Showing posts with label Kansas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kansas. Show all posts

Sunday, October 25, 2026

One Last Camping Trip Before Winter

The Bluffs at our Campsite
The Bluffs at our Campsite
We went on our second and final camping trip of the year the weekend of October 16. I took the day off work so we could travel to western Kansas, where we have camped previously. This would be our third trip to Hipcamp C2T Ranch on the Saline River. We love it there, and this proved to be another great camping trip just north of Hays, Kansas.

We once again rented a U-Haul to pack our items so we could all go in one car. Erin, Greg, Carrie, and I left Friday morning around 8 a.m. and headed west. We made a few stops along the way, including our usual spot in Alma, Kansas, where we stopped to get some snacks, check out the cheese, and prepare for the rest of the trip.

Later, we made what is becoming our annual stop at Russell Stover in Abilene, Kansas. With snacks in hand, we were ready to finish the rest of the drive, which was another hour or so to where we would be eating.

Take on Chicken Pot Pie
Take on Chicken Pot Pie
We first went to The Handle Bar Tavern in Plainville, Kansas, last year when we went camping. We liked it so much that we decided it would be our first stop on our camping trip back to the area. The drinks did not disappoint, and the food was delicious once again. If you are in the area, I highly recommend stopping by The Handle Bar Tavern.

Following a late lunch, it was time to head to our campsite, which was another 15 to 30 minutes from where we had lunch. When we arrived, the camp host greeted us and took us down to our campsite. This being our third trip to the same site, we knew exactly where we were going, but the host was gracious and took us down anyway, making sure everything was to our liking.

Everything was perfect.

We unloaded everything from the car and U-Haul so we could start making camp. It did not take us long to get the tent set up and everything situated for the evening. It was a little windy to start, but as the sun went down, the wind stopped. It was a beautiful evening with no clouds, and we could see stars all the way down to the horizon.

Ready to Eat
Ready to Eat
At the site, we get unlimited firewood for $30 for the whole weekend. We also once again bought hamburgers from the camp host that come from cattle raised on the ranch. They are wonderful!

We cooked the hamburgers and enjoyed the evening talking, listening to music, and looking out over the landscape. What a great way to spend an evening.

Saturday morning, we all slept later than we normally do when camping. I think we started getting up around 9:30 or 10. We did not have much planned for our only full day at the campsite. Again, the wind was blowing pretty good throughout the day, but it was not too bad.

Erin and Carrie Gathering Firewood
Erin and Carrie Gathering Firewood
We cooked hot dogs over the fire, and then Greg and I listened to the KU and Washburn games throughout the day. I believe the KU game started at 11, so once it finished, we switched over to listen to the Washburn game. Both teams ended up losing, but we had fun listening old-school style on the radio.

Getting Chili Ready to Cook
Getting Chili Ready to Cook
Saturday evening would be chili that Greg cooked for us. We started preparing everything while there was still some daylight. While the chili cooked, we went on a short hike to check out some of the other campsites. We did a little photo shoot of us walking that turned out great.


Selfie on Hike
Selfie on Hike

Silhouettes of Us on the Trail
Silhouettes of Us on the Trail

Following our short hike, we got back to camp and tended to the chili as it finished cooking over the fire. Once it was ready, we all grabbed our bowls and ladled out some chili. It was so good that I had two full bowls. I was very full, but it was so worth it.

Warm Fire and Evening
Warm Fire and Evening
We huddled around the fire after dinner and listened to the playlist we had all built. We started with two songs each from five friends, and then added songs from two bands recommended by co-workers, with us picking which songs from those bands to include. I think we came up with a pretty good playlist.

Listen to our camping playlist on Apple Music

I ended up falling asleep while we were sitting around the fire. I had started drinking some beers earlier while listening to the football games, so everyone else had fun making fun of me for falling asleep. I was warm and cozy, listening to the playlist, so sleep came easily.

Sunday morning, we all slept later again than we normally do when camping. None of us was feeling particularly motivated to start packing up and heading home. Eventually, we got everything packed back into the U-Haul and loaded into the car.

We left our campsite around 11 a.m. and headed into Hays, Kansas, where we wanted to find a place for lunch.

We ended up finding a spot called Las Hefas Latin Cuisine that showed up in a search. It was so good that we want to go back to Hays just to eat there again. The owner/operator was our waiter, and it was interesting talking with him. He grew up in Hays, went to Fort Hays for college, and eventually opened the restaurant.

He told us that locals do not really come to his restaurant and that people passing through Hays make up more of his regular crowd. The locals do not know what they are missing.

Fantastic meal, and we will definitely be back.

Carrie Photo of our Campsite
Carrie Photo of our Campsite
Overall, we had a great camping trip. It is always fun to be outside, enjoy nature, sit around a fire, and get away for a few days. I am sad that we were only able to go camping twice this year. Next year, I want to go four, five, or maybe even more times.

Until next time, have a great rest of your weekend and a wonderful week.


Saturday, October 24, 2026

Get Out and Vote!

Voted Early and Photo Booth
Greg, Erin, Carrie, and me
in photo booth
You can still vote early. We decided to go out and vote early on Wednesday. Early voting started in Topeka on Monday, October 19. I saw someone I know while we were there, and they told me they had record voting on Monday and Tuesday and were expecting high numbers again on Wednesday. I think my number was somewhere around 1,400, but I don't recall for sure. It certainly seemed like the trend was going upward.

Whether you vote early or wait until Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, make sure to cast your vote, no matter where you are located.

This is an important election. We had President Trump in Kansas a few weeks ago campaigning for Kansas lawmakers, and Vice President Vance is scheduled to be in Topeka on Monday. Republicans seem concerned, which I think is a good thing. It is the first time I can remember this much focus on Kansas from national political leaders and the media. Kansas is usually viewed as an automatic vote for Republicans.

Regardless of where you are located in the United States or which candidates you support, make sure you get out and vote. Your vote matters.


Sunday, May 03, 2026

Lessons, Leadership, and a View from the Capitol Dome

Topeka Capital
Topeka Capital
This past Friday, I attended my second to last Leadership Greater Topeka (LGT) class. We have one more class, which is a half day, followed by graduation. My time in LGT has flown by, and I cannot believe the end is already approaching. We have covered so much through these classes and learned a great deal about the community where I live and work.

On Friday morning, we spent time talking with leaders from local and state government, including Kansas Representatives and Senators. It was an engaging day of listening and learning as they shared their journeys into public service and described what a typical day looks like when they are in session.

View from the Top Looking Toward Washburn University
Washburn in the Distance
Friday afternoon was spent at the Topeka Capitol, a place I have visited a number of times. However, I had never been to the top of the Capitol. On previous tours, the top was closed, so I made it a point to go all the way up this time to see the view. It was an incredible experience to climb more than two hundred stairs and look out over Topeka from the top of the Capitol.

Spiral Stairs Lead to the Top of Capital
Spiral Stairs to the Top
The journey to the top was challenging. The guide mentioned several times that anyone who wanted to turn back could do so, but asked that they let her know so she could account for changes in the group size. There were three different locations where people could peel off and not continue. A few people decided they had gone high enough. I am very glad that I kept going and was able to take in the view of Topeka from atop the Capitol.

Looking up Inside the Capital
Looking Up
During the tour, the guide also shared a few ghost stories, which were interesting. She explained that while she had never experienced anything herself, there have been reports of banging or unexplained noises near the top of the dome. When officers investigate, they never find anything. When we were up in the dome, it was extremely quiet, which felt a bit odd. There was no sound of wind and no noise from below. It was not until we started our way down and reached the third set of stairs that I began to hear the sounds of people far below in the Capitol participating in other tours.

It was a wonderful way to wind down the LGT experience. I have truly enjoyed the LGT journey and look forward to nominating others for future classes.

Sunday, November 23, 2025

The Roller Coaster of Sports: Jayhawks, Washburn, and Chiefs

College Basketball Season is Here -- Jayhawks and Ichabods
The college basketball season is finally here, and wow, it’s already been a ride keeping up with my teams! As many of you know, I’m all in on two squads: the Kansas Jayhawks and the Washburn Ichabods. I’ve been a Jayhawk fan for as long as I can remember, going to KU games as a kid was a big part of growing up. My Ichabod loyalty started when I attended Washburn in 1994 and grew even stronger when I began working there in 1997.

Kansas Jayhawks

The Jayhawks have been a powerhouse for years, but honestly, the last couple of seasons have been tough to watch. There were games last year where I just turned the TV off because we were playing so poorly. I was hoping this year would be different, but here we are, still struggling. We’re sitting at 3 - 2 right now, and it feels like it’s going to be another roller coaster season.

Washburn Ichabods

Newly Renovated Lee Arena at Washburn University
Newly Renovated Lee Arena
Now, Washburn basketball? Completely different story. Lee Arena just got a major facelift, and it looks incredible! Carrie and I went to the first game of the season, and seeing the new paint, court, and scoreboard in person was awesome. Washburn has started the season with an impressive 6 - 0 record.

View from our Seats
View from our Seats
Last year, Washburn made it all the way to the NCAA Division II championship game. We didn’t win, but following that run was so much fun. This year, they’re ranked number 2 in the country, and I’m pumped to see what’s next. Our next home game is Tuesday night, and you better believe I’ll be there.

Other Sports Frustrations

Of course, being a fan isn’t all sunshine and wins. KU football? Rough year. Washburn football? Same story. And don’t even get me started on the Kansas City Chiefs. Sitting at 5 - 5, they’ve had games that were just painful to watch. I keep hoping they’ll turn it around, but so far, not so much.

The Roller Coaster of Sports

The Roller Coaster of Sports
That’s the thing about sports though, it’s a roller coaster. Some days you’re frustrated, and other days you’re jumping out of your seat because of a last second shot or an upset win. Those are the moments that keep us coming back. They’re the stories we share with friends and family, asking, “Where were you when that happened?”

Until next time, enjoy the rest of your Sunday. Here’s hoping your teams give you something exciting to cheer about this season!

Sunday, October 26, 2025

Returning to C2T Ranch: A Perfect End to Camping Season

Tents at C2T Ranch on the Saline
We went on our last camping trip of the season and returned to a place we had only visited once before but loved so much that we had to go again. We stayed at C2T Ranch on the Saline from October 17 to 19. This is a HipCamp site we first visited in 2022, and we were excited to go back. This spot never disappoints. It is on a working ranch where we saw and heard cattle roaming the land. At night, after going to bed, we heard coyotes in the distance. It was a fun spot, and we ate well too.

Uhaul trailer through Erin and Greg's tent
We decided to rent a U-Haul so we could all travel together in one vehicle, which worked out great. We went with Erin and Greg, who joined us on our first trip to C2T Ranch in 2022, so we all had good memories to revisit. We left early Friday morning and already had plans for lunch in Plainville, Kansas, where we ate at The Handle Bar Tavern and Eatery. It is an excellent spot north of Hays, Kansas, where we enjoyed drinks and delicious food. The Handle Bar Tavern and Eatery has a large menu, and everything the four of us ordered was excellent. I highly recommend stopping by if you are in western Kansas.

Fresh Hamburgers on Camp Fire at HipCamp
Check-in for our HipCamp was at 2 pm, and we arrived right on time. It looked just the way we remembered from our first visit. We set up quickly and were ready for the evening with fresh hamburger meat delivered by the HipCamp host. We did this the first year and remembered how good the burgers were on the open range. Along with the meat, we ordered potatoes to cook over the campfire.

Since we had an early start Friday morning, we did not stay up very late that night. I think we were all in our tents by 1 am. It was getting rather cold, so we were ready to call it a day. It was a fun first day of travel, camping, and relaxing.

Bluffs with Morning Sun
Saturday morning we all got up somewhat early to make pancakes. Waking to the sound of cattle far off in the distance was something I had never experienced before. We all talked about how, during our previous visit, we did not recall hearing any cows. We guessed they were in a different pasture in 2022, which is why we did not hear them then. This time they were loud throughout the night and most of Saturday. Mid-afternoon the winds started, just as we expected, and that helped drown out the cows, but then we had to deal with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph. Chairs were flying around, items blew off tables, tents came unlatched, and even a few tumbleweeds rolled through our campsite.

Cornhole on a Saturday Morning
We managed to play some cornhole Saturday afternoon before the winds really picked up. We had a few tournaments, but as the wind strengthened, we realized the game had to end because the bags were turning in the air and landing in random directions. It was still a fun afternoon as we listened to the sounds of the ranch, played music, and enjoyed games.

Pork Tenderloin on Camp Fire
Saturday night we planned to cook pork tenderloin for dinner over the campfire. Greg took the lead in preparing the pork, and we got the fire ready for cooking. The pork turned out juicy and flavorful, and everyone enjoyed it. Erin and Carrie made instant mashed potatoes that paired perfectly with the pork.

After dinner and cleanup, we sat around the campfire enjoying the warmth. Having an unlimited supply of firewood is a real treat at this HipCamp because it allows us to keep the fire going as long as we want without worrying about finding more wood.

Carrie Roasting S'mores
When Sunday morning rolled around, we were all sad to pack up and head home. As we packed, we talked about how we need to do the Hays, Kansas trip again and stay for more nights. We will see when we can fit that into our camping schedule since this year was busy with multiple trips. We enjoy camping so much, and I look forward to doing it again next year.

Until next time, have a great rest of your Sunday and a wonderful week.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

Our First RV Camping Adventure

Driving Down the Highway with an RV
Driving Down the Highway with an RV
We were finally able to use our new hitch and brake controller this past week with our first RV rental. After doing some research, we decided to use Outdoorsy for the rental. Everything came together quickly—less than a week before our scheduled trip. The brake controller was installed the Thursday before we left, and with that, we were all set and excited to hit the road

After checking out a few different sites, we landed on Outdoorsy. The process was straightforward, and after browsing several RVs, we chose one located in Gardner, KS. We mapped out our route—about an hour from Topeka to Gardner—and booked our campsite at Melvern Lake, on the outlet side of the dam operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A few weeks earlier, we had driven through the area to pick out our spot.

Looking out the Front Door of the RV
Hello Camper!
Once we booked through Outdoorsy, the hosts provided all the information we needed to prepare. They were quick to respond to messages, and I kept them updated on the brake controller installation. Overall, the process was very smooth. When we arrived in Gardner to pick up the RV, the hosts walked us through everything and had us review and sign a few forms before we were ready to depart.

Carrie by Door of RV
Carrie Greeting you from our RV
It had been years since I last drove with a trailer, but it came back quickly as we pulled out of the hosts’ driveway. Driving went smoothly, though I had forgotten how much you feel the trailer’s push, pull, and jarring motion. After about an hour, we arrived at Melvern Lake. Backing the RV into our spot went well, and we got to work setting up camp.

Oliver Sleeping in Wagon by RV
Sleepy Boy in Wagon
Setup was quick—much easier than tent camping. We simply moved our gear from the back of our Pilot into the RV. We put Oliver inside while we got everything arranged.

For dinner that first night, Carrie made Chicken Divan, which we heated up and enjoyed. It was delicious and made for a relaxing evening. We spent time by the water with a fire going and were in the RV by midnight. A successful first night—we were thrilled to be camping in a new way.

I woke up around 7 the next morning and took Oliver for a walk around the lake. It was beautiful. Oliver had a great time sniffing everything and “protecting” me from other camping dogs. After our walk, I spent some time finishing a blog post I hadn’t completed before the trip. Sitting by the water with a cool breeze while writing was incredibly peaceful.

Carrie Floating in the Water
Carrie in the Water
Later, I did a little fishing—no luck—but then joined Carrie and Oliver to relax. We had decided the night before to visit the beach that afternoon. We packed up, locked the RV, and headed out. We did need to make a trip into town to pick up some ice and some other supplies such as a lighter that had stopped working the night before. Then we would head to the beach.

Beach Was All Ours
Beach Was All Ours
We ended up going to the beach both Monday and Tuesday. It was great both days. We stayed in the shade, got Oliver into the water to cool off, and set him up in his wagon with fans. After settling down from seeing other dogs and kids, he napped while we relaxed. Carrie and I both read a lot, and I finally finished a book I’d been working on for months.

I Caught a Fish
I Caught a Fish
Back at camp, we spent more time by the water. I fished again and actually caught one fish—the only one of the trip! Carrie captured the moment for me. That evening, we kept it simple with cheese and crackers for dinner and watched The Accountant 2 in bed with Oliver sleeping between us. A perfect end to the day.

Tuesday morning, we slept in a bit but aimed to get to the beach earlier since it was going to be hotter. We arrived before noon, and at one point, I took Oliver to the car to cool him off with the AC. We stayed until mid-afternoon before heading back to camp.

Wet Oliver After Swimming

Wet Oliver After Swimming


 

Oliver Sleeping and I am Reading

Reading While Oliver Sleeps


Happy Boy at the Beach

Happy Boy at the Beach


Fishing on a Beautiful Day

More Fishing

It started to hit us that our adventure was coming to an end. We were sad knowing we’d be returning the RV on Wednesday. The experience had been amazing—waking up to coffee brewed in the RV, cooling off in the AC, and enjoying the comforts of glamping. We loved it.

Oliver by the Camp Fire Watching the Lake
Oliver by the Fire
That night, we stayed up late with the fire going, talking about our next adventure—and maybe even buying an RV someday. We finally went to bed around 2 a.m., not wanting the day to end.

Checkout time was 4 p.m., and we needed to return the RV to Gardner by then. We had a lazy morning, I fished a bit (no bites), and we slowly packed up. By mid-afternoon, everything was loaded, and we started going through the RV return checklist. It took longer than expected, so we arrived after 5 p.m., but we kept the hosts updated.

Oliver Enjoying Camping Life
Oliver Enjoying Camping Life
If you couldn’t tell, we absolutely loved our RV camping experience. We’re not giving up tent camping, but RVing is definitely something we want to do again—and maybe even own one someday. I highly recommend the experience, and Outdoorsy made it so easy. I’m hopeful our next rental will be just as smooth.

Until next time, have a great rest of your weekend and a wonderful week ahead!


Sunday, June 22, 2025

Back to Hillsdale: Our Third Camping Trip of the Year

Tent and Night Sky at Camp
Tent and Night Sky at Camp
For our third camping trip of the year, we returned to Hillsdale State Park—the same place where we kicked off our camping season. This time, it was just Carrie, Oliver, and me. In the days leading up to the trip, severe heat was forecasted for the area. We debated whether to go but ultimately decided to go ahead with it. Our main concern was how Oliver would handle the heat, but we found a way to help him stay cool, which I’ll explain later in this post.

Sunset at Hillsdale State Park
Sunset at Hillsdale State Park
We had originally planned to head out Wednesday night after I got off work, but we couldn’t reserve our campsite for that night. So, we left Thursday instead and arrived around 5:30 PM. It was extremely hot while we were setting up camp. As I mentioned, we were worried about Oliver being in the heat, so we kept him in the shade as much as possible.

Once camp was set up, we relaxed for a bit before preparing dinner. Carrie had made meatloaf the night before at home, so our first camping meal was meatloaf sandwiches with chips on the side. They were delicious. After dinner, we got a fire going—mainly to keep bugs away, as it was still quite warm.

Big Dipper in Night Sky
Big Dipper in Night Sky
We stayed up late around the fire, enjoying the cooler evening air and watching the night sky. We saw a spectacular sunset before dinner, and the stars were out in full force. Although clouds were moving in, they took their time, giving us a beautiful view of the stars.

Even though most campsites in the area were marked as reserved, there weren’t many campers around. At one point, I counted only four other groups, despite many more sites being booked earlier in the week. I’m sure the heat kept some people away. We also decided to leave earlier than planned because of the heat.

On Friday morning, we woke up early as the tent started heating up. Oliver was up around 5 AM, but we managed to get him back to sleep for another hour or so. Even early in the day, it was already getting hot, so we spent the morning lounging, reading, eating breakfast, and taking it easy.

Oliver at the Beach
Oliver at the Beach
By noon, the temperature had climbed to 91 or 92 degrees, with a heat index of 106. To cool off, we took a car ride with the AC blasting. We drove to Paola, KS, for coffee and to explore the town. After about two hours, Oliver had finally stopped panting, and we were all cooled down. We headed back to Hillsdale State Park and drove around to check out the beach. We decided to grab our swimsuits and return for a swim.

Oliver Wet at the Beach
Oliver Wet at the Beach
The beach at Hillsdale is a great setup—plenty of space, a large sandy area, and lots of picnic benches. We had a great time cooling off in the water. We even took Oliver into the lake, and it really helped him cool down. He swam out to one of us, fully submerged. I don’t think I’d ever seen him swim before, so it was fun watching him paddle with his paws.

After a couple of hours at the beach, we returned to camp. Dinner that night was Currywurst with fried potatoes. We waited until the sun was nearly down before cooking, relaxing in our chairs and keeping Oliver in a cool spot. We read and listened to music while we waited.

Dinner Cooking
Dinner Cooking
Dinner was fantastic—a perfect end to the day. We decided to head home Saturday morning. Carrie and I could have stayed another day, but we were concerned about Oliver. At 14 years old, the heat was just too much for him, and he had been panting heavily at times. Friday night would be our last night of this trip. We had a good day and I think Oliver had a fun day too. Oliver had a happy look on his face most of the day and looked to be smiling between panting. 

Oliver in Wagon with Fan
Oliver in Wagon with Fan
We stayed up until about 2 AM around the fire, listening to the Royals game and then some music. It was a fun and peaceful night. At one point, we set up a fan on Oliver while he rested in the wagon, and it worked—he was zonked out while we enjoyed the evening. A perfect end to the night. We knew we would be packing up in the morning, so making the most out of our last night camping.

Peck on the Cheek While Camping
Peck on the Cheek While Camping
Saturday morning, we slept in a bit, but once the sun hit the tent, we were up. Oliver actually slept later than usual, which gave us a little extra rest. We slowly packed up and were on the road by around 10:30 AM. We stopped in Paola again for coffee before heading out to scout future camping spots. Our next goal: Melvern Lake—this time on the RV side. Yes, we’re planning to rent an RV in July for our first RV camping trip! We’ve stayed at Melvern Lake many times, but this will be our first time with a travel trailer.

Today is Sunday, and while we were a bit sad to cut our trip short, it’s nice to be home and relax before heading back to work tomorrow. Hopefully, we’ll be out camping again soon—fingers crossed for cooler weather next time!

Have a great Sunday and a wonderful week!

Saturday, May 31, 2025

Camping Through the Storm: Our Memorial Day Weekend at the Lake

Lights at Eisenhower State Park
Campsite at Eisenhower State Park
We went out for our second camping trip of the year from May 22 to May 26 (scheduled). Unfortunately, heavy rain on Sunday cut our trip short, and we returned that evening instead of Monday. Still, we had a great time during the days we were there. This is the story of our trip to one of my favorite locations—Eisenhower State Park at Melvern Lake.

Thursday, May 22

I was at a conference in Pittsburg, KS, from Tuesday through Thursday, so we planned to start our camping trip Thursday night after I returned. We loaded up the car and arrived at our campsite around 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. Erin and Carrie joined us but had to work the next day, so they helped set up the tents and even got the fire started before heading back to Topeka. Greg and I stayed behind to enjoy the evening by the fire.

Carrie and I had picked up Hog Wild BBQ in Topeka before heading out, so we had that for dinner. Erin and Carrie ate with us before leaving. Greg and I spent the night around the campfire, and it turned out to be the best night of the weekend. The sky was clear, and we could see stars all the way down to the horizon. We stayed up late talking, listening to music, and soaking in the camping life.

Friday, May 23

Walking Along the Bank of Melvern Lake
Walking Along the Bank
Friday morning started off well. Although I had the day off, I had a 9:30 a.m. work call I planned to join—only to find out it was canceled. Still, it made for a productive morning. I took a walk by the lake, and we spent the day relaxing at the campsite. The girls were planning to join us that evening after work, so Greg and I enjoyed a laid-back day.

We watched Washburn Tennis compete in the Final Four in Florida. They won 4–0, which made for an exciting morning. The afternoon was lazy—reading, checking emails, and listening to music. The Royals were scheduled to play that evening, likely around the time the ladies would arrive.

Oliver Relaxing in Big Chair Around Camp Fire
Oliver Relaxing
Carrie and Erin stopped in Lyndon to pick up Casey’s pizza on their way to the campsite. They arrived before 7:00 p.m., bringing the last of the camping supplies. It was an overcast night, but we had a great time around the fire, talking, listening to music, and enjoying each other’s company. Carrie brought Oliver, who loves camping too. Despite the forecast, we decided to brave the weather and bring our little guy along.

Saturday, May 24

Saturday was a day of relaxing, listening to music, and watching/listening the finals of Washburn Tennis and Royals baseball. We took a few walks around the site with Oliver, who loved it and did his best to protect us from other campers. We love our spot because it’s relatively secluded.

Oliver and Carrie by the Lake
Carrie and Oliver by the Lake
Both Washburn Tennis and the Royals didn’t have the best day—Washburn lost 4–2 in the championship, and the Royals lost 5–4. Not the ideal sports afternoon. Later, we had visitors: Erin’s mom Mona and her friend Larry, along with Joan and Eddie, joined us for dinner.

Dinner was chicken fajitas—so good! As is often the case with camping, we forgot one important item: the propane connector for the Firedisc. Thankfully, we had our two-burner stove, which we thought we’d use the next morning and night, so we were able to cook the meal. It turned out to be a fun evening!

Our guests left just after sunset, and we gathered around the fire. Rain was in the forecast, and unfortunately, it arrived earlier than expected. We moved everything under the canopy and tried to enjoy the evening there. I ended up falling asleep in a chair holding Oliver. It was an earlier night than planned, with everyone heading to their tents.

Sunday, May 25

It started raining Saturday evening and didn’t stop until Sunday afternoon. Both couples were stuck in their tents through the night as the rain poured. Eventually, we got out when we received a text from Erin and Greg saying they were out for a drive. We joined them and took Oliver along to explore other lakes and campsites.

We decided this would be our last day camping, as more rain was forecast for Sunday night into Monday. After returning from our drive, we slowly began packing up. It was disappointing, but we all agreed it was the right decision. Thankfully, the rain stopped while we packed, which made things easier.

Once the cars were loaded, we headed back to Topeka, a bit down about ending early. We had planned to have pancakes for breakfast and steaks for dinner—neither of which happened. When Carrie, Oliver, and I got home, we unloaded the car into the garage and ended up napping through the afternoon and into the evening.

Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day)

Camp Fire and Working on Computer with Hot Spot
Camp Fire and Laptop
Still feeling a bit sad about missing another day of camping, Carrie and I didn’t do much. We had planned to put away the gear we left in the garage, but that didn’t happen until Wednesday night.

Despite the early end, it was a great trip. As usual, we were tired from camping, so we spent the day relaxing. Oliver slept wherever he flopped down. He had a great time—he smiled the whole trip. Even during Saturday night’s thunderstorm, he didn’t seem scared, at least not that we could tell. He even tried to protect us from a dog across the way. I’m sure he was dreaming of his camping adventures while he rested.

We’re already thinking about our next trip. Until then, have a great rest of your weekend—and a great week ahead!