2018 09 16 - 09 23 Lake of the Ozarks and 370 Lakeside Park and RV Campground

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri - 18 September 2018

Bob's school friends, Tom and Joann Childress invited us to their condo for a few days. The dogs liked going out on the balcony which overlooked the bay.

They have a tri-toon. That's one we had never heard before. It's a modified pontoon with 3 "toons" which make the ride smoother than the standard two. We were all hoping that being on the water would be cooler than the mid-90s temps but anything less than 20-30 mph across the water was just as hot. 

Beautiful skies were awaiting us on the lake and very little water traffic since it is now off-season. Most of the shore is lined with private homes or condo complexes. Tom and Joann say it can be quite a challenge to captain a boat around when it's high season. 

Joann still keeps her composure while being blown about while the boat is moving. 

One of the homes along the shore has mannequins in a picture window who look like the "Rat Pack"...Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr and Dean Martin. I guess the window was not big enough for the Joey and Peter. 

Just an example of the private homes along the shore. Not all of them are so extravagant, some are quite modest, but there were some that even had helicopter pads. 

Bob takes the wheel coming out of one of the many bays. Keeping the throttle low to avoid a wake until farther out in the main channel after stopping for gas.   

 Wednesday, 19 September 2018

We didn't have fishing licenses so just taking the boat out to see the different areas. This house has a pool in front of the house with a double dolphin statue and a dolphin fountain. Any one in the market for a vacation home? Sign says it's for sale. 

Our view at sunset from the balcony of Braxton's restaurant. Such a pretty view but so glad we chose to eat indoors. It was still in the 90s so the balcony was not even a consideration.  

Wednesday, 19 September 2018

Our gracious host, Tom, on his boat the "Bon" Voyage. This is a play on words because his nickname for Joann is to shorten her maiden name, Bonsignore to "Bon".

Joann took us out today. Notice that we did not take the dogs on the boat. We were afraid Tori would freak out with the motor vibrations/noise and try to jump overboard. Their little puppy, Willow, also doesn't like the boat so we just left them all in the air conditioning in their separate rooms.  

I finally decided to try my hand at driving through the main channel. Hey, there are no rear view mirrors on this thing! Top speed is only about 37 mph but there are other speed boats around that have to be watched so our boat goes across the wake instead of being hit in the side and rocking us till we are seasick. Nothing like that happened to any of us.  

Plenty of sunshine. Hope you put on your sunscreen, Tom.

Part of the lake is bordered by the State Park so there are areas where buildings are not allowed along the shore. This bay made a great place for the boys to jump in for a swim. 

Doesn't look like it but this is our sunset cruise. We had to adjust the camera for flash so we are visible but that makes the background way over exposed. We would like to thank our gracious host and hostess for a wonderful time and such good weather for boating. 

Sun has set...

Moon has risen.

Friday, 21 September 2018 - We had spent a relaxing day catching up on laundry and other things. After a dinner of Bob's wonderful homemade pizza we suddenly started hearing a high pitched continuous beeping. Since we are relatively new to our home, this was disturbing. Is it an outside warning siren for some bad weather rolling in, some strange bell or whistle from a neighbor's vehicle or our own? It wasn't really loud but didn't take us long to decide it was inside our home. And it had to mean something was wrong but we hadn't heard it before. It took several minutes to decide it was coming from the kitchen area. Not the microwave...not the fridge...not the stove or oven. What else is mechanical over there? Finally figured out the pizza equipment that Bob had washed and returned to the drawer under the stove was pressing the On-Off button on the digital scale. We laughed at that scare. That's a new one for us. 

Lakeside Park, St. Peters, Missouri - 22 September 2018

The microwave decided not to work today. This is our main cooking equipment because it is also a convection oven, exhaust fan and stove-top light. Also it does not cost us anything like using the propane oven. But the obvious problem is the lack of access to the fuse or the charcoal filter without completely removing it from the wall and disassembling the whole surrounding metal skin. Four hours later we had discovered the fuse was fine and the microwave suddenly was working again, like magic. The appliance store near us does not carry nor can they even order a replacement charcoal filter. Well, that worked out well. Loads of fun.

Lakeside Park, St. Peters, Missouri - Sunday, 23 September 2018

Geese on the lake in an early morning fog. Such a peaceful scene.

2018 09 10 - 2018 09 15 Amana Colonies, Indian Creek Campground and Mark Twain Birthplace.

Amana Colonies, Iowa - 10 Sep 2018

Having broken away from the Lutheran Church in Germany during the 1700's, the gift of inspiration or prophecy, was the basis for the religious group known as the Community of True Inspiration. Persecution and economic depression in Germany forced the community to seek a new home in America, settling first near Buffalo, NY in the 1840s. When more farmland was needed for the growing community, the Inspirationists arrived in Iowa in 1855 and established 6 villages totaling 26,000 acres. The seventh village was added in 1861. Housing, medical care, meals, all household necessities and childhood schooling was provided in a communal setting. Men and women were assigned jobs by their village council. Farming, wool production and calico, clock making, brewing, basket weaving and broom making, ironworks, smokehouse, bakery, ice house, dairy, orchards, vineyards, gardens and leather crafts all contributed to the community. All villagers attended worship 11 times per week. Communal kitchens operated by the women provided 3 daily meals and 2 snacks. In 1932, amid the Great Depression, Amana set aside its communal way of life.

My high-school friend, Donna and her husband, Bill arrived yesterday. We had side-by-side sites which gave us a really nice side yard for hanging out. Dakota climbed into Bill's lap to get a better vantage point to watch the chipmunks running around and chasing each other. She could hardly keep track of them but was distracted when Bob said there was a "SQUIRREL".  We spent the day just enjoying the wonderful weather for sitting outside. An early dinner at the Ox Yoke Inn, a German-American restaurant, serving "family style" since 1940, including homemade pies.

Tuesday, 11 Sep 2018

We found the General Store in operation since 1858 which features gifts, specialty foods, cookbooks and included an International Christmas store. 

There are a number of buildings which are original to the establishment of the villages including the Chocolate Haus, the Meat Shop & Smokehouse (since 1855) and the Ronneburg Restaurant which was originally a communal kitchen. 

Wednesday, Bob and the dogs took an early morning walk around Lily Lake, north of our RV Campground which has over 400 sites but at this time of year is less than 25% filled.

Thursday, 13 Sep 2018

Our first stop today was the Amana Furniture & Clock Shop, the original handcrafters' shop in traditional and custom designs. The workshop even had a viewing gallery. Dozens of tall clocks and rocking chairs (traditional and glider). Just down the road is the Amana Woolen Mill, Iowa's only operating woolen mill and famous for wool and cotton blankets.

Outside the village of Amana at Homestead, we stopped at AJ's Copper Garden, a workshop and gallery of handmade copper, brass and stainless steel garden sculptures and ornaments. Lastly, we had to stop by Hilton's Custom Furniture and Home of the Iowa Rocker made from native Iowa hardwoods which have been cut down within a 100 mile radius of the shop by the owner, Rance Hilton. He also steam bends his own wood on jigs and patterns of his own design. The Iowa Rocker is a handmade glide rocker.

Thu 9/13 We weren't the only Montana RVs . We were surprised to see eight others pull in. I think some of them may be heading for Elkhart, Indiana where Keystone is headquartered for the Fall Rally (a gathering of Owners for seminars, friendship, storytelling, crafts, etc). But look at those skies. Every day was perfect for sitting outside between our rigs in the shade of our awnings. Cool afternoons, gentle breezes and energetic chipmunks running around. 

Friday, 14 Sep 2018 - Our drive to Mark Twain State Park included a lunch stop where we enjoyed a couple chocolate delights we had purchased at the Amana Chocolate Haus. 

Indian Campgrounds, Perry Missouri - 14 Sep 2018

On the Mark Twin Lake near the Clarence Cannon Dam the Army Corps of Engineers created an 18,600 acre lake with 285 miles of shoreline at a depth of 29 feet. The dam provides hydroelectric power, flood risk management, recreation and fish and wildlife conservation. 

Saturday, Florida, Missouri - 15 Sep 2018

This field is the location of Samuel Langhorne Clemens' birthplace. His pen name, Mark Twain (meaning two fathoms) came from his years working on the Mississippi riverboats and indicates a depth of safe water (12 feet) for passage.

This "cabin" has been assembled from several local cabins from the same period but not the original. 

The Memorial Shrine houses many artifacts from the life of Mark Twain.

This bronze bust was originally on top of the pillar pictured above. 

This is the original two room cabin where he was born, two months premature in 1835. The furnishings are donated, period pieces but none were actually owned by the family. 

This is one of the two rooms in the cabin. When Clemens was born two months premature, there were no clothes nor a cradle for him and he was not expected to live. 

Clemens did spend 18 months learning to pilot a barge and getting his pilot's license. The Alonzo Child was a large side-wheel river boat built in 1857 and operated out of St. Louis plying the Mississippi River. She was known to have been in the service of both the Confederacy and Union during the Civil War.  

Part of the man-made lake created by the Army Corps of Engineers dam. 

Side view of the Mark Twain Historic Shrine. Besides the cabin, it includes several of Twain's first editions, a manuscript of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and furnishings from his Connecticut home. 

2018 09 01 - 09 08 Tailwater West Campground

Coralville Lake, Coralville, Iowa - 3 Sep 2018

Since our last day in South Dakota, we have been caught in this recurring rain pattern that was in Minnesota and now Iowa. Our first week Coralville Lake was at one of the upper campgrounds. Now we have moved to the lower one which is right next to the outlet from the dam which created the lake. Cedar Rapids had flooded streets downtown.

Tuesday, 4 Sep, was one of our clear mornings during this lengthy rain pattern. But it was a short lived respite before another round of rain. We are in a holding pattern here as we wait for Sunday to make our next move to Amana Colonies to meet some friends. 

While Tori spends a lot of her time sleeping in the bedroom, Dakota finds our footrests to be a comfortable alternative to sleeping on the floor. 

Thu 09/06                                         Tue 07/10

 Comparing these two photos from July and September, it looks like the water hasn't receded at all. In the past 7 days, we have gotten as much rain as Iowa usually gets in 3 months. 

Bob took the dogs for their morning walk to the top of the dam. The campgrounds are on the rights. Mid-morning we drove over near Davenport and discovered where some of this water overflowed the banks into the fields.

Saturday - 8 Sep 2018

As we were watching College football, two groups of white pelicans totaling about three dozen birds flew overhead. 

Several landed downstream of us. With a full day of no rain at our location and north of us, the river has fallen by four feet. 

Curious site to see so many pelicans in Iowa. 

At last, a cool, fall-like day for some outdoor football watching. We couldn't watch the Buckeyes but the local rivalry, Iowa and Iowa State, brought out many campers . 

While we are several states away from our favorite team, there are plenty of Buckeyes laying around. 

Shockingly, nobody around here collects these shiny little nuggets of our former home state. We were the only people wearing our buckeye necklaces.