Thursday, July 9, 2020 - It's Raining!!!! Breakfast Out Cancelled; Inside Work; Another Afternoon Drive and Dairy Queen

Thursday, July 9, 2020 - It's Raining!!!!  Breakfast Out Cancelled; Inside Work; Another Afternoon Drive and Dairy Queen


It was late when we went to bed last night.  It was after 6:30 before I woke up this morning.  That doesn't happen often!  I immediately started working on yesterday's blog post to add pictures and proof it before I posted it an hour or so later.

The skies had turned dark and we were getting a sprinkle here or there.  We decided we would go out for breakfast this morning, but our minds were changed by the time we were ready to leave.  They sky opened and it poured.  

Taken out of our window during the heavy rain.

We need the rain so we are glad to see it.  Not wanting to get out in it though, Cheri's Kitchen produced some yummy breakfast burritos for Dean. I chose to only have the filling and skip the tortilla.

For those of you who have been following our blog for awhile, you might remember we changed our mailing address from UPS in Pittsburg, KS to Escapees Mail Service in Livingston, TX.  We are utilizing it as a mail service only, so that our mail can be forwarded to us by Escapees.  This is important to ensure we recieve medicaton, important mail, etc. while we are traveling.  However, our physical address is in Oswego, KS.  Our truck and RV are registered in Labette County, KS, our insurance is with an agent in Oswego, KS, our doctors are near us (while some are in Joplin - it is only about 35 miles away), we vote in Labette County, and we have Kansas driver's licenses, etc. etc. etc.  For some reason even though we have explained over and over to various groups/organizations/entites, etc. that we do not live in Texas, that we only use Escapees Mail Service to forward our mail to us because we travel full-time.  Most places get it, but as of today we have three places we are trying to get this straightened out with.  Two have decided to quit withholding Kansas taxes from income we have because our mailing address is Texas, even though we have explained WE DO NOT LIVE IN TEXAS.  Today I finally made a call to the Escapees Office to see if I could talk to someone about how to handle this.  We surely are not the only person to have dealt with this issue.  They referred me to their attorney.  When I asked the cost they advised I would not be charged for this consultation.  They are going to call me tomorrow afternoon to discuss it with us.  I'm anxious to hear what they have to say and how they might help us resolve this situation.  

After hanging up, I made sandwiches for our lunch.  Since it was expected to rain off and on today, we decided this would be a good day to take a ride around the lake - and that is exactly what we did.  We left the park at 2:30 and we didn't return until 5:30.  We visited many of our favorite places reminiscing as we went.  It rained on us off and on as we drove, but never too bad.

The rain had mostly quit by early afternoon, before we left.

Entrance Sign as we were leaving the park, right at 2:30.

Notice the temperature in the upper left hand of the picture!  PATSY - I hope this weather reaches you and Bill soon!!

Going over Bernice Bridge - looking north to Honey Creek, where we had a travel trailer parked on a lot there for several years.

A mayfly hitched a ride.

We drove toward Woodland Shores, where we enjoyed watching this little guy.  He ran in front of us on the road.  Fortunately he stopped and I was able to get a couple of pictures.

Our wildlife for the day - a young fox.

Cove at Woodland Shores - if you enlarge this picture you can see the whitecaps on the water.  As we drove into the park, we noticed some lightening in the background.

Entrance sign, that we caught on the way out.  It was beautifully done!

 We made a stop here to use the restroom facilities at Kahoots.  I had a latte and Dean bought some crackers.

Kahoots convenience store, gas station, and dining area.

Ketchum, OK Water Tower on the right.

 As we left Ketchum, we traveled on to Disney where we crossed the Pensacola Dam.  

Entering the road over the Pensacola Dam.  There is a walkway to the left side.

Spillway below the dam.  Water from here flows to Hudson Lake at Salina, OK.

Grand Lake to the left.

Water is released here during flooding.  It is an amazing site to see water being released here.  To the right is a golf course.

Michelle or Joyce - I hope you see this.  I remember going here to get ice cream when you worked here Michelle.  That's been a year or two ago!

The road curves around to provide two more releases during flooding from Grand Lake.  When water is released here it hits the water near the dam.  It really is something to see.

You can see how the water has cut through the rocks in the area.

Just a beautiful sky over a pretty green field

 We drove through Jay, OK - their water town is in the background.

The sign over the highway as we entered Jay, OK from the south.

I love these old water towers - they make me think of the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz!

Entrance sign to Jay, OK as you enter from the north.

Skies with rain northwest of us - near our campground.

Dean insisted we stop for blizzards at Dairy Queen.  He had to twist my arm!!  Lol!

Just before we reached the park it started to rain again.

  

It didn't last long.  We arrived back at the park at 5:30.

It was a great day taking in the sights of the area.  It's now 6:50.  I'm sure Dean is going to be hungry soon, so I'll stop here.  I hope we can walk this evening and maybe catch a sunset to add before I close this out for tonight.

Neither of us were very hungry, so shortly after 7, we walked down the road to the boat ramp.  Here's a few pictures I took while we were there.

Looking toward Bernice Bridge - the sun was still too high for a sunset picture.

We walked to the end of the boat ramp.

There is a heron in this picture - in the middle by the water.  I was disappointed it was not a better picture.

Walking back to our campsite.

From here we walked about half of the nature trail, then returned to the RV.  Dean ate the cheezits he bought earlier today, then we finished the blackberry cobbler.  There wasn't too much left.  After we returned I walkd down to the water to take this final picture of the night.

Shortly after 8, I walked down to the water near us to take this shot of the sunset.

Goodnight all!