Memorial Day Weekend 27-31 May 2011 White Buffalo Resort

We were looking forward to this weekend for a few months. The White River runs along the campground and the confluence of the Buffalo & White is not far away. We were planning to float in our kayaks both this weekend. Due to the flooding we couldn't go on either river. I was calling the campground to be sure they weren't flooded. The dam floodgates were opened on both Bull Shoals & Norfolk......... Not to mention Table Rock. They had some cancellations so we were able to get a full hook-up!!!!!So, since we were off on Friday we loaded (to include the scooters) Friday morning and left home about 9:00........... On the interstate only for about 30 miles and then we headed south on Missouri 5 heading toward Arkansas. The sun was trying to peek out. The drive was beautiful. THEN............ both Google directions and the GPS'er told us to take a county road...... Jeff turned and I called the campground.

 This was the back way in and ALL gravel. Nope had to turn around. Removed the sway bar and got turned around. And we were on the way again. I took pictures of the highways and clouds on the way down........ I am not a great photographer but like to take pictures and then share them. So we turned off the main road....... WOOHOO still on pavement. It is beautiful down there. Came to a 4 way stop about  5-6 miles down the road and there is a sign still 7 miles to go. Windy... hilly.... no shoulders!!!! Came up to a sign that said the road ends.......... and it did ... at the campground. We checked in and went to choose which campsite we wanted. The sites were very nice. The White River was roaring. We were high up on a bank. Only complaint was that the fire ring was a tractor trailer rim so it was a bit small. Began setting up and ate lunch. Had satellite so fast it was amazing. I turned around and Jeff grabbed the signal. The trash cans said bear proof. After setting up we took a scooter ride to the public access. Had dinner of steak, corn on the cob & 1 piece of bread. Went to bed (it was beautiful so we left the windows all open) and about midnight there were people outside of the Pod talking and carrying on. They soon went on their way. Suddenly there was this LOUD NOISE some kind of metal noise. My first thought was a bear was trapped in the trash can. After hearing the screech of metal and wood on second and much more reasonable thought  was that the upper dock broke loose. Looking at my cell phone (good for a clock because didn't have ANY SIGNAL) it was 5:15 a.m. No one else came out to investigate the noise. I was amazed. Had French Toast Casserole for breakfast. Saturday we went into Mountain Home and wandered around the farmers market. Saturday night had pork steak, corn sticks and  brussel sprouts. I made a clafouti (it is a french pastry) with pears and apples in the dutch oven. It really needs a darker fruit (maybe kiwi & strawberry) .. it was wonderful and I will try it again. Sunday we relaxed ............ didn't do a think......... Quality kindle time!!! Monday morning found us not wanting to pack up to come home. But reality was calling. We only have one more camping trip planned until August because we are going to see our daughter in England in July. This is somewhere we will definitely go back to. I will put my yak in both rivers!!!

You can view the rest of the weekends pictures on my facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2100504354876.125134.1313448490&l=d476b62d48

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~!

Article Published

I have never considered myself much of a writer. I write as I think and feel. Even sometimes as I speak.  I started this blog for memories and to share my experiences with family and friends. About a month or so ago, a co-worker (Tiffany)  suggested I write an article for a local newspaper about one of my favorite camping places. I wrote the article and she helped to organize my thoughts. So after the article was accepted by the paper I went to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge http://www.turpentinecreek.org/ and took pictures of some of the cats. These are just some of the pictures.


Campbell Point COE at Shell Knob, Missouri 1-3 April 11

  I had what I thought was a brilliant idea! Pack the Pod on Thursday night and hook it up -- take it to work so we could leave straight from there. It has lights.......

this was the first we hauled it in the dark Well time wise it was a good idea but I didn't really have the patience to work. Jeff was able to get off work early so I did too! We left FLW about 3:00. Turned the SPOT on and away we went!  Took pictures of the small landslide on Polla Road. We passed the Bank of Billings and wondered -- how did we get to Montana and we'd never make work on Monday. We headed down to the campground. The last 20 miles were hard. Very hilly and curvy. Got to our site (76) about 6:00 or so. There were 4 or 5 others in the campground. After backing Jeff in, we figured out that the site was ass backwards.

Being Where I Am Retreat 19-20 March 2011

We (Peggy, Michaelle & Jaimie) left Waynesville about 2:15 and headed southwest toward Springdale Arkansas (just north of Fayetteville).I drove they rode :).......... Food was a main topic during the ride. I knew I was going to blow my diet all weekend. Well I started it off right -- we ate at Shogun for dinner Friday night. Only had a few bites of rice and Japanese noodles. Ate mostly steak, scallops and vegetables. Had a few bites of Jaimie's sushi. Everything was wonderful. Left there and headed to Target to walk dinner off a bit. We all ate too much.

Something didn't agree with Jaimie at dinner and she paid for it most of the night. I so hoped she would be ok in the morning. When we all woke up Jaimie was feeling good. We had breakfast (cheated with 1/4 of a waffle) then we all went back to the room. The hotel seemed brand new. There was a building across the street with a water wheel.

Everything that follows came out of my journal. Want to share my entire experience. We are off on an adventure to Wattle Hollow Retreat Center. A weekend of meditation, yoga and silence. There were 17 people attending. Joy to lead us through meditation and Mark to lead us through yoga. Mark owns Dripping Springs Farm near Berryville, Arkansas.

Check Up

So we the tire covers off, uncovered the hitch (had it covered all winter) made sure that everything was secured inside (took those little things down as Donna suggested unless I had them secured top and bottom -- still working on that). Backed up the truck and connected the hitch for the first time in 2011!!

Major Pod Mod

Well we did it!!

There were very few things I didn't like about the Pod after we bought it. One was the emergency window over the stove (seems kind of silly when there is a door less than 5 feet away and I wouldn't have to climb over a propane stove) and the booth dinette. I can't do a thing about the window or I would void most every warranty but the booth well...... I've talked to Jeff about taking half of it out. He wasn't so keen on the idea but last night there was a posting at http://www.keystonerv.org/forums about it! Only this time it looked like our Pod. I loved the chairs they put in. I knew that by doing this I would lose some premium storage space. Though I have to admit that whatever was stored under here wasn't used much because we had to get on the floor and go into the storage space. Also, we would lose sleeping for 2. That can be fixed with an air mattress on the floor. Decided on errands today to just look for chairs. Nothing at Wal-Mart. When we went into Lowe's we found a Vornado Heater (which from what I read is a wonderful space heater for the Pod). (Still no chairs) It was on clearance and we had a $20.00 credit. Plus a 10% discount. So we got that along with PVC elbows for a replacement flagpole.

 

Then we went to the PX Furniture Store and found the PERFECT chairs!!! They were on sale! We found what we thought were perfect chairs. We even thought the wood would match!