Home at last

We made it!  We took the long way home as we were concerned about passing through Poplar Bluff, what with all the flooding.  As we passed through Cedarcreek we stopped at the post office to collect our two weeks worth of mail then on home.  I stopped to unhitch Coors and drive it on in the gate, then backed Pumpkin into its berth - dribbling transmission fluid all the way.  We're home safe despite storms and leaky transmissions.  But, it looks like a transmission rebuild for Pumpkin is on the horizon.

Lake Wappapello

We drove through rain and wind off and on all day Tuesday.  Because of high waters from the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, we decided not to take a chance with taking Hwy 60/62 across the river at Cairo.  It was a good thing.  The roads were closed.  We headed up I-24 to I-57 and crossed the Mississippi that way.  The river was quite a site, spreading all over, it seemed.

Once on the Missouri side, we merged onto Hwy 60 and headed on toward Wappapello.  It rained off and on, but for the most part was clear.  We took Highway T north to Redman Corps of Eng. Campground.  I could see the entrance to the campground, but the road was blocked.  A county deputy was turning traffic around.  I pulled into a gas station just short of the roadblock and walked up to the deputy to see if the campground was closed too or if only the road was out beyond the campground entrance.  Sure enough, the campground was closed too.  Just as I turned to head back to Pumpkin, the sky dumped on me.  By the time I got back to the RV, I was soaked.  I changed clothes and we called Wappapello State Park to see if they were open.  They were, so we headed for it.  Luckily, the gas station drive was big enough for me to turn around.

We drove the 10 or 12 miles to the State Park and just as we pulled up to the host site, it began really pouring again.  Over the radio came a tornado warning for a tornado spotted on the ground heading directly at us.  So, I drove on in and parked next to the shower house, ready to dive in.  Once again, we foolishly waited, and once again we lucked out.  As the rain began to let up, the park ranger pulled up to tell us we needed to go back and check in.  Idiot.  Anyway, we found a spot and the camp host showed up to collect.

The power went off about 9 pm.  I ran the generator for a while.  Then I noticed the neighbor had lights.  The power had come back on.  I shut down the generator and we went to bed.

Funny thing about this park.  Last year Joyce and I were returning from a trip to NY.  We decided to stop at Wappapello for the night and chore Redman Campground.  When we got there it was full, in part because 1/2 off it was being renovated.  So, we wound up at the State Park - like now.  I'm beginning to wonder if there even IS a Redman Campground.

Land-Between-The-Lakes

The drive from Cumberland Gap to Land-Between-The-Lakes was fairly uneventful except for the weather.  It wasn't too bad driving across, but was getting nasty at Land-Between-The-Lakes.  I had chosen a national campground from the national park website.  It was located just before the bridge leaving Land-Between-The-Lakes on the west side.  I had it programmed into my GPS, but the GPS map didn't match the real world (can you imagine that?).  We turned into a campground that looked like it could be the place, but it turned out to not have any facilities.  We decided to go back up the road a ways to another campground we had seen a sign for, but we had to unhitch Coors to turn around.  So, I drove Pumpkin to the campground and Joyce drove Coors.  About 5 miles off the main road, we turned to follow the signs to the campground.  Another couple of miles and then we ran into a roadblock.  Apparently the lake had risen enough to close the campground.  Rats!  So, we turned around again (good thing Coors was already unhitched) and headed for Energy Lake campground.  It was 15-16 miles off the main road in the opposite direction, but I had stayed there once with Dusty years ago and was somewhat familiar with it.  We drove all the way to Energy Lake only to find the campground there closed as well.  Rats, again!  We drove back out and headed north.  We finally found an open campground at Hillman Ferry Campground.  It began pouring rain as we checked in.  We finally found our site after circling around in the downpour and pulled up.  Joyce was still driving Coors and got lost.  She eventually found me.  We got leveled and power plugged in when it began to hail.  Shortly after that, the tornado warning siren went off.  Our site was just across from the shower house.  We were contemplating making a run for it, but perhaps foolishly, we stayed put.  Before long it passed and we managed to get to bed.  The next morning Ditto and I checked out the park around our campsite.  There wasn't a whole lot of ground above water.  I checked the transmission fluid again and it was still okay.  It was time to eat breakfast and get on out of there.

Bailey's Point Campground

Our plan was to stay at Mammoth Cave National Park, but when we got there we found they did not offer electricity.  When I rechecked the website, sure enough, they did not offer electricity.  As it was still early, we decided to head on down to Barren River Lake about 50 miles south.  We saw several deer and a beautifully antlered stag on the way out of Mammoth Park.  Ditto made sure they didn't get us.  Along the way toward Barren Lake, I noticed Pumpkin was leaking transmission fluid.  We stopped at an auto parts store and I got some fluid and topped it off.  Then we headed on.  I got a bit concerned because I had failed to get enough fluid for a reserve so we stopped at a Walmart and I bought some more.

Our plan now was to camp at The Narrows Campground but somehow we missed it.  Now it was beginning to get dark.  The next place was Bailey's Point Campground off Hwy 252.  I saw Hwy 252 and made the turn.  Unfortunately, the highway made a loop around the west side of the lake and I should have gone on and made the turn at the other end.  So, we wound up seeing a lot of Kentucky countryside.  Eventually, we found Bailey's Point and crashed for the night.  It rain hard.

The next morning I checked the transmission fluid and all was okay.  We headed on to Land-Between-The-Lakes.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

We left Carter Caves shortly after Dusty on Easter Sunday.  With all the kids gone, there was little to keep us there.  We decided to head south to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.  The weather was shaping up pretty nasty out west toward home.  We thought maybe we could get below much of it by going south.  It worked this day.  The weather was nice all the way to the park.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is a beautiful park.  Being Easter, it was fairly empty so we had our choice of spots.  We took one that looked the easiest to back into as we were only staying one night.  Interestingly, many sites had huge stacks of firewood just waiting for the campers.  It looked like large tree trunks had been brought in and dropped.  Then a crew would cut them into firewood length and split and stack them.  I don't know if that is a season-long service or if it is just from spring clean-up.  Too bad we weren't staying long enough to take advantage of it.  As it were, Ditto and I managed to walk the park enough to stir up other campers' dogs then we turned in for the night.

The next morning we studied the weather and decided there was no avoiding the inevitable.  The storm front stretched from Arkansas to Ohio.  To avoid it we would have to go to Mobile, across to Houston and come in the back door.  We decided to meet it head on.  Next stop would be Mammoth Cave National Park.

Breaking Camp

Tom, Jr had a long ways to go to get home and a short time to do it.  So, they upped their departure to Saturday afternoon, hoping to get closer to home before stopping for the night.  We had a wonderful time with them and were sad to see them leave.  But, Monday would bring back job and school, so this would be better than starting out the week exhausted.  After an Easter egg hunt, lunch and a flurry of things being thrown into the camper and truck, they were gone.  Dusty and Traci stayed one more relaxing night.

Carter Caves State Resort Park - April 17-24

Tom, Jr. pulled in Monday.  It sure was good to see that old pop-up camper come round the corner.  That signaled girls!  Three of the prettiest girls around came to camp with Grandpa.  They just happened to bring along their mom and dad - oh, yes, and Mollie.  Watching those grown long-legged girls crawl out of the back seat of the extended cab pickup was quite a sight.  If it had been me, pieces would have been falling off, but they just shook it off and came gave me a hug.  Made my day.

Their camp spot was right next door.  We worked at it a while and soon had them all set up, but that Macey is a whiz at setting up the camper.  She knows how and did all the "inside" work.  Tom had a piece of the tent frame missing so I manufactured one from an old piece of wire I had in Pumpkin's tool drawer.  That and a zip tie held the entire week.

The nearest shower/restroom building was closed for painting - so they said.  Anyway, that meant bathroom chores that couldn't be taken care of behind a tree had to be taken to the restrooms at the main office building and the equivalent of 4-5 blocks away.  We had bicycles handy for the trip, but between rain and plain old urgency, Coors had the job of being the restroom shuttle.  A few times, Coors needed a siren and flashing red lights.

Julie did most of the meal planning and much of the preparation.  Mostly, the cooking was done in Pumpkin as Julie's kitchen was outside under the awning.  Sometimes it was just too windy or wet to work there.

I found a pile of firewood at a nearby unoccupied campsite and used Joyce's tricycle (w/basket) to move it to our campsite.  I also had brought a couple of boxes of kindling from home.  So, we soon had a nice fire going.  Needed it, too.  The evenings were usually chilly.

Tom and I and the three girls took a trip to Grayson in Coors to get some Julie supplies.  We spotted some sites we wanted to visit, so after we got back we went to a few.  We stopped at a small cave but couldn't go in.  The caves were closed, at least to non-escorted tours.  We then stopped at the gift shop and found a path down to a natural bridge while there.  That was pretty neat.  A road passed overhead on the natural bridge and a fast running little stream passed underneath.  It was more like a cave with two openings at each end than a bridge.  There was also a huge hole through the top up by the road.  It was a long ways up to the opening.  We went on the road later and stopped to look at the hole from the top side.  It was a long ways down to the bottom, too.

The park had a little miniature golf course and clubs could be rented at the office.  We stopped by to see if we could get a complimentary round for the girls.  We used the reasoning of no bathroom near our camp.  A young guy was working there and when he saw the three girls, I don't think he paid any attention to our reasoning.  He just said, "Sure".  But, it was near closing time so we said we'd come back tomorrow to play - which we did.  And, when we did, it was quite evident the kid was taken by the girls.  He didn't charge them, but he did charge Tom and I.  Guess we weren't quite as appealing.

The golfing was fun.  We played two rounds.  Grandpa won both.  At one point something was said about Grandpa falling down and Addey said, "Then we could knock his ball all around".  Ball quickly became plural and we they had a good laugh.

Time passed too quickly.  But, Thursday Dusty showed up with Traci and kids and more fun kicked in.  Of course, with the arrival of Dusty came rain, resulting in some inside activities.

Carter Caves State Resort Park

We arrived at Carter Caves State Resort Park early in the afternoon.  The place is really nice and quite empty.  There are only about 5 or 6 other campers and none very close to us.  Carter Caves was a second choice.  We were originally planning on staying at Twin Knobs Campground in the Daniel Boone National Forest.  But, at the time we were planning this trip, the Federal government was threatening shutdown and we got concerned about the campground being closed.  So, I chose Carter Caves simply because it was close to equidistant from NY & Mo.  As it turned out, Carter Caves was a good choice.

We got set up, leveled with power and water connected and awning reeled out.  We had been towing Coors, so it wound up parked in front of Pumpkin.  Later, we drove Coors to Grayson (nearest town of any size).  Joyce wanted a DQ.

The DQ was a mistake.  We decided to eat supper there and both ordered a shrimp basket.  It took forever.  When the order finally came out, I told them it was “to go” since we planned to eat outside on their picnic table.  Already frustrated by the long time it took for the order, I got outside only to find they had not put any utensils or napkins in the boxes.  I went back in to get some and none were in sight.  I had to stand and wait quite a few minutes before I could get anyone’s attention.  Finally, I got what I needed.  When I went back out, the wind had picked up and it was getting chilly.  To top it off, their coleslaw was crap.  I don’t recommend the DQ in Grayson.  But, we did get a mini-blizzard each and they were good.

General Butler State Resort Park

As we were leaving Grayville City Park, I took a different route out.  There was a sports complex we had passed coming in.  Had we taken a turn in the middle of it, we would have shortened the trip in by quite a bit.  So, we went out that way.  Here's Joyce's version of the trek:

Next morning, I followed Pumpkin in the Jeep to level ground to make it easier to connect. As I followed Pumpkin,  the road out of the park split. I watched as Tom seemed to have difficulty determining which of the roads to take. A slight hesitation, then veered off to the left…no, he’s turning right, and off the pavement. And I watched in horror as Pumpkin’s right rear tires sunk to the hub in soft mud.

A lot of tire spinning, a lot of smoke, a lot of mud flinging but Tom got ‘er out of there.   And we were soon on our way.   I was totally stressed as I watched the RV wallow in the mud. Later, Tom said he wasn't stressed at all. 

My butt is still tight worrying about that damn Jeep tow bar dragging on every little incline.

I reckon it’s my job to worry. Tom doesn't seem to!

Well, I guess her version is pretty close to how it went.

We were shooting for Deam Lake SRA in Indiana tonight - just north of Louisville, Ky.  But, another plan change.  We wound up at General Butler State Resort Park in Kentucky near Carrollton.  Actually, we wanted to go a bit further, but time caught up with us and so did the rain.  Oh well, it is just an overnighter.  It has been a beautiful drive in northern Kentucky, so far.  We're taking the lesser roads (mostly state roads).

Grayville City Park

Well, we didn't wind up at Harmonie State Park.  Instead we went on up to Hilltop Campground in Grayville, IL., not far from Harmonie.  I needed gas and was concerned about higher gas prices in Indiana.

Hilltop is part of the Grayville City Park.  We had to wind around through the town and up a hill (thus, "Hilltop") behind the baseball field.  There were 20-25 campsites on a tree covered loop.  Only 2 other campers were there, both 5th wheels, and only one appeared to be occupied, although neither had a vehicle there.  It was very isolated and a bit scary, but sure as heck was quiet.

I got the power and water connected and Pumpkin leveled just in time for the rain.  Here we go again with that uncooperative weather god.

Just before dark, a car showed up and went to one of the trailers.  I don't know if the guy was homeless and living in a camper or what, but he sure did not have a vehicle there that could pull the trailer.

No one ever came around to collect a camping fee and there was no accommodation for making a payment.  So, Hilltop was free.  Maybe it wasn't so scary after all.

Greenville Campground (COE)

We don't hit it too hard when we travel.  Typically we like to drive about 4 hours - 6 max.  Today we made our first stop at Greenville Campground (COE) on Wappaello Lake.  We seldom get reservations as we seldom know for sure where we'll be stopping.  So, when we got to Greenville, we were lucky to find a spot.  Who would have thought it might be filled on April 14?  As it turned out, there was a black power association get together.  Folks had big white old time Army tents clustered in a meadow next to the campground.  The weekend was shaping up to be a noisy smoky affair.  But, we were moving on the next morning and would not be there to witness the event.

During the night it stormed.  So much for the weather god cooperating.  The next morning it was easy to understand where the old saying “Keep your powder dry” came from.  Oh well, we’re off for Indiana today.  The planned stop is Harmonie State Park, a bit west of Evansville.

Joyce's birthday and start of another trip

Joyce turns...huh...well, let's just say she doesn't have to buy a fishing license in Missouri anymore.  But, we're leaving Missouri today heading for eastern Kentucky.  We are meeting Tom, Jr. and family and, later, Dustin and family at Carter Caves State Resort Park.  Carter Caves was chosen because it is about halfway between Cedarcreek, Mo. and Altmar, NY.  We plan to get there Sunday, April 17.  Tom, Jr. is due to arrive Monday and Dusty on Thursday.  We're all staying until Easter Sunday, April 24.

Have a Coors

I've decided to tow Coors on this trip.  We're going to spend an extra day or two on the road and we will be spending several days at Carter Caves. We might want/need it and my paranoia likes having the ability to drive for help should Pumpkin lay down on us.  Besides, Kensey might want to drive Coors. :)

I checked on the drop hitch adapter I ordered.  It should arrive next Tuesday - just in time.

Another danged problem

Yesterday I parked Pumpkin on the drive slab parallel to the garage.  This is the best way to get it level for testing fluid levels, etc.  I checked the oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, windshield washer fluid and battery water.  While parking Pumpkin, I had rolled down the driver's side window so I could see better.  So, when I finished checking things I rolled the window back up - or tried to.  It wouldn't go.  Pushed the button and nothing.  The passenger side didn't work either.  So, I went looking for a blown fuse.  Instead of a blown fuse, I found one that had nearly fallen out under the dash.  One of the previous owners (I can't believe the manufacturer did it) had jammed a wire in for the "jacks down" warning light on one end of the fuse.  For whatever reason, the wire decided to come loose at this time and partially pulled the fuse out with it.  I put the fuse back in and the windows work again, but now I have to find a better place to get 12 volts for the warning light.  At least this problem should not cost anything except time.

Countdown for Kentucky

We're heading out again next week.  We're meeting sons, Dustin and Tom, Jr. with their families at Carter Caves State Park in northeast Kentucky.  We're looking forward to another great week - plus.  Now we'll see if the weather god will be as kind to us this time as he was at Petit Jean.

Haven't decided yet if I will tow Coors on this trip or not.  It would seem kind of silly since Dustin & Tom, Jr. will have their vehicles there.  But, ya never know where Joyce and I might go before and after Carter Caves.  I ordered the drop hitch adapter just in case.