I’ve been planning a trip as part of Donnell’s first Girl Scout Badge challenge and I’m a day late turning it in. I don’t feel bad, though, because Donnell is late as well.
Our long weekend is to a bed & breakfast in the Texas Hill Country: Rainbow Hearth.
The Plan
It begins with breakfast early on a Saturday morning, cooked by yours truly: Eggs, toast, strawberry preserves, thick-sliced bacon, and freshly-squeezed orange juice. Cleaning up is done quickly, and we hit the road before 10:00 AM, having already packed our bags and dropped Tully off with friends for the weekend.
The B&B is west of Burnet, on Lake Buchanan, and the 120-mile drive takes just over two hours. Once there, we take stock of the surroundings, lounge around on the deck of our yurt briefly, and enjoy the massages included in the vacation package. Any hiking or other exertion is totally out of the question now, so we head back to our suite and quietly enjoy each other’s company for the rest of the day, interrupted only briefly to take in a home-cooked dinner.
We awaken refreshed the next morning, hungry for breakfast and ready to explore the lake on rented kayaks. The northern reaches of the lake are known to be the nesting grounds of Bald Eagles, but the area is beautiful enough that seeing eagles would just be icing on the cake. We stop several times to take photographs and lunch, and head back to the B&B that afternoon in time to take a nap before dinner. We end the day with a long, meandering walk along the lake as the sun sets, and a long, relaxing soak in the tub sets the stage for a great night’s sleep.
After a great breakfast the next morning, we pile back into the car and head home, where the real world awaits…
You’ll note that there’s no shopping on this list. There’s nothing besides kayaking, relaxing, getting massages, eating, and hiking. This trip isn’t about doing things–it’s about being together.
Budget
- The bed & breakfast: $770, meals and massage included
- Kayak rentals (all day): $75
- Fuel: $35
- And…that’s it!
Packing List
- Swimsuits
- Waterproof sandals
- Sunscreen
- Hiking boots
- Comfortable hiking clothes
- A cell phone
- Speakers, for listening to music wherever we happen to be
- Good books
In Summary…
It’s been too long since Donnell and I have been away from home and just enjoyed each other’s company. Our trips to various places have always been about doing things and seeing things and eating things, and this little getaway will give us the opportunity to just be with each other. Ideally, we’ll leave behind all our distractions (except for a cell phone in case of emergency) and remember what it’s like to be free of pressure and expectations and stress.