Last Thursday afternoon we left around 4:30 for our Branson destination...an RV park called Cooper Creek on Lake Taneycomo. It was sunny and mild, but we knew that would be short lived because the weather forecast was for torrential rain all weekend. Luckily, we drove to Cooper Creek, got set up, took Sadie for a walk and cooked out before the rain came. We settled in for movie night with Sadie sleeping at our feet and finally took that first deep, cleansing breath we always take when realize we're on vacation. All is well....
Sadie didn't like the pitter patter of rain drops hitting the top of our motorhome so she whined, David's clue that she wants to go out. He took her outside, she did her thing, he came back in with just a few sprinkles on his shirt, but noted the temperature had dropped considerably. An hour or so later, the pitter patter had turned to a drenching downpour and Sadie was whining so David had to get up with her again. A caveat...the reason David gets up with her at night is because of my new health initiative, I am sleeping like a rock most nights and don't wake up at all for the first time in my life. Sadie and David come dripping back in, he puts her in her crate, and tells her, "That's it, if you need to go again just go in your crate!" That sounded pretty mild, didn't it. You're right, I censored his conversation with her a little bit. It must have worked, though, she didn't whine again all night.
The next morning found us trapped inside a 32 foot RV with a puppy, a Border Collie puppy :o as the rain continues. I'm sure you know, Border Collie's are not known for their docile and inactive demeanor so I had to use my ace in the hole...peanut butter rubbed inside a Kong toy. A Kong is a indestructible rubber toy she will chew on for hours IF there is peanut butter inside. For David, I set up the computer, and to my amazement, had internet service!!! With the two of them set, I get out my trusty Kindle and read for the next two or three hours.
Suddenly, we notice the quiet! It's stopped raining!!! We decide to take Sadie on a long walk then ride our bikes to town. OMG, I thought I was riding in the Tour de France with all those rain-slick hills. We actually had to walk our bikes up a few of them, but it was great exercise and fun, although a bit terrifying when the cars would whip around us. One guy made our day when he stopped his car at an intersection, rolled down his window and said, "Go ahead, bikers rock!" Laughing to myself because we had just gotten back on our bikes after walking them up a hill, I said, "We bikers appreciate that, sir!"
The rain waited until we got back, took Sadie on another walk, and cooked out before making another appearance. We decided to have another movie night, but this time with popcorn. Thanks once again to Cois and Orval for the gift of Yoder's gourmet popcorn several years ago. We are now hopelessly hooked on Tiny Tenders.
Saturday morning's forecast was for rain so we decided to break camp and go to Bass Pro Shop for a little redneck shopping on our way home. All went well, except Sadie escaped at one point and made a bee-line for Lake Taneycomo. So now, we're breaking camp AND dealing with a cold, wet puppy. David had another "talk" with her so I don't think she'll be pulling that again any time soon.
For my complete, pictorial review of Cooper Creek on Lake Taneycomo, go to http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g44160-r29255343-Branson_Missouri.html
