Another Year - Almost

Well!  Here I am back where I started again and nearly another year has passed as I prepare to start the next journey with my two cats.  Here in Prince William Forest RV Park near Montclair, VA the harvest moon has risen and I consider the past year and the time spent on the road from Northern Virginia to the Rockies with a winter in Florida.  The loneliness has been pervasive yet, maybe more bearable as I have traveled around the country and hiked, fished, walked the beaches and shores of seventeen states on my journey which started last November (in my Winnebago).

As I linger more in one spot with less activity (other than the mental stress of getting vehicles re-registered in Virginia and personal property taxes paid -- penalties challenged etc.), the loneliness creeps in but, I'm reminded of the loneliness of just being in one spot (like Kingstowne) and that it was even more prevalent in my thoughts before I left this area.  I look forward to getting back on the road and using all those different fishing rods I have tucked under the RV or in my Jeep -- but, yeah! Wish I had some companion to share the journey and time with but, can't go on the internet for that One.  If only it were that easy.

So, maybe a week or two in Myrtle Beach; then a month in the Amelia Island/Jacksonville area this year with another week or two in the Panama City Beach area followed by a week around Navarre Beach before heading into Arizona (Phoenix area) with my sights set on a winter in south Texas (Corpus Christi, Padre Island, or Port Aransas).  Summer in southwest Colorado is still the plan after Texas and maybe a stop in the  four corners area (Grand Canyonland and etc.) before pulling into South Fork in mid May.

An earlier start this year will hopefully keep me on track for the southwest before the winter sets in there.

Start The Bubble Machine

Wunnerful, Wunnerful!  And Ah-One, Ah-Two -- seems like just yesterday when we Burches would watch the Lawrence Welk Show and his country and western entertainers.  Now, as I sit here in the Ozark County Campgrounds (rain falling) in Branson, MO the Lawrence Welk Theater is just around the corner from here where I sit a couple miles south of "The Strip" in Branson.  Far from the Aragon Ballroom in Venice Beach or the Hollywood Palladium where his show broadcast from.  I wonder if any of the Lennon Sisters are here in Branson -- maybe I should go to that theater around the corner to find out (I suspect though that I might stop instead at the "Kicking Aces" bar on the way).

Table Rock Dam

I had hoped to find some outstanding trout fishing in the waters nearby but, they really seem to be extremely picky although quite visible as I have walked the banks and seen many fly-fishermen trying vainly to land some of the beauties.  It's a blue medal section on Lake Taneycomo and all trout between 12 and 20 inches must be released and it seems they know it.  Not worth the $14 for a day to fish the lake or the $42 for a license that's only good for 6 months.

Taneycomo Lake below dam

I did catch a couple small ones (illegally) the other day with my Panther Martin and released them promptly -- only fished for 10 or 15 minutes and saw one of the discouraged fly-fishermen leave after he saw me catch one after just a few minutes of fishing (maybe he had been there all day getting nothing).

I stopped at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery just below the dam at Table Rock Lake to see some really, really nice trophy trout in their aquarium -- ones I would have hoped to catch.  Maybe next time or another place in the Ozarks.

Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery

Some of these beautiful Rainbows and Browns were over two feet long and really thick bodied -- Trophy fish for sure.

Making My Way back East

Well, the trip from South Fork, CO to Moline, Kansas was long and not much on good things to see.  Mostly two lane roads from Walsenburg, CO and just dry, desolate countryside (mostly flat with no shoulders on the roads).  After nine hours of driving, I decided to stop overnight in Pratt, Kansas and then drive the remaining 3 hours or so the next day -- Tiger and Molly were fairly stressed and I even found where one of them must have come out from hiding but, didn't make it back to the litter box (disenfectant wipes worked great for the cleanup).

Spent five nights in Moline and visited all the nearby cemeteries (Elk Falls cemetery, Moline cemetery, and Mount Olivet cemetery) to look for graves of grand parents, great grand parents, and other Cunninghams or Russells.  The city park right in town had full hookups for $10 per night and I originally booked for 3 nights but, extended my stay to get WiFi access at the clerks office and the library (not open on Thursdays and Fridays).  While at the library on Saturday morning (only open from 9 to 12), I heard of a small museum in town that also was open only until noon so, I left the library at 11:30 to make a stop at the museum (The Shaffer House Museum).

The Shaffer House Museum

As it turned out I was able to stay at the museum for a couple hours because a woman (Elaine Julian) was there getting things ready for an "Ice Cream Social" and "Open House" the following evening.  The day before (Friday) I had been to Howard (7 miles north) where the Elk County Courthouse is located to see if I could locate some records defining where the Cunningham and Russell farms were located but, the courthouse was closed on Fridays.  Feeling "bummed out", I dug through the mountain of things at the little museum and on the top floor, I came upon an Elk County Atlas that much to my surprise showed the location of my relatives farms (four tracts were a little south of Elk Falls City).

Elk Falls Cemetery (Cunninghams)

The day before, I had also been to Elk Falls to visit the cemetery where the Cunninghams were buried.  I also visited the Falls and the 1893 Iron Bridge there (which is on the Historic Registry) and was drawn down Seventh Street through the town, south past the railroad tracks and over a creek where I felt compelled to look east at the surrounding land and farms.  I had been drawn there twice before coming upon the Atlas and before learning the Russell farm was just there (to the east) -- where I had been looking.

Mount Olivet Cemetery (Russells)

With the information gained from the Atlas, I decided to stay another night and go to the ice cream social in the afternoon -- after driving around the Elk Falls area again in hopes of getting a look at the Cunningham and Russell farm locations.  First, I drove down Rt. 99 to the county line and headed east in hopes of finding the Cunningham farm or where it would have been.  The county road ended after a mile and a half at someones fences and gates (no names) so, I headed back to Elk Falls.  The Russell farm location was easy and I went there to confirm where I had been drawn was indeed just to the east.  Then, I started the search on the winding, gravel country roads leading west and south from the Russell farm location.  After zig-zagging around the countryside, I eventually wound my way to Angus Road and Road 18 where I met the Elk County line again -- felt convinced this is where Harvey's, Henry's and Adelaine's properties were.  Nothing but cows grazing all around but, do remember seeing remnants of what could have been an  old storm shelter in a field nearby.

1893 Iron Bridge

This is the old Iron Bridge and in the deck boards, I found the names of four Cunninghams routed into the boards (Friends of the Bridge).  The falls were to the left and because of the drought, it was just a trickle but, can only imagine that in the early 1900s it flowed with greater volume and provided a wonderful place to visit and relax (or maybe go for a swim).

Elk Falls (just a trickle)

In the pictures of the cemeteries, the Cunningham's had a whole row and Harvey's above ground vault is among the trees beyond the row of other Cunninghams -- Bryan's were just in front of Harvey's vault.  The Russells were just in a small cluster to the left of the larger headstone for Sarah (J. E. Russell being the first small stone to the left of Sarah's).  Besides J. E. Russell's second wife (Mary E. Buckley), there were only four other Russell's in the plot (B. N. Russell, Victor L. Russell, John W. Russell, and Lawrence Russell).  Two of the Russells were on the same marker (John W. and Lawrence died when they were 20 and 11 respectively).

Spectacular Moment/Memory

Night before last, a special thing happened here as I sat alone sipping a small glass of Sambuca in that big round black chair outside -- watching the full moon rising through the trees at approximately 9:00 p.m.  Suddenly!  A meteor flashed from the north towad the south into an opening in the large pine trees and then it burst into a pinkish red ball right at the top of this huge pine tree -- as if lighting the top of a Christmas tree.  Something really, really spectacular.

Last Day of Trout Fishing Season

At least for me!  I fished this morning at Beaver Creek Reservoir to conclude my trout fishing season -- the license is only good until March of next year and I need to pack the RV for the trip back east.  Had some neighbors who said last night that they would be willing to take some trout if I caught them today so, I headed back up Beaver Creek Canyon for that beautiful ride -- thinking I could put some nice trout on my stringer and on a platter for those neighbors.

I got there around 8:30 and hoped to be leaving by noon with my limit of nice fish for those folks -- after releasing so many the past two days, it seemed to be a cinch.  Hoped too to have half a day to start the packing/cleaning process for my exit from South Fork on Tuesday morning.  All good things have to come to an end.  Right?

Well, I took the Shimano pole and reel as a backup (the one I found in the muddy silt at water's edge of the Beaver Creek Reservoir) but, didn't really need it -- just had to rinse my usual mini-spin caster rig a couple times.  After a half dozen casts into the same headwaters where I lost the big Brown, I had a nice 14 inch Brown on the stringer and moved farther along the far banks of the reservoir to an area across from the mud island that has appeared near the headwaters of the reservoir.  Shortly, I had another nice keeper of the 14 inch variety and released a couple small ones (12 inches or less).

I went farther along the far banks than I originally intended and stopped a little short of the picnic area and the three points upstream from it.  The point across from the mud island had me mentally focused on it as I sensed the fish were definitely there and ready for action as the current from the creek was flowing to this side of the island.  Also, the winds blew from the WNW, resisting any casts in the downstream direction (toward the picnic area) so, I worked my way back to the point (and where the stringer already had two nice fish on).

Last Day's Catch

Before too long, I had a really big strike and had a big fish on that had me thinking it might be a Salmon (because of its black colored back).  It had my pole doubled over and it had me running up and down the shoreline during the chase and when I landed this beautiful Rainbow, it took two hands to hold it down.  OMG!  It measured 16 inches and was the biggest Rainbow I had caught at Beaver Creek Reservoir this year.  I would have been content (and very thankful) to leave anytime after that catch but, I managed to catch another 14 inch Brown after another dozen casts -- had my limit of four and left before 11:00 a.m.  What a nice way to end the season.