WALLACE STATE PARK, CAMERON MISSOURI

We managed to find our way back over onto I-35 north, so that we were at least headed in the right direction.  We were about 20 miles along, as I was snapping pictures and we were discussing our options when, in a blur we saw what looked like a State Park sign. 

 

We both asked was that a sign for that same State Park we just left?  Neither of us could answer the question, but we decided to take the exit and have a better look at the signage. 

No, it was a different Sate Park.  At this point we are a little leery of Missouri State Parks, but we were tired and desperate and it says it's only 2 miles, so lets take a look. 

 

Well, we followed the meandering road wondering what we were getting ourselves into.  And there it was the Camp Gate. 

So far so good, we decided to continue on down a further backwoods road. 

 

 

 

Then suddenly it opened onto the vista of a lovely little lake. 

 

 

So we decided to see where this takes us.   

 

And we were rewarded when the road opened up onto a lovely little campground. 

 

 

We got ourselves a very nice pull through campsite, set up camp poured a drink and breathed a sigh of relief.  And to think that this park was only about 20 miles from that nightmare we first arrived at. 

 

 

As you can probably tell, I love the adventure of it all, but Dan does not.  And of course his dislike of my spontaneity cools my enthusiasm a little.  But of course I appreciate the fact that he is the one that has to solve the problems when my adventurous spirit gets us into any kind of jackpot.  So, we appreciate and compensate for each other.  That's why it works. 

 

 

 

 

I WILL DEFINITELY RECOMMEND WALLACE STATE PARK  TO ANYONE COMING THIS WAY. 

 

 

 

SO TOMORROW WE ARE OFF TO CLEAR LAKE IOWA.

(where Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens played their  last concert the night that they and others died in a tragic plane crash)

 

YESTERDAY WE HEADED FOR WATKINS MILL STATE PARK OUTSIDE KANSAS CITY

Yesterday was not a good travel day for us.  It started out well, up, packed and on the road by 8:00am.  A quick stop and McDonald's for breakfast on the go and we were out of Oklahoma and onto the Kansas Turnpike by 11:00.  That's when it started to turn sour. 

 

 

 

 

 

They had decided to set Kansas on fire.  And for the next few hour we drove through smoke. 

 

 

 

 

Not only was it hard to see at times it was smelly and I kept wanting to clear my throat.  Plus, all in all it was very ugly.  Not exactly a sight seeing trip. 

 

 

 

But we finally got through that, then we had to face the nightmare of many highway switch overs and interchanges to get through Kansas City.  We made one wrong exit, which Dan managed to make right by making a hard U-turn from the off ramp onto the next on ramp(with a trailer no less).  Thank goodness there was no traffic coming.  I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen him do it, but we breathed a sign of releif when we were through to the other side of KC. 

 

Now it was time to find the Campground we were headed for.  I didn't take any pictures of it, so the best I can say is it was AWFUL.  No water, very few 30 amp sites and the 50ampers were $40.00 per night.  (Hell! I can get a Motel room for that, and I'm supplying my own bed.) Every site in the place were very un-level, sloping every which way.  Put that one, on my "I do not recommend" list.  Oh, well, that's the chance you take when you are going to a new campsite for the first time. 

 

So, here we were 6:00 pm, tired, hungry, low on fuel, and no place to camp.  What to do?  First off, back track to that Walmart we just saw a ways back and get fuel, take this small road across country (hope it doesn't peter out on us) and get back on I-35 and start heading north. (which is what we were going to do on leaving anyways) We will watch for a place to stay the night, even if it has to be a Rest area. 


YOU CAN GATHER THAT I DO NOT RECOMMEND WATKINS MILL STATE PARK

(this saga will continue tomorrow)





 

 

LAKE THUNDERBIRD STATE PARK OKLAHOMA

We have stayed in State Parks from the Florida Keys to northern Washington State and I do believe that this park is my favourite.  It has some of the most beautiful sites. 

 

 

Each site has a full smooth level solid concrete pad, with a built in Bar-B-Q, a large preform concrete picnic table with matching benches and extra table length at the Bar-B-Q end.  Every site also includes a lantern pole and a large raised fire pit. 

 

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And most of the sites give you a lovely view out of your back window, not just another trailer.  Ours, like a lot of them, overlooks the lake.  And when travelling south in the fall, you have the beautiful fall colours as well. 

 

 

It was a long day Thursday with the traffic kayos of Austin, Waco and Forth Worth. 

 

 

Thank goodness that is over with. 

 

 

Sea-Enna's new "Thunder Shirt" seems to be helping a little.  It is not the miraculous cure we were led to believe and were hoping for, but during Thursdays travels she was slightly improved over Tuesdays.  So maybe it will keep improving. 

 

 

So we are having Friday off relaxing here, then we will move on to Watkins Mill State Park near Kansas City on Saturday.  We are really starting to watch the weather now.  It is 70 degrees  here, but down into the 40s overnight, and the forecast for Kansas is similar, but at this point it's, play it by ear.  We never know when we will have to winterise the trailer and switch to motels. 

 

WE ARE OFF TO WATKINS MILL STATE PARK KC MO



 

 

 

 

FIRST STOP MCKINNEY FALLS, AUSTIN TEXAS

 

We took Sea-Enna on a walk to the upper falls yesterday.  We were shocked at all the damage done by a flood that apparently occurred here in October of 2013. 

 

 

It didn't affect the campsites, but a lot of park buildings and trails appear to have been damaged. 

Dan cooked Smokies on the campfire last night while I cooked the last of our home make perogies.  Then we left the campfire to slowly burn out. 

 

 

 

SO, THAT'S IT FOR MCKINNEY FALLS.  TODAY IT'S ON TO LAKE THUNDERBIRD STATE PARK, OKLAHOMA

 

 

ALL CLOSED AND SEALED UP - AND AWAY WE GO

Yesterday, we had our trailer sprayed for insects to keep the bugs way while we are up north.  We have never done this before and have never had any problems, but for some reason, this year we have been seeing a lot of ants around, so we thought we better not take any chances. 

 

Then last night we went out for a farewell dinner with Lois and Larry.  We went to our favourite Chinese Buffet, "The China Sea".  It was delicious as usual. 

 

 

Then closed up the big trailer, pulled in the slides and locked it down.  Thanks for the help Larry. 

We also did as much preparation, to the trailer we are travelling in, as we could before bed, so that this mornings departure would be quick and easy. 

 

 

Now we are ready to roll. 

 

 

We made it to McKinney Falls State Park.

 

 

 

We are going to stay here two nights, then we are off to Lake Thunderbird State Park in Oklahoma

 

 

 

Here's the two of us idiots trying to take a "Selfie".  We are obviously going to have to work on that. 

 

 

 

And here is Dan explaining to Sea-Enna that she must stay close to the trailer and not wander off of the campsite or she will have to be kept on a leash. 

 

 

 

 

SO THAT'S GOODBYE TO PARADISE PARK FOR ANOTHER SEASON. 

 

 

 

 

 

AHH, AN EVENING SWIM

There is nothing I love more than an evening swim. mmmmmm  ...........  Let me re-phrase that, I love going for a swim, especially in the evening. 
 

In the evening the water is so warm.  If we go late enough there are very few people around. Sometimes we have to pool and hot tub completely to ourselves. It is very relaxing.
 

 

It cools me off after a hot day, and helps me to sleep really well even on a hot evening. 

AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT TEXAS

 

OUR LAST SATURDAY NIGHT DANCE

Last night we went to our last Saturday Night Dance for this season. 

 

 

Claudine and Robert took us to see "Diego", whom we had heard of but had not seen. 

 

 

 

I swear Claudine was not drunk, I just caught her when she blinked in this picture.  You'd think I would learn, I should always snap two. 

 

 

 

Oh, well, we all had a very good time, Diego was great and we are looking forward to more of this when we return. 

 

 

 

BUT THAT'S IT UNTIL NEXT FALL