RAIN IN THE OZARKS

It has rained heavily all night. Around 4:30 am the electricity went off again. When Phil's computer rebooted he noted that since midnight we had received 5 inches of rain today. From the looks of the radar it is going to continue with the heavy rains for several hours to come...

 

 The campsite we are at isn't at all level. Even tho Phil tried his best to get the trailer level we found that it wasn't the hard way. I happened to noticed that the carpet near the slide out was wet. Not good! We used towels to absorb the water and Phil checked for leaks which he did not find inside or out. He tried tilting the slide out so that water would run back not forward towards the trailer. That seemed to do the trick and the rain stayed on the outside where it belonged. Tomorrow we will put a fan on the floor to dry out the carpet as quickly as possible.

News reports are calling this a very unusual weather pattern for the Ozarks. Makes me wonder. Is the sun's magnetic polar shift having an effect on earth's weather? Is this a normal cycle and we are just not aware of it? I have no idea but thank goodness we won't have forty days and forty nights again. I don't think Phil and I could handle that. We are still trying our best to keep ourselves busy and amused...

 

I really feel sorry for the family that are camping in the tents just a couple of sites down for us. At least we have an inside large enough to feel comfortable in and all the comforts of home, they do not. They cook outside also. Because of the economy there are a lot of families forced to live that way. When I see people living like that I say a prayer for them and I send them love and light. I do not judge them or the situation. That is all I can do but I know prayer can move mountains.

Being kept indoors has allowed me to spend a lot of time on the plastic bag rug I am making on the loom that Patti gave to me. I have about ten more passes and then I can say I am halfway through the project. It is time consuming but fun and I am liking the results. I will post a photo of it when done.

Well... they predict the rain to continue for the week...

I guess we will just have to adjust because "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain"...

KEEP ON DANCING!

BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE - THE ARKANSAS CHAT ROOM

We are having a great time here at the Outlet Side of the campgrounds. We've met a lot of wonderful people. Arkansas is know as the Natural State and I have came to the conclusion that this campgrounds is a outdoors meeting place for everyone. There is a special meeting place up by the spillway where the men put a line in the water and the women gather together and chat...

There is some serious fishing done by the men and they have an interesting way of catching the catfish. They use a large rod and reel with a good size treble hook. They cast the line out and reel it back in with jerks. They are trying to hook onto catfish with the treble rather then waiting for the fish to bite on bait. It is called snagging. The water is very swift and there are logs and rocks on the bottom. But the area is packed with catfish. I know because Phil and I sat out on the bank and watch them going up to the spillway. So that is why I know the men are not telling fish tales.

Yesterday, we watched the excitement of one man hooking onto a whopper. He caught it up near the mouth of the spillway and lost it when it went under a big log in the middle. He and others tried everyway they could think of to move it. But that catfish didn't move. Thumping the line didn't work because the line was tight against the log and the catfish never felt the thump. I've been told that there are monsters size cats in the lake. I think that was one of them.

 

A couple of days ago one of the guys (I think he is Bobby Chambers) was playing around and rigged up a monster snag pole using a monster size treble. He didn't snag with it because that hook cost $25.00 and he would lose it for sure on a log. Still, it was funny.

Phil tied his hand at snagging today but that didn't work out that good. He caught a log and broke his pole. He is back to the trotline that he put out near our campsite.

This is the lake side of the spillway. The rails behind Phil is the intake system that rushes the water out on the side where the men are fishing. There is a parking area next to the rails that is under water from the flooding. Phil is actually looking to find crayfish for bait. But the only thing he found was this poor little duck.

 

From the dam we drove over to the Waveland Campgrounds. Boy, did they name that place right. It is like a peninsula with a campground in the middle of it. One of the roads in the lower section is flooded. Here is a photo that I took of the park signs at a parking area there...

Coming back for that area I found a wild Cherokee Rose bush.

Phil ended up going to the bluehole on Big Shoal Creek and catching small fish  to put on his trotline.

I helped him catch fish for awhile then I went for a walk down the creek. Here is another bluehole that was a bit farther down. It is just as beautiful but not as big an area...

 From there we drove on down to Spring Lake as it was the shortest route back to camp. This is the lake photo...

 I love the old brick dam and walkway. Phil stopped so I could get a photo of it from this side. Wish the tree wasn't there so that you could see more of the lake. But you have a good view of the dam and walkway here.

 This is the back side of the dam with it's spillway.

I am going to call it a night. It is 2:am and I am tired. The Internet Service has been very bad and I've been trying to get a blog up for three days. So when I saw that it was a possibility for getting it done I jumped on it. I have no idea when I will post another blog because of the internet service. So if it takes a few days please bare with me as I try. I have not had phone service since we left the panhandle of Texas.

 

But that is life so I just Keep On Dancing.... but right now I'm headed to bed... God Bless and Keep On Dancing..... Nite, Nite...

 

 

 

 

 

FROM THE TEXAS PANHANDLE TO ARKANSAS

From Lake Meredith in the Texas Panhandle we took a flying trip to Cove Lake just below Paris, Arkansas. This was not our plans but like dummies we didn't think... about the Memorial Weekend.  The Memorial Weekend and the 4th of July are dreaded dates as far as finding a campground with an unoccupied site to pull our rig into. When we arrived at Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma we went completely around the lake and every campground was full. Usually there are the worst sites left open or they have a first come first serve area with a few sites. But because of all of the rain that they had recently gotten some of their sites were closed due to the high water. We gave up the hunt and went back up to Interstate 40 and continued our journey to the east. Ending up sleeping once again at a rest area parking lot. All and all it wasn't that bad as we didn't have a semi refrigerated truck running all night next to us.

I had never given much thought about these trucks before except to watch them in rear view mirror when driving. Now, I have learned how to spot the refrigerated trucks so that we can avoid trying to sleep next to one. It is not by accident that I use the word "trying". The problem is that they keep their motor running all night which keeps the cooling system going for whatever they are hauling. The motor is loud and just when you get used to hearing it...  it revs up kicking in the refrigerator. In the morning I feel like I have been sleeping next to a lion that spent the night growling and roaring. I am just about that jittery. That is the reason I quickly started paying attention to what they look like. LOL.

We drove through a section of  tornado damage near Shawnee, Oklahoma. Wow, I was amazed at the damage from the wind. Mother Nature must have had a case of PMS. Either that or she was throwing a hissy fit...

Hope she didn't damage these railroad track as she wiped out the trees in her path...

She uprooted trees and made toothpicks out of them. As well as taking down power lines. This is a horizontal electrical power pole...

I  can only imagine the damage left by the F5 tornado that took out the town of Moore, Oklahoma. My heart really goes out to the survivors of that community.

 

We made a turn off of Interstate 40 towards the small town of Ozark, Ar. Such a beautiful drive...

Here the cattle stand belly deep in rich lush grass pastures. A rancher's dream...

They have already begun the cutting of the hay fields. The one just behind this horse has been cut and is ready to bale. Meanwhile, this beautiful animal is enjoying his feast of fresh green grass...

We continued on our journey through Ozark and on down the road past Paris, Arkansas until we came to a small campground nestled next to Cove Lake...

Although this is called a primitive campground it doesn't mean it isn't well maintained. Just that there are no flush toliets or showers. No electricity and no sewer dump (which is the black water or gray water holding tanks). It is a form of boondocking. We settled in for the week.

 

Saturday night we were surprised by Michel (our daughter), Tim, and Ken (their neighbor and good friend). They had been at the Renaissance Fair in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Ken gave me a 18x200 zoom telephoto lens for my new Nikon D-80 Digital SLR camera.... I love it!!! With the zoom that I had I could not get a photo of anything closeup without changing my lens. This is an example of the new zoom...

 The photo is of a real honest to goodness Lady Bug... not the imported out of control Asia Beetle. Lady Bugs are red and the Asia Beetle is tan. This is the type of photo I have dreamed of being able to take... even the lichen on the rock is very defined. I am so grateful for this magnificent gift. Thank you Ken.

 

We had a great visit. Everyone was dressed up in costume. Lol, I didn't know my daughter was a belly dancer. I hated to see them leave so soon after arriving but totally understood that it was a long trip home.

 

Well, it is that time so I will sign off for now. To my wonderful daughter... remember Keep On Dancing... I love you.

 

Remember life is short... so laugh as much as you can... even if it is at yourself. And Everyone Keep On Dancing ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARDIAN ANGELS ON DUTY

Tomorrow I will update you on what we have seen and where we have been since leaving Lake Meredeth in the Texas Panhandle. Right now I want to share with you what happened to us yesterday. Our Guardian Angels were definitely on duty watching over us.

I will begin with saying that we really goofed up. We had no idea that the brakes on the trailer were not working. All indications said they were. So, without a worry in the world we set out on our big adventure over the top of Mt. Magazine, the highest mountain in Arkansas.

Here is a view from the Mt. Magazine overlook. Phil is looking at Blue Mountain Lake in the middle of the Petite Jean Valley...

The next day I had a rare appearance of Internet service.. how be it very slow. Of which I took advantage of and checked out campsites at that lake. So, we packed up and headed for Blue Mountain Lake. This is the road out of the campground we were leaving...

As you can see this is a very beautiful area. But the camping was primitive there. Getting to this campground was a wild experience of which I will share  the trip getting there tomorrow. But for today I want to share what took place as we were coming down off of this magnificent mountain on Hiway 309...

After we had passed the Mt. Magazine State Park and this lookout point Phil said that he smelled smoke. The road is full of 15 to 20 mph turnback curves as you come down the steep grade. There are very (and I do mean very) few areas that you can pull off the road. We went for several miles before he could find a spot wide enough and long enough for us to pull over to check things out. When he stopped we both got out to look. I noticed the front tires smoking and as I got to the driver's side I saw flames inside the wheel. Told Phil that I saw fire and he said he didn't see it. So, I assume that it had just started to flame...

Phil quickly grabbed the fire extinguisher and put out the flames. As you can see the tire is smoking and inside the wheel is the fire. The passenger side brakes were hot but no fire. So luckily all we left behind was the white powder mark on the side of the road and not our rig...

After sitting for awhile to allow the brakes to cool down we continued our journey down the mountain passing a few more hairpin turns...

No one can tell me that our Guardian Angels were not looking out for us. Had we not pulled over when we did then our brake system would have been so hot that it would have failed at the very next curve. Looking over the side as we passed it I saw a sheer drop off. Phil waited until this morning to inform me that we were really close to going over the edge. I will admit I am thankful that he did wait... I rode with no fear... had he told me I would have been gripping the seat the rest of the way off that mountain. And to the Angels of the Brotherhood of Light I give you "Thanks" for allowing us to continue our dance of life and protecting us as we dance on...

 

God Bless...And Keep On Dancing

 

 

 

 



 

 



YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYERS OKLAHOMA

You are in our prayers.... All of the people that have had their lives touched in someway by the recent rash of tornadoes that have damaged so many lives and homes. My heart goes out to those in Texas, Oklahoma and any of the other states that have also suffered great loses.  

Both Phil and I pray that the Angels of Light, Love, and Mercy will stand at your side... lift you up when you are down... show you the way to overcome your grief and heartache. And that they light the path for you.

You Are In Our Prayers!

LAKE MEREDITH TEXAS

 

 Friday we went riding around the area. Wouldn't you just know it. A big bobcat walked across the road and I didn't get a picture of him. Bummer. He was full grown. I was taken back by how dark his fur was. Looks like he lives in a canyon right behind some houses at the edge of town. But because by the time I turned the camera on, took the lens cap off, and tried to focus on him he was long gone.

We went to the other side of the dam. There was marsh lands there. There was a walkway so that you could walk out over the water and grasses for a distance. The fish were not very large in the area that we were in.  
 

 

There was a nice day use area with a swimming beach at this side of the dam. Phil showed me the little town of Sanford then we went back to the main body of the lake. We checked out the Fritch Fortress park and that was a shock. There was no lake as this photo below shows. The dark area in the middle of the lake bed is mud..

 

We drove on to the park campgrounds and the next photo shows what the lake looks like just two mile up the road. The lake is about a third of what it used to be because of the drought.  If you look closely at the below photo you can see the water level line on the far banks.

  

 

 Then we went down to the boat ramp. Wow. The lake is at least a mile away from the ramp. Phil drove out on the road where others had driven to launch their boats. You had to be aware of the mud banks. There were areas where there signs of many a vehicle that had gotten stuck trying to get their boat into the water. Or maybe it was one really dumb person that didn't know what a mud bank or quick sand looked like. If that is the case, then he sure took his time in learning... lol.  Lots of birds were down in this area also. We saw a seagull a long way from the gulf.

 

 

Phil tried his hand at fishing down at the dock. All he caught was a bunch of mosquitos and his own rod and reel. Of which he accidently dropped into the water. I am surprised he told me about that... lol

 

 

While out bike riding I found this little guy... a real Texas Horn Toad. Also known as a horny toad or a horned lizard. He ran across the road and stopped to study me and the bike. Most likely thought I was riding the skinniest horse he had ever seen. One odd thing about this lizard is his ability to spit blood from his eyes. They only do that when threatened. It was a good feeling to know they are still around.

 

 

And then there was this guy visiting our camp. I think he liked getting his picture taken. Because of his big size and his markings I wanted a photo of him. Ran into the house to get the camera. Remembered I was charging the battery so back into the house I went to get it. Meanwhile, he waited just under the steps. I thought he was on the other side so around the house I went. Wasn't long before he came out to where I was standing. He patted the ground and stretched out just as you see him here. He just lay there watching me take his picture...

 

 

I have discovered that besides loving him I really do need Phil. There is very little that he cannot do. Here is an example, working on the generator when it stopped working. He had it back up and running in no time. For which I am grateful... with out electricity there is no blog, not to speak of my morning coffee lol

 

Flowers have really bloomed since the rain ...

 

 

 

 This one is a type of milkweed and there is a bumblebee on it.

 

 We are blessed with the nicest neighbors... Tim and Susie from Indiana. They have just joined into the ranks of full timers. I hope to see them again... somewhere... some place.

Well it is time to wind this blog down so I will leave you with a picture of Phil riding off into the sunset...

 

 

KEEP LIFE SIMPLE AND ENJOY IT

KEEP ON DANCING!