For two years, we’ve missed it. Third time’s the charm, I guess. Of course, this time, we planned things out months ahead, and had just about everything packed a week before we left. No matter what, we weren’t going to miss the HammockForums Texas Fall Hang three years running.
So my annual bronchitis started up a week before time….I spent the weekend in bed and have been pretty much exclusively been drinking hot beverages since then. So I needed a haircut and couldn’t get it the weekend beforehand…I arranged to get out of work a little early to deal with last-minute errands like that. So what if I was feeling a little run-down right after I got home from said errands…I managed to squeeze in a 90-minute nap and a shower, and felt much better.
And suddenly, the car was packed, the dog was loaded up, and we were on our way! We didn’t dally all the way to Fairfield, and got into town in about an hour and a half, then paused to grab a quick bite at McDonald’s before arriving at the park.
Strange, our name wasn’t on the posted list at the entry station when we arrived, though I had definitely gotten my confirmation of our reservation. Well, at least we knew what loop everyone would be on. We drove through and found a vacant site, started to set up, and discovered the key tree we both needed (because it was the only one with trees the right distance away) was big enough around that our 8-foot tree straps didn’t quite get around it, meaning we couldn’t attach our hammocks to it.
No big deal…we walked across the road and found a great spot to set up, even allowing us to have our tarp “porches” pitched toward each other to have a large area between us for Huyana to wander around, attached to her ridgeline so she didn’t wander off. With that task done, we set off in search of other hangers.
A quick shortcut behind our campsite, across an open field, past a little amphitheater and the bathroom, and then we found site 26, where a few people were still awake and hanging out by the fire, including MacEntyre, the creator of the Insultex underquilts we were using that very night.
We introduced ourselves, and let people love on Huyana. Someone tried to let their dog say hello, but with him growling and Huyana hiding behind me, I explained that I just didn’t think it was going to happen and that it would be best to let it be, rather than force it.
I comandeered someone’s vacant camp chair, and we proceeded to chatter about the weather, wildfires, dogs, and the one hang we did manage to attend a couple of springs ago, when a winter storm ran everyone off the morning after we arrived. All told, a nice hour or so before people decided to wander off to bed.
When I got back to the campsite, I saw that my incredibly thoughtful wife Brandy had beaten me back and was almost finished heating up some water so I could have some tea before bedtime. Mmm…apple cinnamon. Huyana just calmly lay on her pillow, watching us until we were ready to turn in. Alas, after I was in my hammock, snuggled up in my sleeping bag for the night, I suddenly had that urge that required me to get up, climb out, and put my jacket and shoes back on, so I could hike to the restroom. Oh well, at least I have a nice warm nest to go back to…mmm…peaceful sleep in the woods. I’m looking forward to Saturday’s activities.
