We Need a Little Christmas- TCD's Express Christmas TR

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

It has been hard for the TCD gang to find time to get to the Fort.
 
The TCD twins both arrived home for their Christmas breaks from school last week.
 
So, we squeezed in a quick Fort trip.
 
Quick.
 
Just two nights.
 
I don't like to go for just two nights.
 
But two nights are better than none.
 
So we went.
 
Here we are pulling in on Friday,  December 13th, just before noon:


 
This was our first time seeing the Christmas decorations this year:


 
Hey- look what you can see from the guard shack (look to the left of center through the trees) :


 
There were no cars in any of the check-in lanes.  So we pulled right up.
 
I had just made this campsite reservation the day before.  I had been playing with dates for a while, and there was very, very limited availability, but when I checked on Thursday the 12th, there were all levels of sites available, and there was even a AAA discount on the preferred sites!  Crazy!
 
The CM asked if the 300 loop would be OK.  I had requested the 100 loop when I made the reservation, but since it was such short notice, I had not faxed a loop request.  I told the CM I really wasn't a fan of the 300 loop, and asked if she could find us something on 100.  She picked up the phone, and was on it for a while.  Then she popped her head out and said sorry, 100 was full, but they could give me a free upgrade to a premium site, if that was OK.  I said let me have it.  I didn't want to press my luck by asking for a loop then, so when she told me we got site 1451, I just said thanks.
 
By the way, you can see the Four Seasons from here too:


 
And here we are:


 
I am not 100% sure, but I believe that this is a historic site for the TCD gang.
 
Our very first camping trip in our then new camper was on Little Bear Loop, and our site was right on this part of the loop.  I think it was this very site.  A lot has changed since then, so I'm not 100% certain, but I think it was this site.
 
The good old TCD camper-still going strong after 14 years of faithful service:


 
Since this was a quick trip, I did the express set up.  No screen room.  No dining fly.  Minimal decorations.  In just less than one hour, I was ready to rock and roll:


 
The express Christmas decorations:


 
I just brought our small little old TV/VCR combo, so I walked over to the Meadow Trading Post to get a cable box for it.
 
There are new benches at the campfire- I like:


 
But I do not like these new benches:


 
The stage has no Christmas decorations:


 
I do like the decorations over-all, but I think they need some more:






 
I like how they decorate the poles:


 
No one was renting canoes today:



 
The Bike Barn was slow:



Hey- what's with the pond scum?:



Here we are at one of the best places on earth- the back porch of the Meadow Trading Post:



Imagine that you are standing here listening to the faint strains of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" being played on a banjo:





I had no problem getting the cable box. I stopped by the pool on the way back. Elsewhere in America, people are freezing, but not here:



After I hooked up the cable, I texted the girls, and told them I would head over to the MK to meet them. I tried to make it by the 3:00 parade, but no bus came, so I walked to the marina.

The canal between 500 and 1400:



The dog park:



There was still no sign of a bus when I got to the 400/300 bus stop, so I pressed on:



Turkeys behind the 400 loop:





Looking in to 100/200:



My first viewing of the Trail's End Christmas decorations:



That's 30 photos.

Up next- two brand new things at the Fort.

First page bragging rights are officially up for grabs!

TCD

[Momof6....aka Marty 769]

FPBR!!!

 

(Now I have to go back and read!  LOL)

[jjbescher 17]

First Page!!!

[DaveInTN 3,247]

I read the entire update and still made page 1.  :jumpforjoy

[Beckers 1,136]

I read it and am first page!

[Helmsey......Todd 134]

I'm IN!
And, I'll take first page bragging rights, even after taking the time to read it :D

[devores 382]

yep

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

First page!  And I read it too.

[momof3kids-Yvonne 596]

Phew those speedy reading skills have paid off.

FPBR!!

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

I'm in and saying so before Dave takes the whole page.

[Lou... 3,118]

I cleared my very busy calendar, and canceled my appendectomy, just so I could, maybe, meet up with "the great one"

But he couldn't squeeze me in after I got there. I think Joey, the new Fort GM, had requested an audience with him, so I was out of luck.

I did see him wiz by me on a GC. As he was ignoring me going by, he yelled out something about making an appointment next time schmuck face.

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

First Page.. maye

[stacktester 78]

Still on first?

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

Im here, Im here...

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Count me in

[Memphis 105]

I'M in

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

Page one???

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

Yes I made page one and I read it.

Woot! Woot!

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

DIT is off his game. To many people on page one.

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Wow Ray your shamelessly trying to take up all of page 1

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I'm in, is it page 1?

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Nope sorry Carol. Page 2

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

Wow Ray your shamelessly trying to take up all of page 1

Me?

That wouldn't be nice if I did that.

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

And for the record let it be known that Jason used the last spot on page one and put poor carol on page two.

I apologize for Jason.

[Ok Grumpy AKA Cindy~~ 9]

I'm in too!