18/8/2011 Geenview, lake of the Ozarks all day. Brilliant weather about 32℃ and not excessive humidity.
As arranged I cycled the 200m to catch up with John at his house. Not only did he have coffee ready but a huge breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and unreal spiced fried potatoes, Greg was meant to join us but was to busy.
We sat down and devoured enough food for three, all the while chating and laughing about our respective lives and his past.
His house overlooked the water.
The park is 500 acres of woodlands, though not all utilised and has water frontage to a cove. They have a large marina there, 60 odd rooms like mine and a hundred or so RV’s parked on site. It is a big concern and so well kept. Johns son who lives in St Louis has a hugely successful electical businees employing some 100 odd electricians.
We grabbed Bud, Johns best mate, a 7 year old Lab and loaded ourselves into the pickup. First stop was the marina where he wanted to check on some guys that had just pulled in. It was cool, they were workers for another boat owner at the facility.
Walking back there was a fresh turd on the walkway across to the pens. John said was that you I said "shit yeah", we laughed, grabbed a bucket and washed it into the drink. Bud was the culprit of course.
I knew this was going to be a classic day. From there he took me around the park filling me in on aspects of the operation .
Out of the park what turned out to be a full tour of the Lake of the Ozarks began, we drove the whole shoreline, all the while Bud was on console between the seats, bum in the back, not missing a thing and knowing exactly where we were going.
This lake was formed by damming the Osage River back in the early nineteen hundreds. An hydro power station is incorporated within the dam. It is now a huge aquatic recreation area for people from St louis and Kansas among other places. Many lavish holiday homes line the lake shores.
Until recently all the points at the enterances to the coves were privately owned. The last boom saw them sold to developers who constructed condos on site, these high rises now common at many good vantage points.
John took great pride in taking me to each of his sons holiday houses, all on the water with floating docks accommadating any number of water craft.
Arriving at one sons house we raided the bar fridge, grabbed a couple of beers and sitting back just enjoyed the day waffling about this and that.
Come 1600hrs, both peckish we dined at the Chances R diner, many people knew John and came up for a chat. The owner presented both of us with a tee shirt, mine will soon be on route to Sapphire Beach.
The food was superb ,any number of locals dining there were proof of this.
Having a few beers over tea, He decided to take me for a tour to this small town he hadn’t been to for years. Before getting on the highway John needed some chewing tobacco which he picked up from a supermarket .
When I first met him he had a big lump in the side of his cheek. Saying nothing. Wonderment as to its cause was on my mind. I now know. I was stirring him about this shit during the day .
Anyway we missed this small town and drove twenty miles on past it. Heading SW, a brilliant sunset was on display. While he was sucking on this tobacco leaf, he had a cup that ocassionally he would spit into.
“You know we missed that bloody town while you had your eyes off the road spitting” I jokingly commented, we both cracked up. Son of a bitch was in there with his reply.
We both agreed the sunset was worth it not to mention groups of white tailed deer grazing amongst cattle in the fading light as we did a U turn.
Heading home we both agreed what a great relaxing day the two of us had enjoyed.
John is such a unique amicable guy who defies his age, enthusiasm is an understatement, all this with a great sense of humour and the ability to talk idle waffle, coupled with intellegence and respect within the community. Not to mention: a bloody good driver.
Back at his house we had a few more beers bofore Greg and his mate Hiram turned up after feeding deer for the upcoming shooting season. Never short of a beer in hand and John keeping pace or more to the point setting the pace.
Finally nesting about twelve thirty.
Such an enjoyable unique day spent in such good company. It was a privilege to spent the day with him and gain such a knowledge, past and present of this lovely part of Missouri.
The plan was to leave the Red Oak tomorrow.
As arranged I cycled the 200m to catch up with John at his house. Not only did he have coffee ready but a huge breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and unreal spiced fried potatoes, Greg was meant to join us but was to busy.
We sat down and devoured enough food for three, all the while chating and laughing about our respective lives and his past.
His house overlooked the water.
The park is 500 acres of woodlands, though not all utilised and has water frontage to a cove. They have a large marina there, 60 odd rooms like mine and a hundred or so RV’s parked on site. It is a big concern and so well kept. Johns son who lives in St Louis has a hugely successful electical businees employing some 100 odd electricians.
We grabbed Bud, Johns best mate, a 7 year old Lab and loaded ourselves into the pickup. First stop was the marina where he wanted to check on some guys that had just pulled in. It was cool, they were workers for another boat owner at the facility.
Walking back there was a fresh turd on the walkway across to the pens. John said was that you I said "shit yeah", we laughed, grabbed a bucket and washed it into the drink. Bud was the culprit of course.
I knew this was going to be a classic day. From there he took me around the park filling me in on aspects of the operation .
Out of the park what turned out to be a full tour of the Lake of the Ozarks began, we drove the whole shoreline, all the while Bud was on console between the seats, bum in the back, not missing a thing and knowing exactly where we were going.
This lake was formed by damming the Osage River back in the early nineteen hundreds. An hydro power station is incorporated within the dam. It is now a huge aquatic recreation area for people from St louis and Kansas among other places. Many lavish holiday homes line the lake shores.
Until recently all the points at the enterances to the coves were privately owned. The last boom saw them sold to developers who constructed condos on site, these high rises now common at many good vantage points.
John took great pride in taking me to each of his sons holiday houses, all on the water with floating docks accommadating any number of water craft.
Arriving at one sons house we raided the bar fridge, grabbed a couple of beers and sitting back just enjoyed the day waffling about this and that.
Come 1600hrs, both peckish we dined at the Chances R diner, many people knew John and came up for a chat. The owner presented both of us with a tee shirt, mine will soon be on route to Sapphire Beach.
The food was superb ,any number of locals dining there were proof of this.
Having a few beers over tea, He decided to take me for a tour to this small town he hadn’t been to for years. Before getting on the highway John needed some chewing tobacco which he picked up from a supermarket .
When I first met him he had a big lump in the side of his cheek. Saying nothing. Wonderment as to its cause was on my mind. I now know. I was stirring him about this shit during the day .
Anyway we missed this small town and drove twenty miles on past it. Heading SW, a brilliant sunset was on display. While he was sucking on this tobacco leaf, he had a cup that ocassionally he would spit into.
“You know we missed that bloody town while you had your eyes off the road spitting” I jokingly commented, we both cracked up. Son of a bitch was in there with his reply.
We both agreed the sunset was worth it not to mention groups of white tailed deer grazing amongst cattle in the fading light as we did a U turn.
Heading home we both agreed what a great relaxing day the two of us had enjoyed.
John is such a unique amicable guy who defies his age, enthusiasm is an understatement, all this with a great sense of humour and the ability to talk idle waffle, coupled with intellegence and respect within the community. Not to mention: a bloody good driver.
Back at his house we had a few more beers bofore Greg and his mate Hiram turned up after feeding deer for the upcoming shooting season. Never short of a beer in hand and John keeping pace or more to the point setting the pace.
Finally nesting about twelve thirty.
Such an enjoyable unique day spent in such good company. It was a privilege to spent the day with him and gain such a knowledge, past and present of this lovely part of Missouri.
The plan was to leave the Red Oak tomorrow.