We were just back from our heat escape trip to Wisconsin (still not written up) and I saw a Facebook post that a 3 day weekend spot had opened up at a hard to get glampground named FredRock (in SE Missouri) not far from our home. In fact this would prove to be the closest to home we have camped in over 30 years.
The sauna weather had turned itself back on in MO and my Hub gave me the “ Can’t we just go back north??” look.
I assured him that there was a crystal clear spring-fed Ozark creek and the dogs would be able to romp in it with us. We had just returned from Lake Michigan where the puppy learned to fetch a toy in the waves. That solidified his nod.
I threw in a lot of pantry odds and ends as well as an apron full of tomatoes, yellow peppers and eggplant from our heat suffering garden. . . which I, mostly, turned into a frittata and enchiladas…yummy food and fast outdoor cooking to beat the heat. We also stopped at a favorite Amish market to pick up a luscious orange watermelon. We hadn’t camped in one place (without day touring) in a long time so I was being very creative with meals. The heat was turning the bananas fast so I made banana pancakes with a baggy full of mix I had hanging around and some coconut milk I always bring from iced morning coffee. It turned out to be a tasty, abundant and filling portions so some were held over and reheated in the following morning …but spread with peanut butter and some of the last trip’s (Door Co. WI) sugar free tart cherry preserves. An easy, decadent walk-out-the-door-with-finger-food, for sure!
On a side note, the Hub spilled some cherries on his white shirt. I soaked it and did my practiced paint removing fingernail and soap tricks to good success but then remembered I brought some lemons…a little squeeze, some brutal sun and the stains were gone. Camping seems to bring out happy epiphanies and lucky preparations in me! I gave thanks for that.
Well, upon arriving at FredRock, we saw what all the hype was about. It’s 33 acres of old stone buildings (from a previous vintage small Ozark campground incarnation), wide open spaces, a beautiful creek with shuts-ins, micro falls and lazy pools.
And then there is the assortment of bohemian glampers ranging from Polish made mirrored domes to a Vardo to a vintage Airstream and private camperbus that one might imagine Elvis could have used. Check out the full photography on their page:
The first day we did the set up (including using the long stowed Kelty Noah Tarp 12…written up in my previous post), cooked up the veggies and enchiladas and took a swim in the calm part of the creek with the dogs. Even the Corgi participated in water frolicking which is usually beneath her royal stature.
We had the spot all to ourselves and soaked in every moment of that luxury. My Hub, the engineer, was quite fascinated with a narrow band of water right at shore’s edge was colder than the deep water flowing through the deep bend current. We pondered how that was possible and decided that even though the rocks on the edge were hot in the blistering weather, it must be a deep rock bed with a spring or cooling pool seeping out from the edges. We have always been outdoor people. Our current home is tucked in the woods and our last home was on a couple hundred acres of piñon pines up at 8400 feet. Nature never stops teaching us new things. FredRock allows time to savor and ponder. It’s small by design and attracts the wanderers who will and do appreciate it. There is plenty of space to listen to the voices and lessons of the trees and pure clean Ozark stream.
The next day, we had an incredibly gorgeous day. Not the least of which was spending all day swimming in the rushing flow of the big granite shut-ins (with the Hub and the dogs.) if you know Missouri, you know we have some really beautiful shut-ins to play in. What Fredrocks has is quiet. No screaming hoards…just you and the rocks and the water.
The dogs were playing and running in the cool water and in one God filled moment, the puppy was in the middle of a yellow butterfly torrent. A butterfly tornado.
It was there like a dream moment and then it vanished. The four of us were astonished. OK, well maybe just the three of us. The Corgi was managing her imperious stare from the shade of the roots of a giant oak tree at water’s edge.
I had just thanked Mother Earth for this extreme beauty and asked the Universe to send me a sign that would knock my socks off.
Yellow butterflies are the sign I equate with our beloved Bassador. (The dog we bought the Casita for). Man would he have loved this day.
Well, the next day, we were able to add a couple more nights to extend our trip. Before I forget, the whole place is on the honor system. Put $5 in a mailbox for a bundle of wood, a bag of ice or go in the little shop and place money in that mailbox for T-shirts, hats, creek gear, etc. even the gate is a code and you are in. It’s all charming really.
If there was anything a person (not me) would choose to disparage, it’s that the 5 RV spaces are close together. The current owners used the existing layout (it’s on flat high ground because the creek can rise) and updated systems and electrics to those sites.
We met a lovely Grandmother who was traveling to NC with her pup, who said she was extending her stay an extra night because, with arms raised to show abundance she said; “Well, just look at this place.” And that about sums up the beauty of it.
I am thinking a Missouri Egg club meetup needs to take the place over (some boondocking since there are just a few RV sites…though come and glamp in a TeePee seems fun, too. ) I’m seeing a clambake style dinner on the creek, a day of plein air painting, rock hunting, geode cutting and then there are some really beautiful places to day tour to in that region as well as the best frozen custard you will have in your life about 20 miles away…and I’m not exaggerating!
Well, there was one hiccup, we ran home on the third day to water the plants that we didn’t think could take three more days of “heat dome hell” without water and discovered the garage freezer had tripped the fuse somehow. Fortunately, it didn’t get below 36 so only some of the things thawed but it meant I had to stay home and cook up a storm so I could refreeze cooked meals rather than just toss it all out. The Hub took the lot of recently farm purchased filet to grill at the campsite and either share or let the little camper freezer hold them, cooked.
You may ask how we monitor the freezers…it’s this gadget:
I was sorry not to get to stay and find Paw Paws and swim but there are always silver linings. Since retirement, I find little time to be alone, to write, to paint and I miss it sometimes. This has given me time to write for you and cook with the dogs chomping treats at my feet.
One thing FredRock reminded me to tell you was this little trick:
When you see something that touches your soul, speak the thanks aloud and then in a long inhale through your nose, you exhale with an open smile, say a heart holding Thank You, again.
Beyond the moment I wrote of above, we luxuriated in the shadows of great Blue Herons flying only about 4 feet over us on both days. Let me tell you I thanked both them and God, aloud, and then sealed the feeling in forever with the breath!
This method always locks in the moment for me.
Incorporating beautiful moments (camping treasures) into my being in this way has always brought more abundance and calm into our crazy world for me.
I hope you will join me by practicing this goodness for yourselves next time you take your Egg out. Let’s see if our little ripples of gratitude really can change the world.
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