kentucky would not be this cold. 

Inside we have the gas furnace, 3 space heaters, 2 electric blankets (1 for bed, 1 for couch), and are wearing double layers of everything, so it is TIME for the underpinning. Hopefully it will help a lot. Next step is to cover the windows with insulation. I usually bail before it gets this cold, head home to GA, but I will stick it out here for now, but not sure how I will like the windows being covered up, eek! 

from our house to yours

The 2017 Christmas Letter

from our house (camper) to yours... Merry Christmas!!

Kentucky sunrise

So peaceful here in rural Kentucky. Listening to the news from Evansville, Indiana, the weatherman says it will be a pretty sunrise, get out there and see it, so I did. He says it is foggy down in Muhlenberg county, yes it is. Cool this fall morning, 53 degrees.

home sweet tiny home

settling in to rural Kentucky, so quiet and peaceful. Family owned campground, such friendly folks! The campground owner works in the coal mines, his wife works at Walmart, their house is down in the valley. Our campsite is on the top of the hill next to another family residence, our next door neighbor is.... the coal miner's daughter

such nice folks here in Kentucky, no internet service, practically no cell signal (which I have to have for work) - the campground owner was out on Sunday morning with the post-hole digger installing a 20' tower behind our camper for a cell booster system, it works great- 5 bars on my verizon hot spot! But now I have to go back to work :(

partied out

Camping in southern Louisiana is like no where we have ever been. The locals start trickling in on Thursday afternoon, and by Friday noon there is a line of RVs out the driveway waiting to check in. RVs pulling trailers of course with the camping essentials in tow - golf carts and coolers. 

The beach here at Lakeview is a local tradition going back to the 1960s, families that grew up swimming at this beach are bringing their kids and grandkids now. It is VERY popular, the only place around for swimming (without gators). 

The sand is trucked in, the palm trees and tiki bar and giant water floats make it fun. The campground office/store has a constant line of folks wanting to pay $ to swim, rent floats, get ice cream on a stick. 

They come for the day or the weekend or the week or the month. This is their little oasis in the big swamp of life.  

The park is full to overflowing every weekend in the summer, they come to get away from their working life, they come to get together with family and friends, they come to cruise around in their souped up 'camping buggies', they come to party. Big groups arrange their RVs of all sizes and shapes so that all the doors face a central location with all the tables in the middle, the golf carts are charged up, music playlist ready to blast. 

All of this is fun to watch, the parents teaching little kids to ride bikes, folks playing volleyball on the beach, dads and sons walking down to the lake with fishing poles in hand... it is all fun until dark.

Dark is when the grownups really get going, The decibel level of the whoops and hollers and booming music directly correlates to the amount of alcohol consumed, and all of it gets gradually louder and louder throughout the evening and usually goes until about 2 a.m. 

We finally learned to turn on the AC unit over our bed (the one that we don't usually use at night because it is so loud) and it works pretty well to drown out the noise just outside our camper door and windows. 

Kids learn from their parents, whether it be riding a bike, or fishing, or how to party. So if one were to come back here in 15-20 years, those little sunburned kids will be partying to all hours, blasting their music, staggering around and yelling, carrying on family traditions. 

Heaven help them if they ever go on vacation outside of Louisiana, there will be a rude awakening about camping in general, rules, and quiet time. I am reminded of the time we were reprimanded by the ranger at Glacier NP when we ran our diesel truck one morning a little before quiet time ended :)

Sunday is our favorite time here in the campground, our home away from home. Because that is when the party animals are all packing up and leaving out. We want to stand at the exit, direct traffic, and wave Bye Bye!

the party is over

the beer coolers are empty

the golf cart battery is dead

the kids are sunburned

the dogs are tired

time to go home

just another Sunday at the campground

the party is over

So is the circle of life here in LA, work all week, party all weekend, it works for them, and maybe there is a lesson in there for the rest of us. 

But we are about partied out and can't wait to get home to our quiet little cabin in the mountains, where sometimes the sounds of katydids through the open window is deafening, but oh what music it is to our ears. 

strolling

cattails at the little creek (this is where I see the 2 snakes sunning sometimes) eek!

the old dance barn is just so darn photogenic

and the back lot looks a lot like ours at home, 

stuff saved forever in case you might need it someday

My morning stroll around the campground, lots to see. It is nice and quiet here Mondays through Thursdays, then there is the weekend... these Cajun folks really like to party! They have a great attitude on life and what is important. 

Even though we are full-timers here at the campground, we have had to move a couple of times. The weekenders have priority, a lot of return business and they like to reserve certain sites for their big families. And their golf carts... 

It is fun to just sit out and watch the campground fill up starting on Thursday afternoon. Last week there was this huge motorhome pulling a jeep pulling a trailer. A lot of times there will be a truck pulling a camper pulling a trailer (for the golf cart). These folks cannot live without their golf carts, used to cruise around the campground, used to drive up to the beach for swimming. This is the only place we have ever experienced this phenomenon. You never see anyone walking, just riding, too funny :)

a little excitement

What is that annoying sound, it sounds like a sick bird or duck, it must be sitting right on top of our camper. One look outside and there it is - the little tree frog singing along. Okay, he can stay, we have a new pet.

A little excitement in an otherwise boring week - plumbing problems in our section of the campground, so we had to move to a new site, it is nicer, bigger, usually saved for the weekenders, so movin' on up!

Enjoying the sunshine here in LA, and my red kitchen :)

at the beach

an oasis in rural LA

filling up the swimmin' hole with cold well water

aliens have landed

Lakeview Park and Beach, Eunice, LA

The beach here at Lakeview Park is a 1 acre large swimming area with fresh well water pumped into it daily. The water is cold and refreshing. Beach opens April 23rd!

laid back in LA

We have yet to attend the barn dance here at the campground. One, it is from 8-12 and we are already in our PJs by that time, and two, we can hear it just fine in our camper, yes very loud until midnight, and three, Buddy has been working 6 days a week and is pretty tired by the time he gets home on Saturday evening, just show him the recliner please.

Other than the weekly barn dances and rowdy weekend campers, it is pretty quiet around here. 

The turtles like to catch some rays where they can, all crowded together on this one floating log, they usually jump off when I approach, but caught them this time!

sunrise

life is good in rural Louisiana, farm country, back roads, friendly folks