Current River

We ventured into Missouri a few weekends ago. The end of summer is fast approaching and I have wanted to go on a float trip for the past few summers so badly. It was a favorite activity when I was a kid. Things are a lot different going as an adult. For one, you realize river's are gross. And slimy. And sometimes really fishy. And the Current River is really cold. I mean REALLY cold. We left on Saturday and spent four + hours driving. It was a very enjoyable trip though. The boys sat in the back seat playing angry birds and complaining about Patrick's back seat driving skills while me and Randa (New best friend....even if she is from Southern Illinois...ha!) took over the shot gun seats. Once we got checked into the campground we set up the tents and started making dinner. Pork loin with potatoes. It took a long time but it was so worth it. We just chilled for the night and sweated our butts off. When we did finally go to sleep I was stuck between Patrick (I'm used to his snoring and annoying sleep habits) and James, who also snores and also moves in his sleep. And I don't just mean move. I mean flail. And flop. I had his foot in my face at one point. Very interesting night. During the night a cold front and storms also came through. When we woke up it was wet and very cold. Ok so only like 50's cold. But that is very cold to be on a spring fed river tall day! It warmed up some and we took our chances. After some burnt bacon we loaded up and set sail! Well we hooked all our tubes together and made sure to keep the cooler in a safe tube attached to someone who would save the cooler before themselves! Yeah. It had all the alcohol in it. I had never been tubing before. It was scary! I was the first one in while every one else just pussy footed around on shore. It was a shock too. That cold water and barely in the 70's temp with clouds and sprinkles made for a freezing start to the trip. The next 5 hours went by so fast. I was disappointed when we reached the end. We had gotten used to the water and I had gotten used to the fish. As long as I didn't think about my butt sitting in it for 5 solid hours and didn't stare into the water LOOKING for fish, I was ok. We passed a lot of neat houses built along the edge of the river. One house's dock was used to cut all of us apart since we got kinda tangled. We stopped for lunch on a sand bar and the boys had to catch me. I wish I had some pictures of that adventure. Lots of current makes it very hard to get out of a tube that your butt is stuck in. Yall remember that, ok?

Once we made it to the camp we warmed up, put lotion on my sun burn (did I mention it was cloudy and raining the whole time?!) and made some burgers for dinner. Sleeping was enjoyable that night. I was so tired I didn't care whose foot was in my face. We headed home on Monday and stopped at this little restaurant in Sikeston called "Lambert's Cafe". Yeah. It's not so little. And busy as anything. And more delicious than anything you'll ever eat. More delicious than your Grandma's specialty. Well maybe just equal to. It was well worth the 30 minute wait just to put our name on the waiting list. Oh and they throw rolls at you. Like really throw. And you have to catch them. Now if you drop t they'll keep throwing till you catch one. Me? I wait till someone walks by with a basket so I don't have to catch a 93 mph fast pitch from 30 feet away. The outcome is not so pretty.


Until next time...The Magniloquent Mary...