George W Bush Presidential Library and exploring

Monday, as we expected, was a bit cloudy and damp.  I am an avid weather watcher and had this day marked for an indoor activity.  We had decided that a visit to the George W Bush Presidential Library would be a good way to spend our afternoon.

The George W Bush Presidential Library is located in Dallas on the campus of Southern Methodist University.

THE SIGN SAYS NO PARKING...HMMMM?

Presidential Libraries are definitely a "no dogs allowed" situation so we got the girls out for a walk and got them settled.

Getting to the SMU campus is fairly easy and parking is located just across the street from the library.

The Library is well done.  It is not overstated nor is it understated.  It does a really good job of highlighting the many memorable events that will forever be a part of the Bush Presidency's legacy.  It highlighted the good and the not so good.  The section on 911 was, as always, thought provoking.

 I have yet to go through one of these displays without getting teary.  It does not make me sad every day but it does make me sad when it is laid out in front of me.  I am ok with that.  It is a tragic moment in our American History and we should not forget it.

We had a great self guided tour and had a bite of lunch at Cafe 43 before we left.

As we were heading back to the RV, we took a ride through downtown Dallas.  As far as architecture goes, it is a good mix of the old vs the new.

A LOVELY OLDER CHURCH

SHINY

INTERESTING

With our visit to the Library and downtown Dallas complete, we drove back to Lewis and the girls.  

As the day progressed, the sun showed itself and we did get the girls out for a good walk.  Annie actually made it the whole way.  Temperatures significantly impact how far she can go.  If it is too hot, she quickly overheats and if it is too cold, she can sort of start to shut down.  Her small size combined with her Addison's disease makes her a little high maintenance but she is a fighter.

SEVEN POUNDS OF MIGHTY DOG

Tuesday dawned cool and sunny.  We let the ground dry a bit and decided to take an afternoon hike.  We had hoped to go here,

CEDAR HILL STATE PARK

but we ended up going here.

CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE

All of the awesome looking trails at Cedar Hill were closed because they were muddy.  No kidding....that is what the park official told us.  We were glad we asked because it costs $7 per person and we would have been really disappointed to pay $14 to not hike.  The use of the word Hill in the park title must be an overstatement.  It had only rained one night (Sunday).  

We turned around and drove a short distance to Cedar Ridge.  We'd had a great trail run there earlier in our stay and we wanted to explore a few more of the trails.  As you can see, the elevation lines vary and there are lots of ups and downs as you run or hike.

TAKING A SHORT BREAK

A REASSURING "GOOD DOG" RUB

DRINK PLEASE

ON TOP OF THE RIDGE LINE

PENNY WADING AND GETTING A DRINK

We had a great hike.  We saw a few other hikers and did not see any snakes.  I am sure this region is loaded with them but staying on the trail must greatly reduce your risk of running across one.

We drove back to the RV and the girls were ready for a snack and a nap.  Rob and I settled into  a Crossword book (me) and a Sudoko book (him).  

As evening approached, we got the backgammon board and two glasses of wine and sat outside for a few games.

I have never played much backgammon but really like the game.  Rob is and old hand at it and helped me get started.  

It still gets cool here after the sun sets so we finished our third game and headed inside.  

We had a bit of dinner and quiet time to top off our day.

Another great day in this thing we call life.