October 21, 2019
Tim and Cats' Excellent Adventure
Timothy Birdnow
Went to Rock Eddy Bluff Farm for my birthday. Wonderful, remote place with very private, isolated cabins on the bluffs overlooking the Gasconade river in central Missouri. I would have gone to the Ozark Hilton, but my dear wife is spoiled rotten, demanding such wild luxuries as electricity, indoor toilets, and running water, so we compromised and went to REBF.
Cat and I had gone there what seems like five years ago but was actually probably twenty. The owners are very nice people who really enjoy living out the the sticks. They have some very nice cabins, some with electricity and water and some without (we opted for the former, of course.) They are equipped with everything; just bring your food and you are set. We brought some good steaks for Friday and some bratwurst and hot dogs for Saturday. They supplied breakfast - left eggs, potatoes, onions, etc. for a hearty morning meal. I took the precaution of bringing bottled water, but their water was fine (I figured it would be moldy tasting well water.) While they had a wood stove they also had electric baseboard heat. It was not exactly glamping but it was easy living camping. I could make do living in a place like that (I doubt my dear sweet wife care for that simple life, though.)
They didn't have any normal television, but they did have streaming Netflix and I spent the evening hours binge watching Breaking Bad (never saw it) and drinking my Makers Mark or the wine I brought. Wonderfully relaxing!
Speaking of wine, we stopped in St. James and hit the Meramec Vineyards winery. The wines weren't that great, and I had wanted to go to Heinrichhaus winery instead, but it was a bit too far off and I wanted to make sure it didn't get too late before we arrived. So I grabbed a bottle of Norton and Chambourcin and added it to my port and Bourbon collection. Had the Norton with my rib eye, and the Chambroucin with the hot dogs.
About the only thing I actually did was hike down to the river (well, some of the way down; I realized I would never make it up alive so turned around - and barely made it up alive - tough climb! They did put benches along the trail so you could rest, but I still feared cardiac arrest by the end of the hike.)
At any rate all I did was barbecue, drink whiskey, sit on the porch, smoke my Dominican cigar, and watch Breaking Bad. Wonderfully relaxing!
Unfortunately the truck wouldn't start when it was time to leave! I had to call AAA and get towed the hundred twenty plus some-odd miles back home. Miserable ending, but it worked out. I could have been at the Ozark Hilton where no tow truck could reach, so I was lucky. (Never had any mechanical troubles with that vehicle until yesterday. Was it trying to tell us we should stay there?) I was very thankful to get home and took a three hour nap. It was a tiring weekend, for certain! But well worth it. I always love getting away from the massing throngs. I didn't hear one siren, or even a car other than the ones owned by our hosts. It was so very peaceful!
I understand the addiction some people have for true rural living. With modern technology it's possible to live as well as any city dweller. I would move out to the sticks today if I didn't have an army of medical professionals insisting I visit them every month. Baahh! A pox upon them! But they are keeping me alive and making sure I can still see. If I were to move out to the country I would have a hard time getting my medication, seeing my doctors, etc. It's a pity; I'm stuck with the herd. Oh well.
At any rate, that's where I've been.
Went to Rock Eddy Bluff Farm for my birthday. Wonderful, remote place with very private, isolated cabins on the bluffs overlooking the Gasconade river in central Missouri. I would have gone to the Ozark Hilton, but my dear wife is spoiled rotten, demanding such wild luxuries as electricity, indoor toilets, and running water, so we compromised and went to REBF.
Cat and I had gone there what seems like five years ago but was actually probably twenty. The owners are very nice people who really enjoy living out the the sticks. They have some very nice cabins, some with electricity and water and some without (we opted for the former, of course.) They are equipped with everything; just bring your food and you are set. We brought some good steaks for Friday and some bratwurst and hot dogs for Saturday. They supplied breakfast - left eggs, potatoes, onions, etc. for a hearty morning meal. I took the precaution of bringing bottled water, but their water was fine (I figured it would be moldy tasting well water.) While they had a wood stove they also had electric baseboard heat. It was not exactly glamping but it was easy living camping. I could make do living in a place like that (I doubt my dear sweet wife care for that simple life, though.)
They didn't have any normal television, but they did have streaming Netflix and I spent the evening hours binge watching Breaking Bad (never saw it) and drinking my Makers Mark or the wine I brought. Wonderfully relaxing!
Speaking of wine, we stopped in St. James and hit the Meramec Vineyards winery. The wines weren't that great, and I had wanted to go to Heinrichhaus winery instead, but it was a bit too far off and I wanted to make sure it didn't get too late before we arrived. So I grabbed a bottle of Norton and Chambourcin and added it to my port and Bourbon collection. Had the Norton with my rib eye, and the Chambroucin with the hot dogs.
About the only thing I actually did was hike down to the river (well, some of the way down; I realized I would never make it up alive so turned around - and barely made it up alive - tough climb! They did put benches along the trail so you could rest, but I still feared cardiac arrest by the end of the hike.)
At any rate all I did was barbecue, drink whiskey, sit on the porch, smoke my Dominican cigar, and watch Breaking Bad. Wonderfully relaxing!
Unfortunately the truck wouldn't start when it was time to leave! I had to call AAA and get towed the hundred twenty plus some-odd miles back home. Miserable ending, but it worked out. I could have been at the Ozark Hilton where no tow truck could reach, so I was lucky. (Never had any mechanical troubles with that vehicle until yesterday. Was it trying to tell us we should stay there?) I was very thankful to get home and took a three hour nap. It was a tiring weekend, for certain! But well worth it. I always love getting away from the massing throngs. I didn't hear one siren, or even a car other than the ones owned by our hosts. It was so very peaceful!
I understand the addiction some people have for true rural living. With modern technology it's possible to live as well as any city dweller. I would move out to the sticks today if I didn't have an army of medical professionals insisting I visit them every month. Baahh! A pox upon them! But they are keeping me alive and making sure I can still see. If I were to move out to the country I would have a hard time getting my medication, seeing my doctors, etc. It's a pity; I'm stuck with the herd. Oh well.
At any rate, that's where I've been.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at
07:52 AM
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1
Sounds like a great time, Tim, except of course for the problem(s) with the truck. And yes, maybe you shoulda married a redneck woman who could handle "outdoor" living. If you'd done that, maybe you wouldn't have the health problems you have now. Or maybe you'd be dead already. You never know.
Martha and I met some friends for late lunch (early dinner?) at a German pub in the lovely little town of Hudson, WI yesterday. German beer, sausages, with mustard, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, Martha finished up with Germany's version of cognac (Asbach Uralt). Great time! Another of the friends had just been in the far East on business, spending most of that time in Taiwan, and did he have some stories! They don't all love us there, but many times people would stop him and his colleagues on the street and express their appreciation for America.
Martha and I met some friends for late lunch (early dinner?) at a German pub in the lovely little town of Hudson, WI yesterday. German beer, sausages, with mustard, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, Martha finished up with Germany's version of cognac (Asbach Uralt). Great time! Another of the friends had just been in the far East on business, spending most of that time in Taiwan, and did he have some stories! They don't all love us there, but many times people would stop him and his colleagues on the street and express their appreciation for America.
Posted by: Dana Mathewson at October 21, 2019 09:11 AM (mA/+H)
2
It WAS a good time, Dana, except for the ending, but even that turned out to not be as bad as I feared. It's one of the joys of being Christian; ask and you shall receive. I prayed over the accursed machine and got an answer "no, it won't start but I'll take care of you" and surely the Good Lord did just that!
My eye went out again this morning, too. I think God protected us the entire trip, frankly. He probably didn't want me to drive home.
At any rate, it was fun. I was, of course, just poking a little fun at my dear wife, who would be the first to tell you she hates the Great Outdoors.
Sounds like a scrumptous feast! Didn't know the Germans even made their own hard liquors! I would think they would make good ones; they have both beer for Scotch-type liquor and wine for brandy.
Interesting story about the friend who was in Taiwan. I imagine there is a bit of disgust at America because of our wishy washy approach to China.
My eye went out again this morning, too. I think God protected us the entire trip, frankly. He probably didn't want me to drive home.
At any rate, it was fun. I was, of course, just poking a little fun at my dear wife, who would be the first to tell you she hates the Great Outdoors.
Sounds like a scrumptous feast! Didn't know the Germans even made their own hard liquors! I would think they would make good ones; they have both beer for Scotch-type liquor and wine for brandy.
Interesting story about the friend who was in Taiwan. I imagine there is a bit of disgust at America because of our wishy washy approach to China.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at October 21, 2019 09:40 AM (FgUWJ)
3
Your wife sounds like mine: for her, roughing it is staying at a Holiday Inn. 
My friend who was just in Taiwan absolutely loved it and the people. He said he learned a lot in his socialization with them but felt he couldn't talk about it with us. His itinerary was supposed to take him to Hong Kong too, but with the nastiness going on there he only got to within a few hundred yards of the place, and his "handlers" told him that half the Chinese Army was going there too and said "Sorry, we're staying out of what's going to be a real mess. If you really have to go there, you'll have to find another way."
My friend who was just in Taiwan absolutely loved it and the people. He said he learned a lot in his socialization with them but felt he couldn't talk about it with us. His itinerary was supposed to take him to Hong Kong too, but with the nastiness going on there he only got to within a few hundred yards of the place, and his "handlers" told him that half the Chinese Army was going there too and said "Sorry, we're staying out of what's going to be a real mess. If you really have to go there, you'll have to find another way."
Posted by: Dana Mathewson at October 21, 2019 12:05 PM (7dO9x)
4
A lot of women don't like the Simple Life. That's where the so-called "glamping" movement came from; camping in RV's that make most homes look squalid. Cathy has never insisted on THAT, but she doesn't enjoy the pleasures of bugs, dirt, and rodents. Oh well...
When my brother Brian was a PACE instructor, teaching college courses on Navy ships, he went to Hong Kong and even into China itself. He said even the Chinese People loved Americans and wanted to know us. They couldn't have been friendlier. Of course, that was back when America still had some respect in the world. Not sure how it would be now after eight years of Obama - or after the trade war, which no doubt is hurting the Chinese economy. But then, the average Chinaman doesn't benefit from prosperity anyway...
When my brother Brian was a PACE instructor, teaching college courses on Navy ships, he went to Hong Kong and even into China itself. He said even the Chinese People loved Americans and wanted to know us. They couldn't have been friendlier. Of course, that was back when America still had some respect in the world. Not sure how it would be now after eight years of Obama - or after the trade war, which no doubt is hurting the Chinese economy. But then, the average Chinaman doesn't benefit from prosperity anyway...
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at October 22, 2019 07:13 AM (rBX4O)
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