May 20-22 Baxter COE Park -- Lampe, MO

Again the weather wasn't supposed to be good. So we decided against bringing the scooters or the yaks (Table Rock Lake is at flood stages). We were to meet our friends Leonard & Sondra for the weekend. We met them last year at Johnson Shut-Ins and have seen them a few times over the winter. We have planned 3 or 4 trips with them this season. We packed up the Pod on Thursday night and took it to work with us. It was easier this time to let it sit in the parking lot. We were able to leave about 3:30. We stopped at Marshfield and got gas and a snack from Wal-Mart.

When we got in we backed into the site (getting much better at that with the radios -- I even take my finger off the button sometimes) Jeff just stops if he can't see me in the mirrors! Not always possible and I let him know that.
Anyway, we just got all set up and it started pouring!! There was a family setting up tents........ so happy I had my Pod! They were going to be wet no matter what. Another campground with 5 or 6 sites occupied. Leonard and Sondra's new 5th wheel was there but they had gone to Springfield. They came home during the storm and we decided to see eachother on Saturday Morning. Jeff was up early...... me .. nope, I like to sleep in when i am in the Pod then I get mad that I miss sunrise!!!! (wants to have my cake and eat it too!)Shortly after I rolled out of bed Sondra was at the door. We were going to breakfast. After a quick cup of tea and a quicker shower we got in the truck. I thought it was right there.......... by the campground...... 30 minutes later we got to Billie Gails http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/98/1540287/restaurant/Reeds-Spring/Billy-Gails-Cafe-Branson --off the diet (weekends are almost becoming diet free) Jeff and I shared a breakfast and still had food left. The pancakes were bigger than the plate............ and wonderful!!! If you are in the area -- look them up. It's an old gas station and very welcoming!! Oh yea...... they only take cash!!! We drove into Branson and shopped a bit. A cast iron griddle and a 5th wheel warming present. On the way back I found some highway signs for friends and then a metal hot air balloon that I couldn't resist climbing in.

Back at the campground we started dinner early so that it could simmer........ beanless chili and it was good, also made cornsticks and a peach cobbler. Had dinner with Leonard and Sondra. We hooked up a TV outside to the satilitte. We are getting better and better at that (knock on wood). While dinner was cooking we walked over to meet a couple that Leonard & Sondra had met. Oh my....... it was the couples first time out with their camper--matter of fact they had just picked up the camper from Camping World. Not sure they listened during the PDI.......... the trailer (30 foot travel trailer) was no where near level. The stabilizers were straight up and down........ no weight on the hitch...........  He didn't seem to concerned. I only hoped that he was able to hitch it back up and tow it out.

Went inside the camper about 7:00 p.m. to check for water and had NOT A DROP!!!! I was so glad!!! Sunday morning we got up and cleaned and packed. We were on the road by 1:00. Had to stop at Camping World to exchange a rocking chair that had broke.

The weather was supposed to be terrible but it turned out to be a beautiful weekend.

You can view the rest of the pictures from the weekend at:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2082447383463.124095.1313448490&l=a5a6320b4b

May 13-15 LORA, MO

Again written late............. Decided to use Fort Leonard Wood's LORA (Lake Ozark Recreation Area)

 for the first time. The weather did not look promising but we went. The office closes at 5:00 on Friday. We actually didn't leave until about 5:40. Had daylight (no sunlight) and drove up. The drive was mainly on back Missouri roads (NO SHOULDERS) makes me a bit nervous. There were 2 others by us in the full hook up section of the park. free wi-fi too!! We didn't put satellite up Friday night but did get it within minutes on Saturday!!! Go US!! We took the scooters with us for the first time. And on Saturday Morning we rode to the office to check in and ask if we could have a late check out (learning that one too) ........... We rode around the campground and the area in general but it was cold and damp. Lunch was hot dogs and hamburgers snack was a banana boat (grilled banana with peanut butter and chocolate in it). For dinner we made cheesy potatoes, broccoli, mushrooms and onions, and pork steak. And baked apples for dessert. Everything was great and would have been better if not for the wind!!!! Saturday night found us shutting off the water because again there was water in the bedroom. So much for the late checkout!!!! We were invited to fire sit with the site across but decided not to when they got into a HUGE fight. Sunday morning we ate breakfast and packed up. Since we didn't have tools with us and we were so close to home (40 miles away) we figured we would bring the Pod home and see if we couldn't find the leak!!! Water issues in an RV suck........... and they are worse when the weather is bad!! After we got home we took off the plate and found the leak. Jeff fixed it!!!! Hopefully-- no more the following week!!!! On to next week................

you can view all of the pictures from the weekend at :

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2065342115842.123170.1313448490&l=d2b4bd1d0a

Damsite, Pomme De Terre 6-8 May 2011

This is being posted a week late. This is a wonderful park. And only about 70 miles from the Mothership.(Scooters are a must the next time). We left a bit late due to Jeff getting out of work late. We were arriving about sunset but enough natural light to get set up. Good thing it isn't our first year. Hot dogs in the microwave for dinner. Hooked up the sewer line (again it was a bit uphill---makes you wonder about COE parks) . Had television so didn't set up satellite. EARLY EARLY Saturday morning we had a storm roll through.......... windy!!!! and it was hitting us from the side. We walked around the park on Saturday. Saw some wonderful lifts for scooters on fifth wheels. (would not work on ours) Jeff took his kayak our and I spent quality Kindle time in the afternoon. Baked a chicken, cabbage and rolls in the dutch oven. They came out wonderful. Also made a cherry chocolate cobbler (am tempted to try a crusted cobbler) ......... On Sunday morning made eggs in salsa. Saturday evening I went to the bedroom to get a jacket and my foot got wet .......... the floor(rug) was soaked. Unsure of where it came from but though maybe I had the window open during the storm. Put the pillows outside to dry on Sunday morning. We packed up the Pod on Sunday and came home. These are the sites that we recomend 36-42, 52,54, 55A or B, 58-60, 63-69. They are all lake view. If you have a big picture window in the back of your rig it would be perfect. All of our pictures from this weekend can be seen at the following link:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2046122995376.122305.1313448490&l=d4d4b5492b

P.S. forgot a pillow and Jeff's coffee cup on the picnic table ............... we were able to pick them up the following week!!! YEAH!!!!! Also, the floor dried without a problem.

No pictures just the month of April 2011

Wow I have posted this month. We camped the first weekend and then I had an article published in a local newspaper. I had a birthday at the beginning of the month. It was much easier this year than last. But now the rest of the month has been crazy.

We took a Chuckwagon Cooking Class in Lebanon. It was a 3 week class all about Chuckwagons and Dutchoven cooking. Learned some and ate GREAT!!! there were a few recipes that were simple and I will try over and over. Though I have to say I love my 3 ingredient cobbler.

We had a conference at work April 5-10 that required entirely too many hours! But everything turned out great. Word of warning: You cannot make everyone happy.... no matter how hard you try!

I took a trip to Tampa for work (another conference 16-21 April) had a great time and this conference turned out great also. Again...................... not everyone was happy. I had dinner with Nancy at Charlies (steakhouse that I believe is a chain) and it was wonderful. Did a bit of shopping. It was nice not to have to drive an hour to Target or a Mall or even the airport.

On Tuesday, the 26th, my friend Peggy called me from Tulsa to tell me that her oldest child was dead. She lives next door to me and had been worried about him for a few days. She drove to Tulsa in the middle of the night and was able to gain  access to his house. Still awaiting results on cause. I didn't know the right words to say. I was in the truck driving to Tulsa within 90 minutes of her telling me. I didn't feel she needed to be alone at that point. We cleaned his house of all electronic equipment and returned home on Thursday.
I feel like I have been in the tunnel with the light shining............ only that light keeps being the westbound freight loaded with issues.

Oh the trailer........ yep another issue. When we camped the first weekend of April as we were driving out of the campsite we, AGAIN, were leaking water. Called camping world and Keystone (we are now out of warranty) and explained this was an ongoing issue. Keystone says they will honor warranty with this issue and to bring it to Camping World as soon as possible. So Jeff ran it down there on the 6th. They ATTEMPTED to get the same results that we are having and were not able to. They believe we are seeing water they just can't make it happen. Picked it back up on the 16th. We are going out Mothers Day weekend and I guess after we hook up I will have a video camera and a glass for a sample of the water.

Tired of this problem with the Pod. Right now we are so upside down that we can't do anything about it.
Looked at a few toy haulers yesterday.

We have had some flooding issues here in Missouri. If April Showers bring May Flowers then Missouri should be beautiful. My peony bush has bloomed and gone already. Snowball bushes look great. I am hoping that the weather will cooperate next week so that we can have a fire :) and RELAX~!