Road trip to Texas

So, my parents and I FINALLY made it to Texas yesterday...what a drive (19-20 hours)!! At least the terrain was gorgeous. (I captured the picture to the right on our way through southern Missouri).

We left around 10:30 on Tuesday morning (after I went to the orthodontist to have new retainers fitted...and yes, they will be sent in the mail to me at camp, lol). On the way to my mom's cousin Sharl's place we saw a few random animals: a camel, a peacock, and, of course, dead armadillos along the roadside. With a bit of luck and the "help" from the GPS, we found Sharl and Doug's place-talk about a remote location. You drive through such a rural area and then, finally, you find their home. They live in a planned community next to the 9th hole of a golf course, but it is in the coolest area. Their home is in a valley and surrounded by large hills covered in different shades of green trees. It was absolutely beautiful!

We left early Wednesday morning and traveled to Killeen, TX, to visit the camp. Tyler, a fellow PKRC staff member (who has worked for PKRC for the past 4 years), took us on a detailed 2 hour tour of most of the camp grounds on the golf cart. I'm so glad my parents made the trip down with me to experience that. Pictures definitely won't do this camp justice. It's AWESOME!! There is SO much for the kids to do! I can't wait to try everything out this week at our staff orientation camp. :)

The theatre at the camp is a real movie theatre with a movie screen. Tyler said they hook up RockBand and American Idol, so the kids can watch each other play on the large screen. He also said it is where we will have Talent Shows each week (staff included). Very cool...

We saw the different rope courses (known as the low and high rope courses). The low ropes courses are used for team building activities. The high ropes, which I am very excited to try out, include a 50+ foot rock climbing wall, a zip line, and a huge rope swing (goes about 40 or 50 feet in the air at its highest point). I'm pumped to try all of these!!

The camp also has a very nice pool, lake (we didn't see the lake yesterday), and sports court. Tyler said a slip-n-slide is set up nearly the whole time, and I believe he said it was four feet high off the ground.

There is also the sweetest golden retreiver that lives at the camp named McKenzie. She's a real sweetheart.

My parents left on an early flight out of Austin today. So, now, I am all alone in the big state of Texas.

I'm headed back to Killeen for my first day of camp. Wish me luck!

I will update pictures of the camp as soon as I get a chance.