Roadtrek Family Featured

The November 2023 issue of Family RVing offers an interesting article by William H. Roberts, "The Roberts Family Loves RVing." 

Roberts describes the family's experiences after they purchased their first Roadtrek, a 190 Versatile, after 2000 and a second 1999 190 Popular ten years later. 

The family of five, was initially attracted to the Roadtrek for pulling a boat and for its compact size.

Camping at Finger Lakes State Park

We looked at the upcoming weather reports with a predicted return1 to chilly temperatures and decided to sneak in a mid-week overnight to Finger Lakes State Park. 

The park is just north of Columbia, MO and primarily designed to serve off-road vehicles and motorcycles.  

The park offers a pleasant campground and one trail for bicycles and hikers. The Kelley Branch Mountain Bike Trail is a 2.75 mile loop. Thanks to work of the COMO Trails Association, the trail surface was in good condition and was quite a bit better than the mud we saw on the ORV trails.

You can find more information on our routes at AllTrails, either the Afternoon hike on the Kelley Branch Trail or the Morning Roadwalk.

Annie's Birthday and One Year Anniversary

November 17th is the one year anniversary for our purchase of Annie, our 1996 Roadtrek 210 Popular. 

Annie had already accumulated more than 128,000 miles with a couple of owners. In our year, we traveled 6,133 miles and camped out 32 nights. 

It has been a good year and we are looking forward to additional adventures in the future.

Update on our Blog and Videos...

It has been a while since we've posted anything....not for lack of travel or walking...and don't have any useful explanation beyond we're retired and it is sometimes hard for some of us (me!) to do what is needed or desired. 

I am beginning work on accumulated videos for our YouTube channel and will begin working up blog posts to track our 2022 adventures.

We did just return from a couple of nights chasing leaves and fall colors across mid-Missouri in Annie and the photo above is one Linda took while we camped at the Ray Behrens Corp of Engineers Campground at Mark Twain Lake. 

Northwest Arkansas - Starting the Camping Season

 

It has been a while since I've posted to the blog. We've enjoyed several trips and a number of shorter adventures during the time and I'm slowly catching up on some of the accumulating videos.

We put up our initial video from the late March trip to northwest Arkansas,  Overview of Our Trip to Arkansas. It was a great way to start off the camping season. Links and short descriptions for the video segments follow:

Days 2 and 3 of our Arkansas Trip - We spent our second night at Lakeview Army Corps of Engineers Campground in northern Arkansas. We then drove on Day 3 to Mount Magazine State Park.

Days 3 and 4 Hiking & Sunset at Mt Magazine State Park - We enjoyed a lovely stay at Mount Magazine State Park. The trailhead for the hike to the summit of Arkansas' highest peak was just across the road from our campsite. We walked up to the summit and returned via the lodge for pleasant lunch. That evening after supper we walked to the west for spectacular views of the sunset.

Day 5 Drive from Mt. Magazine State Park to Queen Wilhelmina State Park - We left the Mt. Magazine campground and drove on the scenic overlook loop. We also hiked a bit before exiting the park. The drive to Queen Wilhelmina State Park was roughly 100 miles, so we took our time and enjoyed the drive. After reaching our destination and setting up camp, we walked on a couple of short trails to close out a wonderful day.

Day 6 Talimena Scenic Drive - We enjoyed a lovely & leisurely drive on the 54-mile route from Queen Wilhelmina State Park to Talihina, OK. We then retraced our drive back through Mena, AR before returning to the state park.

Day 7 Walking on the Ouachita Trail - We enjoyed a wonderful walk on the Ouachita Trail from Queen Wilhelmina State Park to the Pioneer Cemetery.

Day 8 Petit Jean State Park - We arrived at Petit Jean State Park and visit the Palisades Overlook and Bear Cave Area on our way to the campground.

Day 9 Petit Jean State Park - Our second day in the state park was amazing. We walked from the campground to the Lodge on the CCC Trail. We ate lunch at the Lodge and then walked to the Cedar Falls Overlook and back to the campground via the CCC Trail.

We then drove to the Petit Jean Gravesite & Overlook. We then visited the Rock House Cave and drove on the Red Bluff Drive Loop.

Here's to a New Year!

 We send well wishes for your new year as we begin 2022. We were fortunate to end this last year in good health and took full advantage of December weather that was unseasonably warm. 

Family members were able to gather for several days and we enjoyed a beautiful afternoon walk on Christmas Day on the Grindstone Trail in Columbia, MO. You can follow along by clicking the video below or view a shorter GoPro Quick edit of the Christmas Day Walk.

 

After family members returned home, we left in our 1996 Roadtrek for three nights of camping and hiking at Roaring River State Park in southwest Missouri. 

 

Linda tried out her new rocking camp chair and Solo stove.  And, El Halcón, our spirit animal, flew in to check up on our well being.  We were also able to hike on five different trails in the park. 

We then returned home just before lower temperatures and freezing precipitation arrived on New Years Day. We just finished a video and it will be live on our YouTube channel before too long.

We'll be watching the weather for windows of warmer temperatures and see if we can squeeze in additional camping trips here in Missouri or a bit further south in Arkansas. Stay tuned and let us know what adventures you are planning for 2022.