Mona Liza over at The Lowe’s RV Adventures recently asked me if I could name my favorite place. I didn’t have to think very hard to come up with an answer. My favorite place in the world is right here at home in coastal Georgia near Savannah. So this summer we’ve been enjoying a wonderful summer in our home state of Georgia.
The highlight of our summer was having the grandkids come to visit. Going to the beach, going for boat rides, visiting museums, making homemade ice cream, and catching blue crabs were just a few of the things we got to enjoy with them this summer.
We also enjoyed getting together with our friends and neighbors. We celebrated numerous birthdays, watched Fourth of July fireworks, and shared many meals and laughs.
One of the things I love most about where we live is the natural beauty all around us. I never get tired of all the birds and other wildlife we see each day. Throw in a few summer thunderstorms, some beautiful sunsets and a few rainbows and you have a summer full of great days.
I created a Mesh Gallery with a few highlights of the summer using Mesh. I hope you like it.
The WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge this week is: Forces of Nature
Windswept oak trees in Rockport, TexasWindswept oak in Goose Island State Park, TexasThe oak trees around Rockport, Texas are bent from the constant wind from the Gulf
During our trip through Texas in the spring of 2015 we were treated to splashes of color from the wildflowers blooming beside the roads, in fields, in the woods, and beside trails. We had timed our trip in hopes of seeing bluebonnets and weren’t disappointed. We were also treated to many other wildflowers including many I couldn’t identify.
Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush along Park Road 4
Indian Blanket Flowers
Indian Paintbrush
Periwinkle at Longhorn Cavern
Golden Ragwort at Inks Lake
Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush at Lake Arrowhead
Spiderwort at Inks Lake
Phlox at Inks Lake
Unidentified Wildflower at Inks Lake
Wildflowers in Llano
Wild Mint Llano
White Prickly Poppy Llano
Unidentified wildflower
Wildflowers at Padre Island National Seashore
Love the blooms here
Cactus Flower at Inks Lake
Claret Cup Cactus Flower Enchanted Rock Summit Trail
Unknown wildflower beside a rest area in the Texas Plains
Texas Stork’s Bill beside a rest area in the Texas Plains
Unknown wildflower beside a rest area in the Texas Plains
Unknown wildflower beside a rest area in the Texas Plains
I would love to get some help in identifying the unknown flowers! Please leave a comment if you know what any of these are, or if I have gotten any of the identifications wrong. Thank you!
As we traveled east from Louisiana to Alabama on I-20 we crossed the Mississippi River into Vicksburg and stopped at the Welcome Center to take a break. It was drizzling rain but we were still able to have a beautiful view of the mighty Mississippi.
The mighty Mississippi River in Vicksburg, Mississippi
Cannon display at the Mississippi Welcome Center in Vicksburg
Barge in the rain on the Mississippi River
After our short stop we continued on our journey. Our destination was Prairie Creek Campground near Lownesboro, Alabama, the first Corps of Engineers park we ever stayed in. Were we pleasantly surprised back in 2007 to find big sites, paved pads and a well maintained park. Ever since that first stay in a COE campground we look for them whenever we are traveling.
Our second visit to the campground did not disappoint. When we weren’t enjoying the view of the Alabama River from our site we took a drive to explore the dam.
Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam
Walking down to the river
Alabama Wildflowers
Alabama River
The sunsets were gorgeous right from our site.
Sunset over the Alabama River at Prairie Creek Campground
After almost six weeks exploring the great state of Texas it was time to head east toward home. We were sad to leave Texas but happy knowing we would soon be home. Our first stop in Louisiana was a place where we had camped on another trip four years ago. I had such fond memories of our first visit there I’ve been looking for an excuse to go back. I even made reservations for site 12, the same one we had camped in before. With a deck and a fishing dock right in front of the site, it was a perfect place to chill for a couple of days.
Lake Bistineau State Park is located about 20 miles from Bossier City. I remembered how friendly one of the rangers at the park was when we first visited and I was happy to see the same ranger greeted us at the office and checked us in. I have to say he is one of the nicest, friendliest, and most helpful park staff member we have ever met. We had a beautiful view of the lake from our deck and spent a lot of time just chillin’ and watching the herons and egrets fishing in the shallow water along the banks of the lake.
Great Egret in Lake BistineauGreat Blue Heron at Lake Bistineau
I was way behind on doing laundry and was happy to find a small laundry right there in the park. And it was free! There was also WiFi at the park office and I could do a little catching up on the blog while we were there. We did a little shopping in Bossier City and got our fix of more Cajun Food at Shane’s Restaurant. Crawfish Etouffee and some Boudin to go and we were happy!
But it wasn’t all work, shopping and eating. We’re pretty good at sitting and chillin’.
Lake BistineauTurtles at Lake Bistineau
Did I mention we had the campground almost all to ourselves? There were only two other campers there the first night, and the next two nights there was only one other camper in the park. Perfect!
But eventually we had to move on. When we made the decision to go home via I-20 we could not miss a stop in West Monroe, Louisiana to see the headquarters of Duck Commander.
Duck Commander was established in 1972 by Phil Robertson. After an outstanding football career in college Phil had an opportunity to play professional football in the NFL. He turned down the offer because he didn’t love football. He loved hunting and fishing and wanted to make a living doing what he loved. He was unhappy with the duck calls that were available at the time and in 1972 started selling his own design.
Phil is now retired and his son Willie Robertson is now the CEO of the family run company and Duck Commander products are sold worldwide. Members of the Robertson family star in the popular A&E reality show “Duck Dynasty.”
Happy Happy Happy – a favorite Phil Robertson quote
World’s Largest Duck Call celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Duck Commander
Carving of Phil Robertson, founder of Duck Commander
The Duck Commander Bus
Duck Commander Headquarters, about 3 blocks south of I-20 in West Monroe, LA
Lake Bistineau State Park is located near Doyline, Louisiana. The sites have paved water and electric hook ups, pads, picnic table, and fire pit. We had a premium site with a wooden deck overlooking the lake. There are several fishing docks located in the campground. The park also has a boat launch.
To visit Duck Commander we stayed at Ouachita RV Park in Monroe, Louisiana. The full hookup park had gravel pull through sites with free WiFi that actually worked, a nice laundry room, a meeting room, and a small pond.
Wandering Dawgs 