Eastern Kansas
After leaving Atchison we moved on to Perry Lake and the Slough Creek Public Use Area 39° 8’4.83″N 95°25’25.54″W near Topeka. We ventured out on the two miles of the Thunder Ridge Trail. Was overgrown and had may types of terrain. With the Ticks and the Heat, it took our toil on us but was an exhilarating couple hours. Lois discovered that the park has closed an entire camp loop because of an Eagles nest! We thought that to be interesting. I don’t like raging on a park, but since I think I have other travelers checking out my comings and goings. I feel compiled to say I don’t know that I will come back to this park. I find it to be one of the most expansive COE parks we have been to, and the shower houses have not been painted or power washed in years. The fixtures are all in a state of disrepair and it seems the Host at this park, while they are numerous appear to be Squatters that don’t get out much.
Iowa?
I know we are going west! But we had to make our Annual Pilgrimage to HWH to get our jacks worked on at the last minute along with two new house batteries. We love getting service there but ever since we discovered the place, we find ourselves back there quite a bit, guess it’s because our rig it twenty-three years old.
So, we made the best of the trip and stopped by Ottumwa City Campground 41° 0’57.32″N 92°25’37.33″W for a night, then Marr Park 41°17’15.65″N 91°34’45.77″W just east of Washinton, Iowa then on to HWH 41°38’26.69″N 91° 6’23.73″W where we spent the night before our appointment.
Then back into Northern Missouri to make another Pilgrimage to Macon and the Apple Basket Resterant 39°44’22.35″N 92°28’22.10″W The best Chocolate Pie of my Life. Then west again to Atchison, Kansas, the birthplace of Amelia Mary Earhart, and a little city park campground 39°32’3.71″N 95° 9’8.69″W at the Warnock Lake Park. A lot of Trails and of course a Lake.
Amelia Earhart One Acre Earth Portrait
On the road again!!
Well in case you thought I had died. Sorry but I’m still kicking thanks to my Wonderful Wife. We been hunkered down at the Lake of the Ozark State Park for the last two months. Getting restless so we are heading back to HWH in Iowa to get our hydraulics worked on and then we are headed West this summer.
We have lived here for over thirty years of our lives and really don’t have much to say about it other than what I have stated in previous post. So, hoping to get back in the grove and find some new spots to talk about this summer.
Clear Creek COE Park
35°26’20.99″N 94°10’7.58″W
Mr. Danny the Host here is very nice but be warned this is a very low area if it’s wet it’s a mess. We got here on a rainy day and found the pads to be paved but narrow. Park is quiet and has the Frog Boyu right at your doorstep. Showers are pushbutton and dated but useable.
Unfortunately, we had to cut or visit short and head north for a Family Member sudden death. Weather is looking bad for the next few days, so we are heading over the Boston Mountains via Hwy 71 Scenic Loop and onto the Ozark Plateau, trying to stay out of the wind and rain.
Old Post Park Campground COE
35°14’37.76″N 93° 9’28.83″W
After traveling over the Ouachita Mountains for a few hours we pulled into Russellville Arkansas to set out another cold spell for a few days. Scenic 7 Byway is very nice drive and has a few CCC spots to stop at if you’re paying attention and not in a hurry.
Old Post has southern exposer on the Arkansas River and has level back in sites with water and electricity. Heated showers and hot water. Found four or five trails just a few miles away around the Illinois Bayou Area and the Skeleton Island area. It’s been cold while we are here, so we didn’t tour the town very much. But we did take in the Dardanelle Rock and found the Mountain to be very interesting and even picturesque on the summit.
BRADY MOUNTAIN Recreation Area
34°35’1.74″N 93°16’2.12″W
Just north of Camden Ark. the Ouachita River flooded the night before we got there and had to take a detour around and got back on our route near Sparkman and we had a sunny afternoon headed up through to Arkadelphia and on to Hot springs for Sunday night, At Walmart.
Brady Mountain is for sure a high location on the Ouachita Lake. No water or sewer hook ups at sites but had nice, dated showers and a dump station. Lots of high incline trails here. Spotted migrating Common Loon’ on the lake. We used this location to take a couple day trips into Hot Springs to see the Hot Spring! Bath House Row, Hot Springs Mountain Tower, West Mountain and discover we still are uncomfortable with the “Hurd Mentality” of people on vacation now days. Thank goodness it was during the week and cold and not on the weekend. Hot springs has a lot of charming old buildings and homes, reminds me very much of Eureka Springs.
El Dorado, Arkansas
Spent a couple days in El Dorado trying to guess the weather north of us. Coming north out of Northern Louisiana we felt pretty good seeing the Red Buds, but crossing the line into Arkansas we seem to have gotten north of them. So found a good dump and water fill at the Recreation Complex on the east side of El Dorado. 33°13’51.03″N 92°37’29.58″W. Then decided to try the South Arkansas Arboretum 33°13’2.82″N 92°41’8.05″W great little park next to a closed down high school that has great parking. Great walking trails. The downtown square on Main Street looks very nice to walk although there was a festival when we were there and could not find a place to park. Then spent the night at a local Chruch. Sunday afternoon took out north again and sticking to my planed route HWY 7.
Corney Lake Campground, Louisiana
32°54’21.14″N 92°44’43.63″W
Back at Corney Lake we have been here a couple times and always enjoyed the peace and quiet. Has water, flush toilets tables and paved spots. Nice fishing lake seems to attract local fishermen. Loblolly Pine Forest makes for a very nice setting.
We are moving a little too fast, headed back to Missouri for the Spring. But as we have found in the past, March is usually too early. So, we are going to pick up Hwy 7 North out of Eldorado Ark. and cross the Ouachita Mountains, cross the Arkansas River and over the Boston Mountains to Jasper. We got most of three weeks to get back to Joplin for an appointment for the rig Doctor.
Colfax RV Park, Louisiana
31°31’35.31″N 92°43’24.39″W
We have not been here for several years. But find the park to be well kept. Showers are dated but useable and clean. All sites are level and have full hook ups along with pretty good WFI. Using this place as base camp for me to have a doctor visit in Pineville. If you need a big town Alexandera will meet your needs.
We have done some boondocking Alexandera years ago. One place I recommend is Stuart Lake Campground “92°26’40.82″W 92°26’40.82″W” we found the tall pine forest here to be amazing with the floor of the woods to be covered in pine needles so thick you can walk bare foot there. There is also a shower house on the lake.
We also like the abandoned Historic Camp Claiborne “31° 5’3.47″N 92°34’44.31″W” the place has always been quiet and parking on a paved road. We have only been there during the week, so it has always just been us.
We also made a Sunday day trip out of Natchitoches and the River Walk area. There is also an interesting walk to the Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site.
Holbrook Park, Sulphur, LA
30°20’52.88″N 93°17’41.29″W
Park is generally nice. Pads are very short and pretty rough gravel parking areas. Showers are dated and pretty rough but useable. Park is set alongside the Calcasieu West Fork Bayou and has a lake on the other side of the property. Has fenced in playground and pretty elaborate Jungle Jim set, if that is how you describe those things. We are only a few miles from Sulphur and Interstate 10, so there are places to go and spend your money.
We spent a day visiting Sulphur and spent most of that day trying to get out of town! I was raised in St. Louis and as a young man I could dodge traffic with the best of them. But I guess I’m not so young anymore. I don’t have any problem taking our Rig downtown, being the biggest elephant in the room has its advantages. But to drive a little car around in traffic is something I am leaving my young Wife to do.
We packed up today and moved out to a nearby Walmart as we like to be fully loaded and mobile for storms. We are hoping this will be the last big front of the year as we are headed north tomorrow.
homelesshartshorns 