 Typical conditions enroute |
 Europeans settled here in the early days |
17/8/2011 Tipton Tipton to Greenview, Red Oak Park, Ozarks, MO
Having had a laid back day with time to potter and do things as the inclination arose. This morning an early start was an easy task.
On leaving town I bought a couple of stores at the local supermarket and headed off down five feeling charged after last nights meal. Versailles seemed like a good place to stop for a graze.
The road was pretty much shoulderless but traffic movements were minimal and those drivers that presented themselves were very courteous. The scenery was mainly pasture, corn and silos as expected. To say the topography was rolling hill country was an understatement. Describing it as similar to to the dips and rises along a dragons back you see at a Chinese festival that is animated by 50 or so people would come close to describing it.
Some great downhill runs were to be had for what seemed like mediocre uphill effort.
Stopping at Versailles for a quick bite and to check emails, a guy in the car park said hello, gidday I replied, we had a chat and both entered the establishment. He was an easy going individual a bit older than myself and had lived on the west coast for many years but now resided locally. We instantly found our conversation easy and interesting. Consequently Eric, insisted on buying my meal, much to my humbleness. We had a great chat about things that concerned both of us over my snack and he a coffee.
On leaving we exchanged numbers, He took a couple of photos and I proceeded to Versailles. He was going to give “browsin” a bit of plug on his facebook site.
Experiences like this have littered this journey, are so unexpected and typify this special part of the US that unfortunately does not see a lot of Australian or NZ tourists.
Events like this and many others are leaving warm etchings in my memory banks for later recall when portraying the overwhelming friendliness and easiness of so many people encountered on this journey to date.
Armadillos are now the prominent road kill, evidently they have only been around for a few years, the guys here are hoping Asain Carp don’t make an appearance.
A yabby was even seen offensively raising its nippers at every passing vehicle. Taking a photo of this ,he was safely kicked off the blacktop into safer environs.
I spent the afternoon in Laurie in a little coffee shop catching up on journal entries, it was great to be in a lounge chair tapping away.
On departing, the Lake of the Ozarks proper was my environment, lots of waterside bars and holiday homes formed the vistas.
Stopping at Captain Rons on good advice a meal of grilled Grouper and a stray bud was enjoyed. Like the Promenade in Coffs, there were any number of carp, catfish and other species obviously well feed patrolling the waters at the waterside restaurant waiting for scraps to be tossed into their world. They didn’t have to wait long. From me they got zilch, famished was my disposition.
There was an RV park above the bar, unable to contact them I enquired as to a good spot for the night.
The Red Oak Park at Greenview was recommended.
Arriving there at 1930 hrs I caught up with a guy named Kevin, we yarned and he explained that the manager would be back soon. Anyway Greg, the owners son arrived and the need for a tent site was conveyed to him. A bloody nice guy of about 22, myself and a few other guys had a few beers and lots of laughs.
After dark, conversation got back to the tent site. Greg said here grab this and put some keys in my hand and pointed to a self contained unit down the track. Its on us, My protesting fell on deaf ears, we had another beer.
Gregs grandfather turned up in his pickup with Bud his dog, it was now about 2030hrs. We’d had a few and so had he. Introductoins followed. John and I had a chat through the pickup window.
Here was a guy of 82, such an enthusiastic character and instantly likeable with a classic accent, “son of a bitch” this and that had me laughing. Within 10 minutes we had arranged that I would catch him for a morning coffee at his house in the park.
The accommadation was one of the most comfortable, clean rooms so far this trip. It was in a park not unlike Darlington resort at Arrawarra. With an everso comfortable bed and solid pillows sleep descended like morning mist upon my being.
Having had a laid back day with time to potter and do things as the inclination arose. This morning an early start was an easy task.
On leaving town I bought a couple of stores at the local supermarket and headed off down five feeling charged after last nights meal. Versailles seemed like a good place to stop for a graze.
The road was pretty much shoulderless but traffic movements were minimal and those drivers that presented themselves were very courteous. The scenery was mainly pasture, corn and silos as expected. To say the topography was rolling hill country was an understatement. Describing it as similar to to the dips and rises along a dragons back you see at a Chinese festival that is animated by 50 or so people would come close to describing it.
Some great downhill runs were to be had for what seemed like mediocre uphill effort.
Stopping at Versailles for a quick bite and to check emails, a guy in the car park said hello, gidday I replied, we had a chat and both entered the establishment. He was an easy going individual a bit older than myself and had lived on the west coast for many years but now resided locally. We instantly found our conversation easy and interesting. Consequently Eric, insisted on buying my meal, much to my humbleness. We had a great chat about things that concerned both of us over my snack and he a coffee.
On leaving we exchanged numbers, He took a couple of photos and I proceeded to Versailles. He was going to give “browsin” a bit of plug on his facebook site.
Experiences like this have littered this journey, are so unexpected and typify this special part of the US that unfortunately does not see a lot of Australian or NZ tourists.
Events like this and many others are leaving warm etchings in my memory banks for later recall when portraying the overwhelming friendliness and easiness of so many people encountered on this journey to date.
Armadillos are now the prominent road kill, evidently they have only been around for a few years, the guys here are hoping Asain Carp don’t make an appearance.
A yabby was even seen offensively raising its nippers at every passing vehicle. Taking a photo of this ,he was safely kicked off the blacktop into safer environs.
I spent the afternoon in Laurie in a little coffee shop catching up on journal entries, it was great to be in a lounge chair tapping away.
On departing, the Lake of the Ozarks proper was my environment, lots of waterside bars and holiday homes formed the vistas.
Stopping at Captain Rons on good advice a meal of grilled Grouper and a stray bud was enjoyed. Like the Promenade in Coffs, there were any number of carp, catfish and other species obviously well feed patrolling the waters at the waterside restaurant waiting for scraps to be tossed into their world. They didn’t have to wait long. From me they got zilch, famished was my disposition.
There was an RV park above the bar, unable to contact them I enquired as to a good spot for the night.
The Red Oak Park at Greenview was recommended.
Arriving there at 1930 hrs I caught up with a guy named Kevin, we yarned and he explained that the manager would be back soon. Anyway Greg, the owners son arrived and the need for a tent site was conveyed to him. A bloody nice guy of about 22, myself and a few other guys had a few beers and lots of laughs.
After dark, conversation got back to the tent site. Greg said here grab this and put some keys in my hand and pointed to a self contained unit down the track. Its on us, My protesting fell on deaf ears, we had another beer.
Gregs grandfather turned up in his pickup with Bud his dog, it was now about 2030hrs. We’d had a few and so had he. Introductoins followed. John and I had a chat through the pickup window.
Here was a guy of 82, such an enthusiastic character and instantly likeable with a classic accent, “son of a bitch” this and that had me laughing. Within 10 minutes we had arranged that I would catch him for a morning coffee at his house in the park.
The accommadation was one of the most comfortable, clean rooms so far this trip. It was in a park not unlike Darlington resort at Arrawarra. With an everso comfortable bed and solid pillows sleep descended like morning mist upon my being.
