7-29-13 (Day 5 - Move to Harrison)

We took a 2 1/2 hour ride driving 115 miles to Shady Oaks Campground in Harrison, Arkansas.  We are planning on staying here for a week.

It was an uneventful ride here.  A lot of curves and hills.  Pretty ride.  Thank goodness, it looks like the truck and camper are compatible. 

The campground is nice, quiet, shady, and tight.  We have a big pull thru that we had to manipulate the camper to get the slides out.  The owner is very friendly.

We took a ride to Walmart and got porkchops to grill.  We also bought a new coffee pot being our oldie but goodie peculator quit working a few days ago. 

The minute I put Ferny in the camper from the truck, she was ready to go out. She loves it here. This campground has the Ferny stamp of approval.

We left the Harley in the garage tonight because of the 80% chance of rain tomorrow.  Good thing we have cable TV and internet. 


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/WUTbAstELUJs39XD6

7-28-13 (Day 4 - Greers Ferry)

Fernykat decided that we needed to get up early this morning.  She pounced on me and meowed at 6:30 am.  She was wrong.  We didn't get up until 8.

We took our time getting up and about.  After my shower, I reached in the  closet to put up my robe.  I had no clue Ferny was on the shelf sleeping.  She moved, I screamed, She jumped as high as the ceiling.  I guess I got her back for waking us up.

We took a ride to Clinton.  Another pretty ride.  We saw a sign for Natural Bridge, Arkansas.  We decided to take a look.  It was the best mile we traveled today.  Nothing but switchback curves.  We loved it.  We had our picnic lunch and headed back to camp. 

We got the hiking poles and headed to Sugarloaf Mountain.  It is about a mile long round trip hike with an elevation of 690 feet.  We got to the point where we needed to shimmy up the rocks to the top.  We started up, Lauren stopped and looked back at me, and decided that we didn't need to do this.  Lauren knew if we made it to the top that he was going to have to get me down.  Smart man considering he has had to get me out of trees that I have climbed.

It looks like a ghost town in the campground tonight.  We are enjoying our nice, quiet campsite tonight.  We are heading to Harrison tomorrow.

 Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/EspEQjDqTNDpup6EA

7-27-13 (Day 3 - Ride to Mountain View)

The highs today were in the mid 80's, it felt like fall weather.  Perfect weather for riding the motorcycle.

We attempted to go to the cardboard boat races at Sandy Beach,  We changed our minds when we were only able to go a block in 10 minutes and had several more to go.

We road to Mountain View.  There was a lot of pretty scenery, but too many trees to get good pictures.  We ate our picnic lunch at the Ozark Folk Center and headed back.

We went back by Sandy Beach. The races were over but still a lot of boats to take pictures of.  It is amazing what people can do with cardboard.

We went to the visitor's center and Hiked the Mossy Bluff trail to the overlook.  The trail was 1.6 miles round trip.  At the end of the trail were 91 steps up to the overlook.  I know this because I counted each and everyone of them.  We saw a pretty view of the Greers Ferry Dam and the Little Red River.

When we returned to the motorcycle we drove the Buckeye Trail to the overlook.  A whole lot easier than the hiking trail.

We ate chili cheese burgers and fries for supper listening to our neighbors music.  Good thing we like the same kind of music.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/cLzxSTyFUhzCDUat8

7-26-13 (Day 2 -Greers Ferry)

The forecast today was for an 80% chance of rain.  We decided to leave the Harley in the garage.  We ate hot dogs for lunch then took a ride in the truck.

We rode around the campground, went to the visitor’s center, went to the JFK Overlook, and went to the fish hatchery. 

We checked out Sandy Beach.  It is the staging area for the 27^th annual, “World Famous Cardboard Boat Races.”  The big event is tomorrow.  We might go by tomorrow and see what this is all about.

We went by Wally World and got a couple of steaks for supper.  We watched our neighbors set up camp.  Each campsite is allowed up to 4 tents and 14 people per site.  I think they are maxed out. This ain’t Timberlake.

It has been a nasty day since 2 pm. The Harley remains in the garage.  The weather is predicted to be pretty for the next few days.  Can’t wait!


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/gBPGEjW1YMw7e4zc7

7-25-13 ( Day 1 - Greers Ferry)

It’s been a while since I last posted. Since retiring I have gone back to work at St Dominic Hospital. We have been staying on the Rez in our 38 foot toy hauler. I self schedule and work 3 days a week, have a great boss, and as always great coworkers. I pretty much stay on vacation. Life is good!!!!

We decided to load the Harley in our toy hauler and head to the Ozarks. When you pretty much live in a camper you have a lot of stuff. It’s a good thing we have a storage shed in Brandon. This is the first vacation that we ever unpacked for.

We took our time, took several rest stops, and traveled 351 miles in 7 hours. We are camped at the Dam Site Campground in Heber Springs, (Greer’s Ferry Lake). The camp hosts who checked us in, previously worked at Allen’s Resort in Goshen Springs. Small world,

This was the first time we pulled the toy hauler. When we arrived to the campground and opened the garage door, the ladder for the queen bunk beds fell out and was hanging on the mirror of the Harley. Luckily, everything looks ok.

We only had a few choices of campsites that were big enough for this camper. Lauren did a great job backing the camper into a really tight spot, but not so god at leveling the camper. Our feet are going to be above our heads when we sleep. Not a problem a few pillows can’t fix.

We were tired when we got here and left the Harley in the garage. The garage is one of Ferny’s favorite rooms in the camper. She keeps patty-caking the door trying to open it.

We had a pretty day. It was the coolest weather we have had in a while. I hope it continues.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/jt1LJc3W3Vv5wbz77

Merry Christmas

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8-31-12 ( The Aftermath of the Retirement Party)

We spent the day unpacking the truck and camper.  It was hot and the first time we have been dripping wet from humidity in months.  And don't get me started about them dang Love Bugs.  I wonder why they are not called Hate Bugs, (oh yeah, I know).

My first priortiy of the day was a haircut.  Lukily, Audry had an available appointment today.  When I got to the intersection of Crossroads there were about 20 cars at the intersection coming from Picayune.  This is not the Crossroads of pre Katrina.  If the hurricanes stay this frequent, the population will keep growing from people leaving the coast.  Crossroads will be a big city before long.

I thought there was a gas leak in Bogalusa today, then I realized that I was smelling the Mill.  It don't take long to remember that smell.

Ferny has loved the big house today.  We went started unloading, she got on Lauren's desk and sprawled out and slept for hours.  We came in for lunch and disturbed her, so she went in the closet and slept.  She woke up around 4 pm for her evening treat.  I guess she is as tired as we are.  Not to mention, she likes her alone time.

We have heat, humidity, love bugs, a stinky mill, and an increase in population since Katrina.  I refused to move to Alaska where it was cool, fresh air, beautiful scenery, and mosquitos.  I must be insane.