Petit Jean State Park

July 10, 2017 Brayden and I went to Petit Jean State Park for what was to be a two day getaway for just the guys. We drove up on Monday afternoon to our favorite camp ground. We setup on campsite A11 in area A which has the majority of the AAA campsites at Petit Jean. 

Brayden at Campsite A11 with Lake Bailey in the Background

The first order of business was to find the swimming pool and go cool off. We had a great time swimming. Brayden is just learning to swim and has become fearless in the water.  After sending pictures of the pool to Donna it became apparent that this was no longer going to be an all guys trip. 

After a hard afternoon of swimming we decided that we didn't want to go to the trouble of cooking dinner. So being the hard core campers we are we went to the Mather Lodge restaurant for dinner. Great Ruben sandwich with fresh made potato chips for Poppie and Brayden had his favorite - chicken strips.  He was afraid that two strips wouldn't be enough until they arrived. They were huge but he managed to consume them, some of the potato chips,  a fruit cup and a single serving of orange sherbet. He said that the had never had sherbet before and loved it. He did however save room for pie. Possum pie. We shared a slice of possum pie that was so good Brayden said "I have to eat it really slow to make it last forever!"

  

After dinner we went on a ride in the truck around Red Bluff drive to see the sunset from the M.A. Richter Memorial Overlook. In the background to the West you see Mount Nebo and in the far distance Mount Magazine.

On Tuesday Donna and Hannah showed up. We had burgers grilled waiting on them when they arrived. After a late lunch we all headed for the swimming pool. It was too hot to do much else.

We decided to stay another night, but the campsite we were in was not available so we packed up and moved to another spot on Loop A. Site A5 was a pull through closer to the highway up in the pine trees.

Everyone enjoys a little hammock time and there were plenty of trees to hang out on.

After moving on Wednesday Brayden, Hannah and I took a trip to buy Brayden a new bathing suit (Donna got quiet time). On the way we made a stop by Petit Jean's gravesite and took a few pictures. We found Brayden a new American flag bathing suit at the Dollar General in Oppelo. The DG always comes through in a pinch.

Petit Jean Gravesite Overlook

Petit Jean Gravesite Overlook

Petit Jean Gravesite

We were back in the pool for Wednesday afternoon. It was just to hot and humid for anything else.

Wednesday night we decided to go back to Mather Lodge again for dinner. No need to heat up the camper or stand at a grill when the  Mather Lodge restaurant is just 2 minutes down the road. Great dinner again with a view of the Cedar Creek valley outside the window.