We are staying at the RV park where we stayed last year before it was officially open. This year it is finished - 22 sites are ready. We didn't choose a shady spot because we wanted the Dish to work and on the really hot days, we have been especially glad for two air conditioners.
The first couple of weeks were so hot we could only stand to go out on the lake in the evenings, but then a cool front came through bringing rain (3 inches in an hour one day) and cooler temperatures.
A beautiful sunset on Lake Norfork.
At the end of July, family members came from Texas and Illinois to meet up with our resident Arkansas family for our big annual summer week-long get together. Scott and Amy's "garage/barn/equipment shed/party venue" has become THE place to have our once-a-year family food fest.
Left to right; John, Adrienne, Brian, Jake, Angie and Scott, the 6 cousins who spent 1 week each summer together when we all camped in tents years ago.
Jake and Jaime brought steaks and Jake cooked them on the grill and everyone brought side dishes. We played ping pong and bean bag toss, listened to music, played cards and caught up with everyone as well as sharing a few classic memories.
Jake & Jaime's daughter Milli, playing ping pong.
Brian hadn't seen some of his cousins in 20+ years, so he had a lot of catching up to do. Then, we spent the next few days meeting up in various places on the lake, tying the boats together and just hanging out.
Caleb and Gram on Grampa's boat.
Hannah and Milli on the tube...with an oar....going in circles
Grampa and Caleb snorkeling....yes, you can see their legs under the water.....the water in Lake Norfork is really clear.
Hannah and Uncle Brian on the boat.
Chris just chillin'
There was plenty of tubing and skiing and wakeboarding and the guys played golf one day.
A rainy day was spent having lunch at Sonic, seeing a movie, and getting ice cream at Baskin Robbins.
Hannah seems to enjoy the lake a little more each year. Caleb has always loved it....tubing, skiing, snorkeling, swimming, cannonball dives....and the two days we went to the "sandy beach" he also loved playing in the sand.
Jim played in a pickleball tournament in Heber Springs, AR. Lost in the bronze medal round. This was his first time to play singles in a tournament. There weren't enough entrants to divide them by age group and skill level so they just used skill levels and Jim had to play against a man 30 years younger. A very agile 37 year old. That did not go very well. But he gained experience and knowledge. The knowledge to make sure there are age level divisions in the next singles tournament he enters.
We had a visit from Texas friends Vicki & Dale (43 years is a long time to be friends and we still love 'em) and from Jimmie and Ed from Florida.
Vicki & Dale shared a session of karaoke in our neighbor, Bob's garage.
We played cards, went for boat rides and they enjoyed the respite from the Texas heat.
At the very end of their visit our boat, which has been as good as gold for 11 summers, went belly up. Nephew Scott came out and towed us in and Kathy and Bob told us about a local repairman. It should be ready before we leave Arkansas....then it can rest for several months before we hit the lake again.
Leaving here around the 7th of September and going to Texas to a park where we have never stayed before in Mansfield.
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