After a beautiful Monday, we left Palo Duro Canyon the next morning under threatening skies. The forecast wasn't good and we empathized with the young couple from South Africa via Houston across from us in their tent. Even more sympathy to the group of several adults and lots of young people who had arrived the night before and set up about ten tents. Drizzle, fog, and lots of wind attacked us intermittently as we wended our way east toward Oklahoma City--a long day. We did make one detour at Erick, Oklahoma in an attempt to visit the Roger Williams Museum. After all, he was "King of the Road." But, alas, it was not open on Monday or Tuesday, and neither was the rest of Erick. We had spotted a KOA campground in Oklahoma City near the bypass we wanted to take, and they had space. The site they gave us contained one of three storm shelters, making it a challenge to park the camper where the steps would not come out on top of the mound.
There was a little rain but we managed to get a couple of loads of laundry done before supper. After supper, we watched TV but it wasn't long before the programming switched entirely to the weather. One of those blood red "bows" was headed right for us and Mr. Weatherman warned we were in for large hail, winds of 50-60 mph, and a possible tornado.
I got out the campground instructions and searched through the rules about garbage, alcohol, washing your camper, etc. for some information on the storm shelter. Were they unlocked? Would they sound a warning? No idea. That wasn't important enough to include. Anyway, if we had gone to the shelter and been able to get in, and the wind had tipped our camper, we would have been trapped. The rain and a little hail hit and occasional big gusts of wind rocked our trailer--not in a soothing way. When the worst seemed past, we went to bed but were still under warnings. Obviously, we made it through the night and are still kicking.
I got out the campground instructions and searched through the rules about garbage, alcohol, washing your camper, etc. for some information on the storm shelter. Were they unlocked? Would they sound a warning? No idea. That wasn't important enough to include. Anyway, if we had gone to the shelter and been able to get in, and the wind had tipped our camper, we would have been trapped. The rain and a little hail hit and occasional big gusts of wind rocked our trailer--not in a soothing way. When the worst seemed past, we went to bed but were still under warnings. Obviously, we made it through the night and are still kicking.
We departed early in the morning and, after $24 in tolls, made it around Oklahoma City and through Tulsa to arrive in Joplin, MO by early afternoon, where we got groceries. Another half hour brought us to Ballard's Campground south of Carthage. This is a sweet place that we have stopped at several times before and one of my favorites. It is small and old, but the gravel sites are level and well maintained. The campground is tiered on a hill with a number of large oaks and slopes down to a small pond. There is a dogwood in bloom nearby. The sites have fire rings and hookups. When we checked in, Wanda, the owner, told us that, in case of severe weather, we could go to the shower house or the lady next door had a basement that campers were welcome to use. Isn't that nice?
The shower house is old but I give it an A+. Each shower has a heavy curtain separating it from the dressing area, two hooks, a bench and a bath mat. The water temperature is adjustable and pressure is excellent. Everything is clean and fresh smelling. If you get to Carthage, stop in and Wanda will take care of you.
We were under a tornado watch all evening, but I don't think we even got rain. This morning is much cooler and windy--chance of light rain much of our way north. We will meet up with our sister and brother-in-law at Wallace State Park north of Kansas City and spend three nights. Then Ken and Harriet will lead us back to West Liberty for our triumphant return. Maybe the high school band will herald our entrance in to town. Maybe not.
The shower house is old but I give it an A+. Each shower has a heavy curtain separating it from the dressing area, two hooks, a bench and a bath mat. The water temperature is adjustable and pressure is excellent. Everything is clean and fresh smelling. If you get to Carthage, stop in and Wanda will take care of you.
We were under a tornado watch all evening, but I don't think we even got rain. This morning is much cooler and windy--chance of light rain much of our way north. We will meet up with our sister and brother-in-law at Wallace State Park north of Kansas City and spend three nights. Then Ken and Harriet will lead us back to West Liberty for our triumphant return. Maybe the high school band will herald our entrance in to town. Maybe not.
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