Travel Day To Ozark National Scenic Riverways - (Alley Spring, MO)

The rain had gone and we packed up for our departure.  Our target today was the Alley Spring Campground in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways park area in southeast Missouri.

Most of the trip, the middle section, would be on good four-lane roads, but the beginning and end would be on narrow backroads.  Therefore, Linda didn't want to tow the rig either half of the drive.  :)

Though the temp was in the low 80s, it was muggy out.  I was soaked by the time I finished the outside packing.

We finished up at the dump station and were on our way around 11:00.  The state road was not too bad for the first 30 miles, but it didn't have shoulders and we had quite a few turns.

As we went through a small town and two 10 mph curves, Linda commented into the walkie talkie, "Glad I'm not driving".  :)

Still, it is amazing how having the Jeep has calmed her travel anxiety.  I'm trying to get her to write a Journal entry on why that is, but she says it is really hard to explain.

Finally, after 185 miles (10.1 mpg for the truck) we arrived at our destination around 3:00.  There are nine loops in the Alley Spring Campground and 162 sites.

However, there is only one loop with electric hook-ups - 28 sites.  I was prepared to stay in a spot without electric and, therefore, without air conditioning, but I don't think Linda was.  :)

There were only two sites in the electric loop that were occupied.  Several others were reserved for the weekend, but there were plenty of available sites for as long as we wanted to stay.  At $17 a night, not to mention the preference for using the air conditioner in this heat, an electric site it would be.

Most of the sites in this loop are open or partially shaded.  The sites themselves are not as nice as our two prior campgrounds, but we do have a great satellite signal and 50 amp electric and water hook-ups.  :)

The reservation website says almost all of the drives are 29 - 35 feet in this loop.  And they are, but we can keep the rig wheels on the asphalt pad, and hang a good 10 feet of the back off the pad.  Plus, these sites are double-wide, so you can actually park a vehicle next to the rig if necessary.

Within minutes of getting set-up we noticed a little raccoon stalking our neighbors' pop-up.  We knew they weren't home, so I wandered over to make sure it didn't get into any mischief.  Of course I took the camera.  :)

"What?  I just climbed up here to check the paper.  Did the Cardinals win last night?"  :)

After checking the score, it decided that it wasn't a good time for an early snack as I got closer.  It ran back into the brush for a later attempt.

We had no cell service, so I got out the new ladder and climbed safely up onto the roof to mount our Wilson Trucker Antenna.  We ran the wire in through the slide so Linda could hook it to our cellular amplifier and then to a cell phone.  Voila!  Three bars.  :)

I have to say, I am really, really happy with our set-up as it stands right now.

Solar panels would be nice, but we are going to wait to see if we really need them and can justify the expense.  We would probably put disc brakes on the trailer before doing solar panels, but I'm not in any hurry for any more big expenses for awhile.  :)

Our neigbors got back from a little swimming and we let them know about their little raccoon friend.  Julie & Tim and their boys, Morgan & Nathan, are very nice.

Though the campsites are not on the river, there is river access in a few places at the campground.  That's the Jack's Fork River I'm talking about.

The Jack's Fork River and the Current River are the two rivers designated as National Scenic Rivers here in the Ozarks.  We hope to canoe both of them while we are here.

Julie & Tim let us know about a pretty swimming hole here on the Jack's Fork.  So later, Linda and I rode our bikes around the entire campground and back the gravel road leading to the this spot.

I think I'm gonna like it here.  :)

I can't wait to get our canoe on these clear waters.  But there are so many good spots to launch, I'm having trouble figuring out where to paddle first.  :)

Because of our need to be back in Louisville, we can't stay here too long.  We paid for two nights, but I'm guessing we will stay until at least Sunday if I get my way.  :)

Back at the rig, we had our dinner of leftovers, got showers, and relaxed.  Linda got in the Chat Room for a long time.

I went outside and reclined in my lounger under the bright moon and millions of stars.  Only the sounds of the crickets and the tree frogs - and our air conditioner.  :)

Surprisingly, there were no bugs annoying me.  However, we did have a big raccoon checking things out.  It didn't seem to mind my presence at all.

I could have slept out there all night, but the thought of critters sniffing my toes made me decide the quiet comfort of the bed would be better.  :)

We called it a night.  We'll definitely be on a river tomorrow - which one and what part are yet to be determined.

Ah, the dilemmas of full-timers.  :)   

Comments

[Marilyn & Ed]

Hi you two,
That picture of the raccoon is soooo cute. And I like you, enjoy the summer night sounds. Always reminds me of those hot summers nights when I was a kid. We had no air-conditioning so slept with windows open. Now we sleep with air-conditioning on and can't hear the night sounds from inside the rig. :-( Anyway, safe travels and have fun canoeing. M & E

[LauraV]

Oh my gosh.. I just love the picture of the Raccoon...