Summary:
I still love COE campgrounds, even though many of them have a lot of fishermen with their boats, etc. The following are the rankings of the ones I visited on this trip:
1. Bucksaw: Rating - 10. This is a beautiful campground with level sites and many on the lake. There are places to ride my bike although not really too far It also has water.
2. Damsite: Rating - 10. On Pomme De Tare Lake. I think just about all the sites have a view of the lake. There is water on all the RV sites, but tent sites are basic and even located on different peninsula. The sites are level and there are about 123 of them, yet not too close together.
3. Nemo Landing: Rating - 9. On Pomme De Tare Lake. Actually, this and the next two site were about equal. Nemo Landing also have many sites with a water view and many on the side of a hell which provides good views. Some with water some not. Not very large so not many places to ride my bike. They do have a really nice beach.
4. Longshoal: Rating 9. Smaller campground, but really nice. Able to ride trike on part of a path. Views of the lake are good. Beach, but it wasn't being used at all - cost extra.
5. Osage Bluff: Rating 9. Really nice campground. The main thing that bothered me was that all the sites on the water did not have electric. John said that it because water rose to above those sites, but that thought wasn't consistent with other COE campgrounds on the same lake.
6 Berry Bend. Rating 8. Biggest problem is that there were not signs so drove all over looking for my site. Phone connection was weak even with my booster. Looked like two sections were closed, and maintenance was good where they did it, poor otherwise.
7. Thibaut Point. Rating 7. First stop and it was ok but leveling on my site was a problem. Other sites also looked like there could be the same problem. After visiting and comparing to other campgrounds this could be an 8.
8. Sparrowfoot. Rating 6. Spent 3 days here because of Labor Day. Although it was probably the worst of all the campgrounds I visited I had the best time because of my neighbor. If it wasn't for the crowding and a poor choice of site, it could be a 7 rating.
Note that all the ratings were above a 5 which basically means I would go back again.
Thursday, Sep 9
Leaving today for home....mixed feelings. I have really enjoyed the journey, had some challenges, some great times, and things works good until the refrig problem. Then this morning the temp was 57 so decided to turn on the furnace only to find out that it wasn't working. So got some things to fix when I get home........home......sounds good.....so looking forward to seeing the family again.
Did have some more swelling yesterday and finally took some ibprophen? last night and the swelling went down. Getting old is really fun....Took some final photos
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| View of the narrow peninsula the campground is on |
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| From the top of the hill going into the campground |
Wednesday, Sep 8
Slept good again....maybe it is just being out in the fresh air.......
The swelling has gone down but is still there somewhat.....maybe it isn't swelling, just weight that I have added.
Went out for another long bike ride looking for some firewood and found some. Got a little light on wood but should have enough now. Still loving the bike with the electric assist....at least I feel like I am getting 'some' exercise. Hills don't bother me now, except some of them are so steep that going down them was a little scary......especially when there is a sharp curve at the bottom.
Had French Toast, Bacon, and scrambled eggs over the fire this morning. A front came through last night with a little shower but clear and cooler this morning. God is so good!!
Electric on the refrigerator stopped working but switching to gas and it is keeping everything cold.
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| Beautiful Sunrise |
The trip back was pretty uneventful. Got back early afternoon. Unpack about half of the camper before running out of energy.
Tuesday, Sep 7
Slept good again. Had some bacon and eggs this morning but fixed in the camper. Just didn't feel like getting everything out for the one meal over the fire. Nice Sunrise
Got some other pictures of the campground. It is kind of on the side a hill the sites are pretty level but quite close together. I would think on a busy weekend it would feel really packed.
This is the reason it is called 'Damsite'.
Took a really long bike ride to see the campground and it is huge...the highest numbered site I saw was 125 on two peninsulas. I think just about every campsite has a view of the lake....you would really have to look hard to find one that doesn't. It is really hilly and thanking God for my electric power because I went places that I would not have gone without it. No problems as I had plenty of power to handle any hill and I didn't have to strain or get off and push as I have done in the past.
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| Zoomed picture of camper from other peninsula |
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| Nice dam sunset |
😁😁😁Monday, Sep 6
Another good night. The swelling is slowly going down. What is really nice isAt that there is little to no pain.........thank you Lord. Going to the Nemo Landing Campground which is on Lake Pomme De Terre. Will only be there one night before going on to Damsite Campground.......Had to do that because had to reserve 3 nights at Sparrowfoot Campground since it is Labor Day weekend.
I think overall that I would rate the Sparrowfoot campground a 6 out of 10 stars. It may fit good if you fish and not much for the view, but I am just the opposite. They do have water hookup which is good.
Fixed some bacon and scrambled eggs w/cheese on the fire this morning and then Jeff came over and offered me a bacon & egg sandwich, which I had to turn down...already full. Sandy had offered to take me with them to get their lines in that they had out on the lake....I had initially turned her down because I was tired but this morning I told Jeff that I would like to go if the offer was still open....it was and I went. This was probably my greatest adventure of the trip.... can't imagine anything being better. Went flying around the lake in their book looking for red 2 litter bottles which had a weight and a hook. If the bottle was laying down....no fish; if it was stand upright....there was a fish. Took a few pictures:
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| Pelican Island - actually part of old railroad |
Got back to camper and started packing up. They brought the boat and parked in front of me so I just took my time and waited until they left. Jeff left first with the boat and then she pulled the camper.
It took about an hour to get to Nemo Landing.. This seems like a pretty nice park with a lot of sites with a view. As luck would have it I got here about 1:00 pm and there was a camper but no car on my spot. That is OK since check out time is 6:00 pm. So I looked for a spot to park in and good luck is that the one next to the one I reserved was open, and it is a 'first come first serve' site and is actually a better site. IA park ranger came by and I asked him if I could just stay there. He told me to check the office at 6:00 pm......I did so and I am staying on it. While I was riding my bike around the guy on the spot I reserved came back and moved his trailer to another spot.....makes me wonder????? I got the feeling he was living out of his trailer.
😌😁😁Sunday, Sep 5
Interesting night last night. Woke up about midnight and after going to the bathroom I thought.....Hey, Wayne, idiot.....if you feet are swollen you should keep them elevated....so I put some pillows under the mattress to raise my feet, then I added a cushion and that helped but turned out to be uncomfortable, so I added another that fit under my knees, under the mattress, and that was quite comfortable but by then I was totally awake. A couple of days ago I discovered how to mirror my phone the the laptop without using Samsung Dex, so I wondered if I could mirror my phone to the TV. Looked at settings on the TV and sure enough, I could. Tried it out with my phone and it worked.......so, I ended up fixing a bowl of cereal and watching a movie which ended about 3:00 am. Went back to sleep, with feet elevated, and slept til 8:00 am. AND, the swelling is down....not normal, but close. Now you know the definition of 'interesting'.
Watched worship service and then had some lunch....thinking about family........
Took couple of long bike rides and stopped in some places that had a path down to the lake.
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7339198895099079888/5046788130859458735# |
| This is a panoramic view of one of the places I rode to. |
My older neighbors, Jeff and Sandy, went down to their fish lines and this is their catch. They had a lot of people stop to look. Four of the fish were over 20 lbs with one at 25 pounds.
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7339198895099079888/5046788130859458735#They invited me still for some wings, fish, and hush puppies which he fried in vegetable oil outdoors. They were all so good...
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| Sitting down for some delicious fish, wings, and hush puppies |
Jeff & Sandy kept calling everyone over because they had fixed too much. Jeff says that he always fixes and lot more than they can eat..... they gave me the left overs. yummm.....
Finished off the day with another bike ride and I am tired.
😒😋Saturday, Sep 4
Slept pretty good last night. Adv Bone & Joint never did call.....really disappointed in them. David called and advice from Jessica is that it is an allergic reaction. She advised taking some Benadryl to help.....but don't have and it is not bad enough to warrant going back into town....yet. Still swollen this morning and drinking a lot of water.
Rain/thunderstorms started last night and hasn't stopped yet......looks like an all day even. Electric went out 3 times so far, but keeps coming back after a short time. Still have internet so watch a movie...in between outages. Every campsite I rode by yesterday had a boat, so I am sure there are a lot of disappointed fishermen this morning.
fixed some rolls this morning .... good, in fact, too good because I ate all of them. think I am going to pay the price for that.
Well, it is noon and still raining. I can tell people are getting tired of their camper because they are coming out in the rain. The kids are playing in the puddles.... really neat to watch them.... I think I forgot what it was like to play in the rain..... but I am not about to relive that memory....
The rain stopped...kind of.... about 2:00 pm. So I went out for a long bike ride. Everything seems to be working good, Still getting people stopping me asking about the bike and when I tell them it is power assist they really are surprised. Starting raining a little so I pushed it and easily got up to 17mph and held it there. In the settings I put a max speed of 20 mph because I didn't want to go too fast.
In my ride around, with it be Labor Day Weekend I noticed that almost all the campers had a pickup truck, kids, a dog, a boat, and a heavy set lady. No getting lonely here.
Had a snack supper, and then took another bike ride around the area. Decided I had better get some lights for it.
Noticed my neighbor, older, no kids, no boat, was trying to start a fire, unsuccessfully, so I took over a couple of my firestarters, not sure it helped much because he was using large, wet logs without getting a base going first. But we did have a conversation and they ended up inviting me over for fish and wings tomorrow evening.
😒Friday, Sep 3
Not sure why, but had a hard time getting to sleep last night. I think I have slacked off drinking water like I should....got a leg cramp so poured down the water and slept good after a little while.
Got up this morning to take a bike ride.......but...... I had another flat tire....same tire. So I took it off and tried to repair it but it was on a seam so the repair didn't take. It wasn't anything a ran over because it was on the top of the tube. Also it was a Slime tube but the slime didn't plug the hole. There are days........????? Decided to go into Clinton because there is another Walmart there. It was on the way, so not a big deal. This time I got 2 tubes and a different repair kit....done with Slime....
Got to Sparrowfoot and I must say it is nothing like Bucksaw. Since it is Labor Day weekend, I had to reserve the spot for 3 days. The good thing is that it is level. However, there are four sites together.....basically 4 in one. I do have a view of the lake....kind of....out of 360 degrees the lake is about 30 degree, but there is a path to the lake so I will have to investigate it.
I did notice that when I put my watch on I could not get it to the same hole on the buckle I normally do. At first I thought I have to stop eating so much, but then I noticed my ankles are swollen too. I hope that is why my t-shirts are fitting tighter too. I called Advance Bone and Joint because he had prescribed Naproxen which I started taking on the trip. They said that I would get a call back this afternoon. I am not taking it until I hear from them.
I did put a new tube in the front tire and took about 2 mile ride. so far so good....
😁Thursday, Sep 2
Still sleeping really great. I think I have finally found the best setup for sleeping.... of course getting some treatment for my shoulders has helped a lot too. Really nice and cool, about 65, this morning. Thank you Lord!!
Fixed eggs & bacon over a fire and even ate it outside as the sun was coming up. Wow, it just is so wonderful....thank you Lord!!
While drinking my coffee outside this morning I noticed a lot of falcons flying around looking for their breakfast.... they looked so graceful. Even saw some dear yesterday. God's creatures are so beautiful. Thank you Lord!!
So, woke up to a flat tire so I guess my repair didn't hold very well....... Got it repaired putting on the new tire & tube...so far, so good....thank you Lord!! Took short ride and everything looks good.
Took a long ride and everything is is good. Even rode a trail that started out as paved with rock but after awhile it was just dirt. Still pushed it and had to lift up back end a couple of times to get over rocks or roots. Finally got to a place where the trail was single file and decided to turn around and head back.
😁😁Wednesday, Sep 1
Slept really good again. Decided to just have cereal for breakfast and get things ready to leave for Walmart. Since the next campground, Bucksaw, is only 8 miles away, I should be able to easily get to Walmart and then the campground.
Longshoal is really a nice campground and I would have to give it 9 out of 10 stars with the only problem being the sites are nice but not level.
Went to Walmart and got a tire, tube, tube repair kit, and a couple of other things. and then traveled on to Bucksaw. I was really pleasantly surprised. This place is definitely a 10 out of 10 stars. It would be a 10+ but my site wasn't level, although not bad. The site is also perfect too, even with being a little off level. But it does have my first water hookup....which is nice. It is a pull-through and the view is wonderful.
The bluffs across the lake are beautiful. The campground is well maintained and there are flowers all around. Just to add to the whole thing, the weather is perfect too.... cooled down with a nice breeze.
Got my flat tire fixed and took a long bike ride.....love the electric assist. The campground is fairly flat. They even have a really nice beach, but I think it costs extra..... didn't see anyone there.
😀😞Tuesday, Aug 31
Slept really good. Fixed a fire and had bacon and pancakes....wonderful.
I decided that I would spend the day trying to finish converting the bike to electric and that is exactly what I did. There were two issues that I couldn't fix. One is that when I unpack the throttle it came apart and there is a spring in it. I could not get it back together again. The other issue was the charger has two lights.. red and a red/green light. They said I should charge the battery but during the charge the red/green light went out and I could not tell if it was charging and when it was done. I called the company and told them my problems.... they said it would be covered under the warranty but I would have to work through Rick's Bike Shop. I called Rick and even though he was in Florida he got both items replaced.
I decided I would still go ahead with getting everything else done. Ran into may challenges but was able to work through them. So finished up about 4 pm. Took a test ride and everything worked pretty good. I used the throttle but without the spring so that was a challenge. Came back and tied everything down and decided to ride it up to the garbage bins to get rid of a bag of garbage. All was going well until the front tire had a blow out...... so, I had to walk it all the way back to the camper.
Since there is a Walmart in Warsaw which is only about 15 minutes away I will go tomorrow to get something to fix the tire.
The whole thing left me really tired so I went to bed early.
😀Monday, Aug 30
Slept really good last night. Things seem to be working out well.....shoulder wise... God is so, so Good. Traveling to Longshoal today. Not sure about the spelling since I have seen it as one word and two words. It is only 8 miles away.
Stopped by Dollar General to get some tape and milk. Then on to Longshoal campground. It seems really nice. Got a spot right on the lake near the marina. Had to level camper again......... getting pretty good at it. Fixed some sloppy joes and had lunch and a movie...... Good satellite reception again.
Spent the rest of the day taking a bike ride. Smaller campground but it is really a nice one. There are a couple of sections that are closed. I don't have any close neighbors so not many here, but Labor Day is coming and looks like a lot are coming then. Went down to the lake and sat on a stool in the water.....really nice.
😊Sunday, Aug 29
Already described part of Sunday as I am updating it.
Had breakfast of French Toast and bacon which I was fixing over a fire when Donna and Debby came by and we struck up a conversation. They were coming back from a couple sites down which were empty and Donna said that she goes down there to get internet. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was getting internet pretty good.....I guess that booster is working.
Well, the sun is back so I guess I will go get hot again....thank God for AC...
Turned out to be a pretty good day....only got to 90..... Brought some of Mom's cooling items like the fan David got her, and a cooling thing that goes around the neck....both helped a lot. Took some more bike rides. Fixed some more catfish over a fire and it was again delicious. Had another shower come through but this time didn't get the center of it.
Getting good satellite reception since internet is a little weak. So, I just had to watch some movies.
Berry Bend is a pretty good campground but have to give it 8 out of 10 stars because of the lack of any signs and pretty poor connectivity.
😕😏Friday and Saturday, Aug 27 - 28
Not sure what happened but I had already posted this day but it disappeared. Now all I have to do is remember it......which is the reason I am doing this blog.... so I don't have to rely on my memory. Oh, well....that is life...now I can just combine the two days. ........................So, here I was updating this blog after watching the worship service when all of a sudden I was hit with a really strong downpour. I went immediately outside to get my trike under the awning, close a compartment door, and get a couple items out of the rain and when I came back into the camper, I was totally soaked. It was coming down so bad that I couldn't see anything down the road. Then I remembered thinking this morning that rain would be nice...so, be careful....God may just grant your wish. I looked at the radar and the storm that hit was so small that I had to zoom in to see it. I was no bigger than the campground and the only one around. I zoomed out and there were a few light showers around, but...... I did go out to see if there was a rainbow....but there was not so I guess there will be more.
Ok.....back to Friday/Saturday. Started working on converting my trike to electric and it looks like it is going to take some time. I am just going to do a little at a time. I started by putting it all together inside the camper just to see how all the cords fit with each other. Then I started by replacing one of the brake handles which will cut off the motor if I apply the brakes. I had to take everything off the handle bar to get the the brakes. Got that done and everything back on again. I am having some problems with the throttle because when I took it out of the package it came apart and I have not found how it fits back together. I will have to call them on Monday.
Took some more bike rides around the campground. I did notice that Google Maps had a road where there wasn't one so I sent them a correction.
Slept good both nights....I think I am getting use to sleeping horizontal again. Just have pain occasionally which is great. Dr Spezia prescribed Naproxen which I take twice a day, and not suppose to take any NSAIDs so although he said it was for swelling it must help the pain too because I haven't had much after starting to take it.
Saturday morning I took some more bike rides. I am not changing the wheel out in the conversion until the end. That way I can continue to ride without the extra weight. Started packing up slowly.....which is about how I do everything. Jim came over and brought me some more catfish. He claims that the taste depends on how you clean them and he must be right because I ate the last ones and they were delicious. Almost makes me think about taking up fishing again..........naw.....think I will just make friend with those who do.
Got packed up and took off for Berry Bend South campground which is about 25 minutes away. Took me over the mile long bridge that was really a great site.... The bluffs where there but not as big as I thought from Jim's description. Got to the campground without any problems but when I got inside the campground there were no signs. So I started driving around looking for site 58, and three times I ended up back that the entrance. I was looking for a map of the campground when I stopped a guy who was driving by and asked him. He didn't know, but he told me to wait there and he would go find it. He was in a car and said it would be easier for him than me driving the RV. He did find it and came back and took me to it. Really nice people camping......
Got things set up and while I am close to water it wasn't anything like the picture that was on their web site..... not bad though.
Took some bike rides and about a third of the campground, which has 89 campsites, looked like that haven't been used in a long, long time.
😎Thursday, Aug 26
Happy Anniversary Sweetheart.....
It was a great day. I had decided to spend only one night at Thibaut Point and glad I did. Left late in the morning. I had moved the RV from the one spot and found another that was pretty level although I still had to level it. Still right on the lake. Check out time is 6:00 pm so I had plenty of time to enjoy it.
There is a Truman Visitor Center that I was going to stop at on my way to the next campground. Well, when I got to the turn-off they had a sign that said it was closed. COVID strikes again.
So I continued on into Warsaw where I stopped at Murphy USA gas station. While I was filling the tank a guy on a LOUD motorcycle pulled in on the other side of the pump I was using. I noticed that he had a shirt with a flag on it which looked a like mine, so I said something to him. Well..... his name is Bob and we talked for the next 45 minutes. Turns out he is also retired Air Force.....NCO.....and he told me about his entire career, and we talked a lot about politics too. I also learned about his wives which he is not in any relationship now.....said he wasn't going to make that mistake again. His first wife divorced him after he retired....admitted it was all his fault but didn't go into detail. So, I now know all about Bob....but it was another great conversation.
Continued on to Osage Bluff COE campground and it was really nice. I didn't get a spot right on the water but close.
I did not have to level the RV at all.....perfectly level. Got everything hooked up and started enjoying everything. Had lunch. This time I did l get the trike off and took a ride around the campground. Met my neighbors....Jim & Kathy.... talked with Jim about another 45....they are from outside Kansas City and come here a lot. Jim is a fisherman and a little later her brought over some trout and sweet corn which they got off their farm. Jim did mention that they have beautiful sunsets so I made the effort to be there for it. Took a lot of pictures but this is just one of them.
Slept really well last night....still woke up early, but nothing different than at home.
Osage Bluff is the best so far. Have to give it 9 out of 10 stars. Would have been 10 but all the sites that are near the lake didn't have electric. Jim said that was because of flooding but I have been to other COE campgrounds that have the same problem but still have electric. In fact, I am at Berry Bend and I am at a site with electric on the same lake.
😊Wednesday, Aug 25
Been waiting all summer for my turn to take the Memory Maker for my own journey after helping others enjoy her. So, God in his wisdom made this one of the hotter days which may be here all week.....but that is OK..... enjoying a journey is a gift from him whether it is all that I want it to be or not. Today was just that..... a wonderful journey to get to my first campground....Thibaut Point COE campground.
The night before I left, I got a call from the guy I order my electric trike conversion from and he said that it came in and I could pick it up. So after finishing packing the RV this morning, my first stop was to pick it up. I am still in the 'take my time' mode and it just makes it all so much more enjoyable.....even with the heat. I might be able to do the conversion on the trip.
I tired a new system of navigating where I used my laptop connected via Samsung Dex to my phone so I can us the GPS navigation on my laptop and it worked really good .....as long as it stayed connected. The problem was that it would occasionally get kicked out of Samsung Dex when I would received a text.....and of course I got texts from Luke (renter) and Rick (Bike guy). Oh well, part of the fun.... I had fixed up a laptop holder to work in the RV and that worked really well since I had to jerry rig it.
Stopped at a Rest Area for lunch and started the generator so I could use the microwave to fix it and run the AC..... all worked well.
Got to site A14 at Thibaut Point and it had a great view
The only bad thing with this site is that it is not level and I never did really get it leveled up well since it slopped back and to the side. On the good side, beside the view, it had an easy path down to the water and you could go swimming if you wanted....I didn't. The upkeep of the park is marginal but I think that is due to the COVID thing.
As usually the first night was kind of difficult .... partly due to the leveling. The other thing is that I have been sleeping in my recliner at home for the last couple of months...... Couldn't figure out a way to bring it so I did try a new setup. I used one of the mattresses off the bunk beds and put it on the opened up couch. This worked pretty good since I made the sheets form fitting to the mattress. Still woke up several times during the night mostly due to learning to sleep on my side again. Life is fun....
Another good thing is that there is good phone connection so able to watch TV. I had already decided not to really do much because it was really hot.....mid 90's... and humid. I didn't bother taking my trike off the back since it was raised up rather high due to the leveling.
At COE campgrounds the check in/out time is 6 pm which is different that most campground which have in/out time usually around noon or early afternoon.
Overall, I would give the campground and the site 7 out of 10 stars.
