HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER

One thing we can say absolutely for sure:  It is HOT, HOT, HOT - not to mention the high humidity.  It is probably just as hot back in Mechanicsville, but it just seems hotter here for some reason.

So far we have missed the thunderstorms, though the areas around us got quite a dose of rain and lightning yesterday.  We may get some storms over the next few days as the forecast is calling for a 50% chance of some boomers.

While the rally does not officially kick-off until Sunday, we now have 15 Cedar Creek units in the park.  By tomorrow, we should have most all of the park filled with club members.

We had an impromptu pot-luck dinner last night for those who were here.  Ray had a big bag of home made crab cakes, Nancy cooked a pot of country ham seasoned green beans, Windy brought a chocolate dump cake, Linda S. baked a big plate of peanut butter cookies (my favorite) and others brought delicious salads and casseroles.  One thing for sure - when we get a group of Cedar Creeker's together there is never a shortage of something to eat!

Part of our group gathered together in the Stage Coach Rally Room for last night's pot-luck dinner.  After dinner, we sat around a campfire by the pool until the bugs started having their own feast on our legs.

Our location, Stage Coach RV Park, is directly across from the Table Rock State Park which includes a huge marina and two campgrounds.  We drove through the campgrounds earlier today.  There were only a few small sites still open.  Section 2 has a good number of large concrete pad sites with patios that could accommodate our unit should we ever decide to return and visit the state park.

Stage Coach is close to Lake Taneycomo, just below the Table Rock Lake dam on route 165.  This puts us south of the key activity core of Branson's entertainment mecca along with all the traffic and hills.  The photos below look out to the south away from all of the hustle and bustle where private homes, golf courses and condos dot the landscape.  It is really a beautiful place partly situated in a valley and cut into the side of a rock mountain. 

Looking west at the Table Rock Lake Dam.  The water below comes out of the lake above and forms Lake Taneycomo.

I have a 50X optical zoom lens on my newest digital camera.  Since the dam was not really visible in the first photo I tried taking a shot with the zoom set to 40X.  The zoom and image stabilizer must have worked because this is a shot of the Table Rock Dam made from the same location.

Looking back to the east - this is the downstream part of Lake Taneycomo.  Historic Downtown Holister is on the south (right) side of the lake a few miles downstream and Historic Downtown Branson is on the opposite (northern) side of the lake.

Dave and Jill came in yesterday afternoon and Dave once again brought two of his Segway's.  Nancy had an introductory lesson and an opportunity to drive one when we were in Hutchinson, KS two years ago.  Today was my first time on a Segway.  It only took a few minutes to get the hang of how it balanced and turned.  They are so simple to operate - lean forward and you go forward.  Lean back and you stop or go back.  Left and right turns are controlled by a handle grip on the left side.  Needless to say we would love to have a pair of Segways.  I can't say that we will buy a pair, but it would be mighty tempting should a good deal come along.

Randy taking his first solo ride on a Segway.  Dave watches from behind to make sure I don't wreck or fall off.

We are having fun and (mis?) behaving.