Omaha to Shreveport and Back - Day 2
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Branson, Mo - WE MADE IT (after a 3 year break)! |
Saturday morning was just as bad as Friday night. It was cold and windy (at least it wasn't raining). Last night we had to rearrange our sleeping arrangement due to the battery dropping out on us. Instead of each our own cover we had to double up. It's all about layers and body heat. It worked. We were plenty warm even without the stupid heater. I really have to check up on why we can't have heat all night in cool weather.
Folding up the camper proved to be a new learning experience. I've done it a few times before but this time was a little different. Surely (yes I called you Shirley) you would think that leaving the bed made wouldn't make a difference but oh boy does it ever.
After folding down the camper one time I learned that in no way in heck could I put the clips on to secure it down. I tried for a good 5 minutes with no luck. I had to set the thing back up again in the cold wind while my wife waited patiently in the warm truck. In the interest in getting out of Rockport while it was still morning, we decided to put the bed rolls into the back seat of the truck and go.
Do you think it ended there? Heck no. About this time I tried adjusting the front clamps to max out my length and out pops the little black nut that holds the clamp on. On to the ground it goes. Where it went who knows? I couldn't find it after about 10 minutes on my knees rubbing the ground.
Without this nut I would have to go with 3 clamps and that would work okay but I think I'd rather have all four. I reluctantly pulled Laura out of the warm truck. She stops over and it goes just like this..."What does it look like"? "It's a little black nut". "Here is this it"? "Yes Thank-You". We jumped into the warm truck and started defrosting the windshield. Yes you read that right.
If that wasn't bad enough I broke the bracket inside the camper above the door that holds the door up in place when you are folding or unfolding your camper. All that was left to hold up the door was two snaps. If these two snaps ever failed someone was going to get knocked in the head pretty good. Even worse is snapping the door in while trying to hold it up and still at the same time was even more challenging. It's almost a two person job.
It's by tradition that I stop at the McDonalds in Rockport on my way to Branson each time we go. We stopped just like any other time and on my way out a Harley dude was eyeballing my trailer. He wanted one too. I told him about it and about a few I've seen for sale and he eventually wandered off to his vehicle empty trailered.
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Camp is all set up at the Compton Campground |
I researched ahead of time campgrounds in Branson. I've never even looked into campground before because I've never had camping gear down there before. When I googled campgrounds this Compton Campground always came up towards the top. After reviewing the reviews on the campground I learned that it is now under new management and the new guys aren't that friendly.
I called them on the phone and they seemed friendly enough to me. They also said that the day I was planning on coming in that there would be plenty of space. I put in the address in my GPS and found that it was taking me to a different spot than what they showed on the map. After much fighting with the GPS I learned that it isn't really in Branson, Mo. GPS is set and off we go.
The GPS would pull another fast ball on me on the way down there. While traveling down towards Springfield the GPS, for who knows what reason, diverted me off the nice four lane highway and on to a two lane road that looked like something from the 70's. While taking the road, which cut straight South and then eventually straight West and back on to the four lane again, all I could think about is how nice of a ride that would of been if I was actually riding. Looking back there I could see the wing giving me an evil eye.
Anyway, I found the staff at the campground very nice and gave them my hard earned cash for two nights. We picked out a camp spot and set up camp. There were not that many people camping. There were two different campers in tents and about 3 trailers/5th wheels. Our spot was way down at the end where nobody was around. Pretty nifty I thought.
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A view out or window. Pretty neat huh? |
The weather warmed up and Laura and I started making plans for spending all our money. While we were doing that I took a photo out our camper window. Normally, out this window would be a view of our rotting deck back home in the driveway. What a change this was from that.
Anyway it was during this time that I started thinking about buying a battery charger for the camper. We would be staying here two days instead of just one so chances are the battery wouldn't make it that long. Then again maybe it would. It was starting to warm up and I could actually take my jacket off for the first time. After checking the local Wal-Mart store in town and taking a tour downtown I was only able to find the cheap Wal-Mart battery charger that I had purchased once before. It had lasted only about a year. I'll think on it some more.
As nightfall approached I got ready for night number two on our trip. This night would go much smoother as long as I had my way. At least it was warmer. Right before bed a camp staff employee dropped by to make sure our electrical outlet was working properly. Yea, these guys are really mean. Can't you tell?
TO BE CONTINUED...