Running the Roads-Aug 12-14th

Thursday sees us at a small campground.  Folks just bought it this year and are working to get it up and running.  The heat has been a drawback but I see only good things for this couple.  They are enthusiastic about their enterprise. We left for the mountains of MO; Osage Beach RV at Lake of the Ozarks.  You’d think we would find a quaint little place, lots of trees, a beach and view of the lake…..you’d be wrong.  See if you can pick out from the attached photos what our view is of.  It took us a lot longer to get here than estimated because of a detour on the Interstate near Ames, Iowa.  Found out last night  what the detour was for.  Did it make the national news?  Ames flooded badly after a storm, really badly and it took out the Interstate. Today(Sat.)we toured a castle ruins right here in the mountains. Back in 1903 Robert Snyder visited the area, fell in love and conceived the idea of a retreat(he was a big man in Kansas City), bought 5000 acres, brought in European stonemasons and began his dream.  Unfortunately, in 1905 he was killed in an auto accident(did you catch the year?)and it wasn’t until 1922 that his sons completed, on a smaller scale, their dad’s dream. Eventually it was turned into a hotel but in 1942 it burned to the ground, the roof having caught fire from a spark from one of the fireplaces.  It was quite a place and the State of MO acquired it and turned it into a state park.  Enjoyed the morning, but due to the heat didn’t spend too much extra time there.  To keep cool I dragged Curt shopping.  This town is a mecca for shopping and it was cool inside.  Enjoy the photos.