Tue, 9/18/12:

STL to Red Bluff NF Campground; Davisville, MO:  Left the storage area this morning around 9:30 after loading the food and hooking up.  A pretty drive after leaving I270 on Rt. 44 through rural Missouri.  Stopped at a Flying J in Sullivan, MO, filled up the water tank and had a late breakfast.  Then Mike took over driving.  Left the Flying J at around noon and pulled into Red Bluff and were set up by 1:30.  This is a really pretty place.  We’re up on a high bluff overlooking Huzzah Creek.  This area is the beginning of the Missouri Ozarks and we’re in high rolling hills dotted with beautiful springs and pristine streams.  There are three sites up here, and we’re the only ones around.  The view is spectacular of the ridge across from us and we get glimpses of the Huzzah as it winds through the narrow valley below.  A beautiful early fall day with a clear blue sky and temps in the upper 60s.  The only blemish on this beautiful day is the fact that the solar panel has a short in it and is not working, so the batteries are very low.  We have no hook-ups here, so Mike fired up the generator and it’s been running steadily for a couple of hours now.  I hate using the generator as it ruins the ambience.  Instead of listening to the birds, insects and the wind, it’s the constant drone.  But it’s either that or we go home.  We’re having a fire tonight.  In fact, Mike is out there now setting it up.  I came in and put my Polartech tights on along with my Polartech shirt and jacket.  It’s supposed to go down into the 30s tonight.  Yikes!

Reading my book