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Sunrise at Greers Lake
This one is for you, Veronica Make sure you scroll past the last words to see additional pictures.
It was a strange ride from Hot Springs to Choctaw Recreation Area in Clinton MO. We had to backtrack to and go around Little Rock on several Interstates due east then, headed north on US state Route 65, sometimes 2 lanes, sometimes 4. I was leader and missed the turn to the Flyng J for the others and had to get the convoy into a parking lot, turn around and go in the right direction. It was a little nail-biting for me. That 115 miles was starting to seem like an eternity. I waited to get gas, my gauge said I could still go over 400 miles before empty. I would rather run light on weight to improve gas mileage.
Choctaw is an Army Corps of Engineers park and campground. From the always correct Wikipedia: The lake, formed by Greers (yes, no apostrophe) Ferry Dam, was completed in July 1964 at a cost of approximately $46,500,000. The lake and dam were dedicated in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, his last public appearance before the ill-fated trip to Dallas. The entire area consists of two lakes connected
by a water-filled gorge called the Narrows. The area of the two lakes and the Narrows totals about 40,500 acres with a combined shoreline of just over 340 miles. In the 1800s there was once a city, Higden, under this lake. The farmers in Higden had constant trouble with flooding. The land was purchased, residents left and the city was abandoned, the cemeteries were moved, and the area was allowed to flood. The town has since been re-established on a nearby hill. Many nearby residents and several eyewitness accounts tell that homes and buildings still stand under the water to this day, and are used by scuba divers. Several roads in town can be followed to the shore where they disappear under the water, and surface on the opposite side of the lake. Most of these roads are now used as launch ramps for boats.
We arrived at the park, no ranger at the guardhouse and the gates were up. I saw a sign that said something about honor system. I drove slowly down a road, the girls following slowly behind. I could see lots of campsites with no utility poles. Not for us if we could help it.
I came across a large parking lot striped for boat trailers with a campground next to it with RVs occupying some sites. I drove around and saw some empty campsites. We just decided to pull into an empty site and regroup. There were only about 10 campsites on this loop, yet even that we were scattered about. The sites are very large, flat, graveled and offered electric only. I got the second site from the water, but I was terraced high enough to look over the rig in front of me. Ginnie was near the bathhouse, Kim near her. I called a lot of phone numbers associated with Greers Ferry Lake and the recreation area and finally got someone in the Army Corp of Engineers office who confirmed honor system it is. We got in the car, checkbooks in hand, completed the brown envelope in the metal box, calculated our fee (normal rate electric site $20, US Senior Pass discounts to $10) sealed them and put them back into the mail slot in the metal box. Taking a walk around the loop I saw the boat launch ramp that the was very short, and a beach area with no sand
– not like the internet pictures I saw. The campground was well treed, and I should have realized this was going to be another tick infestation. Sure enough, I pulled 3 engorged ones off Winston before our departure, and one on my hip that had just latched on. Kim read that ticks climb up only and stop when they can’t go further. This one got stopped by my underwear. I am certainly glad he didn’t get near……..well, you figure it out. I felt that bastard as I was putting my pajamas on. He ended up in an ashtray with the lighter charring him. Kind of makes my skin crawl the whole tick thing. They don’t seem to hurt Winston. One of the ticks was on the edge of his nostril. Most others are between his toes. He did not want me to get near it or him. I rubbed some blue Dawn on it then I straddled his shoulders and muzzled him with my hands. Kim was behind me holding his rear legs, and Ginnie reached in and pulled the creature off. That was the biggest one I have seen, engorged to the size of half a fresh pea. Engorged,
it was a grey color, almost matching his nose color. Nasty. Winston was snarly and snappy and growling and just overall agitated. Ginnie had never seen him like that, but I know he does have a nasty streak when he feels threatened.
I took several pictures of the beach area. Notice the trees below the water line and how far up the parking lot the water is. If you look carefully you will see the ropes for the swimming area are about 10 yards into the water. I downloaded a normal picture from the internet for you to compare. Probably doesn’t seem significant, but just listening to the locals and the TV reports of the Army Corps of Engineers controlling the dams, letting water go and how much and over how long a period of time; it’s an amazing science.
It was warm enough to sleep with the windows open and it was lovely sleeping hearing the lake waves lapping. I started watching the weather again. I was not happy with what I saw.
Kat out
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