Solo to Denver

[GoinThisAway]

Having trouble getting this to post so trying this before adding all the text.
OK. That worked but it doesn't want to let me post the whole report so I'm going to try one day at a time.
Yahoo! It worked. So here we go ...

*****

I learned I was to go for a week of training in Denver, Colorado, and decided to take a few days off at either end of the course and drive rather than fly. I would go out on my own then, after the course, my DH would fly out and we’d travel home together. It was to be my longest solo trip yet. This was a while ago but better late posting this than never.

DAY 1
The day of my departure was overcast so I traveled under gray skies all the way to the I-155 bridge over the Mississippi River.





Once over the Mississippi River and in the Missouri boot heel I pulled off the road for a break. Yeah, there it is! Blue sky!





This area is part of the Mississippi River floodplain with rich soil supporting expansive fields of crops. I looked close at one field of gold I was unfamiliar with and was surprised to find it was rice.





Further down the road was a more familiar crop, soybeans.





Later I spied the unmistakable sight of a southern icon, a field of cotton ready to be harvested.





And where there’s cotton, there are cotton gins.








My destination for the night was Big Spring RV Park at Van Buren, MO, where I had my pick of sites alongside the Current River. The owner, John, is a laid-back guy who runs the place as much for enjoyment as for business. He rents tubes and will bus you upriver so you can float back down to the campground but I have yet to visit in the summer.







Continued ...

[kohldad]

Great report as usual sis. Just wait until we retire and really have time to dilly dally along the way.

[GoinThisAway]

New friends and "old" ... good to hear from all!

Exhaustipated - I've been doing the SE TC Gatherings every other year which would put the next one in 2020 but that's when I plan to retire. So I might do something in late 2019 instead. Love Smoky Bear CG but have also thought of trying someplace else. We'll see 🙂

[exhaustipated]

Hi Phyllis,

What a great trip report you posted. Enjoyed following along your journey with you from the pics and narratives. I've been to Cheney State Park a few times camping and fishing and have had lots of fun there. Are you by any chance going to be putting on another Southeast Truck Camper Rally next year at Smokey Bear Campground near Gatlinburg, TN?

John & Phyliss

[bigfootgrey]

Hi Phyllis!
Great trip report! Enjoyed every bit of it. Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences!

Bob & Cathy

[notsobigjoe]

Thank you very much. Very enjoyable narrative. You didn't miss a thing!

[GoinThisAway]

Thanks to all for your replies. It's neat to hear your stories and your words help give me the gumption to put these trip reports together :B

[d3500ram]

Nice job! Some of those place look familiar.

[jmckelvy]

Well done! Really enjoyed reading. Will be looking forward to the next installment.:)

[LadyRVer]

Enjoyed the pics and stories with it so much. Thanks for sharing.

[TxGearhead]

Great report. We're familiar with 2 of your stops. When our now 35 yr old daughter was an infant we stopped at a RV park on the Current River. The owners were so friendly and helpful that we left our daughter with the owners wife while we canoed down the river. The husband drove down and ferried us back to the campground. Great folks and a beautiful river. Probably something we wouldn't do these days though.
Also the fort is a great stop, especially if you're a history nut like me. I like to imagine the trading between the different cultures.
*I'm sending you a PM about your truck/camper rig.

[gbopp]

Beyond awesome! :C

Thanks for sharing.

[GpnAZ]

Excellent trip report, beautiful pics and interesting narrative, thank you for sharing!

[Grit_dog]

You have a way of sharing the beauty of America! Thank you for sharing

[azrving]

Great post. Thank you. I want to check out the well.