Summer and Fall 2010

Home sweet home

Well we arrived back home just as spring was beginning to pop out. It was time to get the gardens and yard in shape for summer. Carol spent a lot of time with our gardens, including the vegetable garden, the 7 or 8 flower gardens, the water garden, etc. As if that weren't enough she volunteered to work on two gardens over at Runge for the summer and spent quite a bit of time doctoring those including a vegetable display garden and a wildflower garden.


Vegetable garden in May

While we didn't make any major trips in our truck camper this summer we did spend quite a few weekends enjoying the camping areas here in our home state.


Hiking the Ozark Trail in April


Camping at Berryman Campground in April


Beside a small creek on the Ozark Trail

In April we went over to the Kansas City area and camped at Longview Lake a Jackson County lake and a very nice campground. What an experience, but I think Annabelle and Andrew really enjoyed it.


Camping at Longview Lake by Kansas City


Carol and Annabelle and Andrew in camper


Annabelle and her pancake face


Andrew eating smores

In May I found a little teardrop camper for sale here in Jefferson City so I snapped it up for Shelby, who had been looking for something like this for a couple of years. We pulled it out to Denver for her the week before Memorial Day weekend. While we were out there we managed to squeeze in time to build a pergola behind here house.


Shelby's teardrop right after purchase


Back of Shelby's house before pergola


Back of Shelby's house after pergola


Shelby and Carol admiring her new teardrop

In mid May we went to Kansas City to see Rebecca (Becky) receive her Master's Degree. We were both so proud of her. Just to think, at one time we never thought she would finish her undergraduate degree. Way to go Beck.


Becky and her kids at graduation

In July, the weekend before July 4th weekend, we pulled the fifth wheel down to Cross Creek Campground at the Lake of the Ozarks for Rob, Becky, Annabelle, and Andrew to stay in. We joined them in our truck camper for a couple of days. It was a very hot and muggy time for all, with much time spent in the pool. After the trip to Lake of the Ozarks the grand kids came home with us for a few days. It helped me remember why younger people have kids and not us old fogies.


Camping at Cross Creek Campground


Becky and Andrew in the pool


Carol and Annabelle enjoying a hayride


Annabelle swinging at our house after the camping trip


Andrew patiently waiting for his turn to swing

I spent some time this summer repairing the truck camper again. The corner jacks were getting a little weak so I tore apart the mounting area and made a pattern out of 1/8“ plywood and had a machine shop weld up a metal assembly to put inside so if the corner jacks come loose now the whole camper corner will pull out, yikes!!!!!!!!

I think this was one of the muggiest summers I can remember with the humidity being very high with little break through most of June, July, and August, it seemed. This helped the gardens grow though, and it was a bumper year for flowers.


Carol in the garden, at least one of her gardens


Monarch on Purple Coneflower

We both spent time volunteering at Runge with Carol working her gardens and helping with kids programs, and me taking groups hiking to such places as Spring Creek Gap, Three Creeks, Hart Creek, Ha Ha Tonka, Meramec Springs, Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Rock Bridge State Park, along with some personal hiking on the Ozark Trail, Clifty Creek, Hughes Mountain, and Bennett Springs State Park, with my hiking companion Bob McCoy. When Shelby came home for a visit this summer we went ziplining down at Meramec Caverns. What fun that was.


Shelby ziplining


Me on the zipline


Carol on a hike at Three Creeks

This fall we spent some time over at Rob and Becky's helping them with a couple of home projects as well, including completing the deck roofing, and building a small tree house for the kids.


Grandpa and the grand kids enjoying the treehouse

This fall our old friends from Springfield, Dave and Linda Bryan, Don and Linda Haddock, Bob and Jan McCoy, all pulled our campers to Daniel Boone Conservation area and camped for a few days. What fun. We were scheduled to go to Duetch Country Days in Marthasville but we never did make it there since we were just enjoying the camping and fine weather. We did make it to Hermann though and toured the Stone Hill Winery. We really enjoyed that, and I think the other folks in our wine tasting group did too. Becky, Rob, Annabelle, and Andrew stopped by the campsite to visit us as well, so everyone got caught up on our grand kids :-).


Camping with the gang at Daniel Boone Conservation Area


Grandma and the grand kids


Linda, Carol, and Linda making camp stew

Thanksgiving we went out to Denver to be with Shelby. Carol and I went to the Denver Art Museum one day, and all three of us went hiking another day. It was great weather and we had a great time.


Us with Shelby Thanksgiving


Carol and I hiking in Colorado

Now we are preparing for the holidays and I am looking forward to, and planning a trip to Quartzsite, Arizona in January. This is a major RV event that takes place each winter. I have read about it for years and have to go experience it for myself. Stay tuned for future postings on this trip.

The Natchez Trace

Carol at Natchez on the Mississippi

We headed up to Natchez from St. Francisville and had a great tour of the city including the downtown section and the Under the hill section (old red light district) of the city. We couldn't resist stopping at a sign downtown that said 'Estate Sale'. Carol ended up buying a piece of marble, a wind chime, and a decorative box for flowers. It is hard to pass up bargains. Then we went to Walmart on the outskirts of the city before we headed for the Trace.


Natchez building on Broadway along the Mississippi


Natchez Mansion

The Natchez Trace was originally a path the indians used but later became the path of boatmen who came down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River and on down to New Orleans. When arriving at New Orleans they would sell their flat boats, wood and all and walk back to Ohio for another trip down the river. The Natchez Trace used to be a very dangerous route with lots of robbers and other outlaws just waiting for possible targets. In 1936 Congress passed legislation to establish the Natchez Trace Parkway and it fell under the auspices of the National Park Service. This is a two lane road that runs from Nathez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, approximately 445 miles. The speed limit on the 50 miles per hour, and the roadside is gorgeous. No trucks are allowed and there are no road signs. It is strictly woods and historic or natural areas along this route.


Standing on the footprints of the old ones along the Natchez Trace


Looking down from the top of Emerald Mound


Emerald Mound sign


Natchez Trace State Park, Mississippi

We camped at Natchez State Park about ten miles north of Natchez the first night. It was a nice park with level sites, electricity, water, but no wifi. We left early the next morning with a goal of making it to Jeff Busby campground about 180 miles north of where we were. We also had a few places we wanted to stop on the way. We managed our stops, including the Mississippi state craft center in Jackson and arrived at Jeff Busby around 3:00. We did manage to find a good spot to camp and spent the night. We listened to the forecast for tomorrow and Sunday and decided to spend another day here and enjoy the warm weather while we could. The forecast for Saturday night was for rain and cold weather moving in. We decided to reroute our trip and head west in the hopes of traveling through the bad weather and letting it pass us quicker that way so tomorrow, Sunday we will head west for southern Arkansas.

We did spend Saturday at Jeff Busby campground. We hiked, built a campfire, read, grilled chicken, and chatted with outher campers. It was a pleasantly warm day.


Jeff Busby Campground on the Natchez Trace

We received word last night that Dave Bryan's dad had passed away so we are heading for Poplar Bluff, Missouri over the next couple of days so we can attend his funeral. Those of you who know me well probably know that Dave is my good buddy that I like to hike and travel with. His dad was a fine gentlemen and lived to the glorious age of 96. Carol and I send our heartfelt condolances to the Bryan family on the lose of this great patriarch.

It actually rained and sleeted on us last night and today as we left Jeff Busby campground and headed north toward Memphis. When we got to Memphis we drove around some looking for the house Carol and her family lived in when they lived there in the 1960s. I think we found it but things have changed and it was hard for her to tell which house it was specifically. We drove by Graceland (Elvis' mansion) but didn't stop since we have been there before. We have ended up at Tom Sawyer's Mississippi River RV Park in West Memphis tonight. It was only $16 and has wifi and electric. We are right next to the Mississippi. Hope it does rise.

More photos of the Trace

Our trip is nearing an end. We will most likely drive home on Wednesday after the funeral for Lee Bryan on Tuesday. It will be good to be home again, but I know I will be getting the itch to head out on the road again in a few weeks. I just enjoy drifting and seeing new things. Keep posted for posts as the summer progresses.

Heading North to Plantation Country

At the edge of the Atchafalaya Basin

We left Lake Fausse Point State Park Tuesday morning and headed toward Baton Rouge. On our way we stopped at Atchafalaya Basin Visitor Center. This is a Louisiana Visitor Center that describes the Atchafalya Basin ecosystem. It is a huge area in south central Louisiana of swampland. I think basically it is the result of channeling the numerous rivers in this area into a narrower channel to claim farmland. It is a unique area though with a vast system of water, birds, and animals. It is a great refuge area which would take a long time to explore, but one would need an airboat. From here we headed on to Baton Rouge and drove along the west side of the Mississippi River and up toward St. Francisville where we wanted to see the Audubon State Historic Site. Before anything though we went downtown St. Francisville and went to the visitor center. The lady there told us about the two RV parks in the area and about a nice restaurant to have lunch at. Our next stop was the Magnolia Cafe in St. Francisville at the recommendation of the lady in the visitor center. It was a very good recommendation. We knew it would be good when we first pulled in to park because the parking area was packed and it was already 1:30. It was indeed good. I had a shrimp po-boy sandwich and Carol had a salad with grilled chicken, cranberrys, English walnuts, apples, and a honey mustard dressing. It was good also.


Parked near the visitor center in St. Francisville


Magnolia Cafe

Our next stop was the grocery store to restock on necessaries and then off to find a campground. We ended up at Peaceful Pines across the road from the Audubon Historic Site. After we checked in we went over to the historic site and got in on the last mansion tour of the day. The Audubon State Historic Site is primarily the Oakley Plantation where Audubon stayed when he was here. It is here in St. Francisville that he did most of his work on his collection of birds.


Oakley Plantation House at Audubon State Historic Site


Camelia in bloom

St. Francisville is a darling little town with lots of old homes and lots of plantation mansions in the area. My brother Mike likes to take photos of front porches. I think this town would keep him busy for a week just with front porches. It is really a great place and we just happened to hear about it while watching PBS the other night.


Rosedown Plantation


Rosedown plantation house from the gardens


Inside the garden tool shed at Rosedown

We registered at Peaceful Pines for two nights because there is another state historic site (Rosedown Plantation) that we want to see. Wednesday morning we woke up and headed for Rosedown as soon as we were ready. We both were really impressed with this plantation It is amazingly well restored with about 90% of the original furnishings still in place. We were also very impressed with the gardens at this plantation. The original mistress of the plantation was a huge gardener and with a number of slaves she was able to establish a number of fantastic gardens. I went crazy taking photos here.


More gardens at Rosedown


Looking down at the gardens at Rosedown from the plantation balcany


Carol getting ideas for her garden shed

After the plantation we headed out to Cat Island NWR an area known for it's birds. We didn't see many birds though and finally headed back to St. Francisville and the Magnolia Cafe again. Yes, it was that good. I had pizza today and Carol had a po-boy to dip in gravy. Both were excellent again. We then headed back to the Audubon State Historic Site to see some of the things we missed yesterday. Then back to the campground to bake some cookies. We're heading to Natchez, MS tomorrow to begin our trek up the Natchez Trace.


Spring flowers

Life is good.