Switch it Up Campout Looking for Bigfoot

Switch It Up Campout Looking for Bigfoot 

Saturday October 28, 2023

This area is called Christ 40 Acres

This morning we were up after 8:00 procrastinated awhile, I ate my breakfast. Then we went up to the local breakfast place for Jim, but they shut breakfast down at 11:00, we just missed it.

 So he ate a protein bar I had and we headed into Talihina Oklahoma. 

First I went to a Dollar General, found a lot of things I needed, surprisingly. While I was in Jim looked up a place for lunch. 

I was in a really long line at Dollar General, and started talking to the lady behind me. I asked her a good place to eat for lunch. She had mentioned a few places. By this time Jim came in to use the bathroom, I was in here so long. He stood in line with me and told her he found a BBQ place. She said it was really good, they had just opened back up Thursday, as the owner's husband had a major heart issue.

 So once we left Dollar General we headed over. But now it was pouring rain again.

 We went in and had an awesome lunch together it was called Outlaw BBQ. 

Then we went to get diesel and headed back to the campground.

 Nobody was around so Jim and I took a walk together down the path. 

No bigfoots though. 

Then we hung out with the crew and they started a fire. Jerry had his charcoal grill going, when he finished Jim put a couple hot dogs and turkey burgers on for travel day tomorrow.

 He's worrying about getting out of here with all the rain and mud. At least it's not muddy around our site, it's all grass, but super saturated.

 We sat around for a while with everyone hanging out.

 Todd took a picture of our group together.

Tim the Bigfoot Wrangler. The family with 3 boys left first. Jerry on left, with there  Dad Steve in the back, with John on the right.

 Then we went home later and I made creamy chicken corn chowder soup for dinner, and travel days.

Sunday October 29, 2023

This morning we had to be up early,  they invited us all for breakfast at 8:00 a.m.. super early, but super nice of them. Only a few of us went, everyone wanted to leave early. They made sausage with gravy and biscuits, scrambled eggs bacon. Then they were having a service, but we decided to cut out early to try to get a head start. A lot to do in the mud and rain.

 For now the rain had held off and I wanted to dump our gray tanks. I really wanted to dump them where we were. Jim just wanted to back out and leave. Everyone else was gone and Jerry was waiting for us. 

And unfortunately I didn't listen to Jim and he tried to pull forward and sank up to the axles, really, really bad on one side.

I was so upset with myself for not listening to him. Although who knows if we would have gotten stuck anyway. He wanted to just back out. Jerry told us to just pull the tanks where we were. Wish we would have done that originally, but who knows. By now it was so freezing cold, and I was so upset I ended up going back and forth to the cabin John had stayed overnight in. Trying to keep it together. Going into a full ugly cry doesn't do any good. Jim was upset too,  but they all sprang into action and everyone was so helpful, including Jerry. They went and got a piece of equipment.

 It took hours and hours, first he pulled us in back,  hooked it to the front of the truck, back and forth they went. Digging, driving on wood, putting the front jack down.

 At one point I heard the preacher say "we've done all we could, we need to call a wrecker."  Also started to rain a little again. That was all very upsetting, one it's a Sunday and we really can't afford that.

 Everyone just kept working at it, and working on it until they finally pulled us out. We were so packed with mud. Jim was worried about the disc brakes.

Luckily there was a hose close by we hooked up to it and sprayed and sprayed to rinse off the Tires and Brakes etc. I don't think we left there until way after 12 noon.

Still so worried that something could have been damaged. All seemed ok. 

We drove in a lot of Silent today, not a whole lot of talking going on. We're so fortunate we got out of that mess. Although Jim said, he still is glad we went, which in itself is amazing. We had such a good time with our people.

 Okay on with our travels. . .

Today we drove to Cinnamon Creek Campground in Dixie Inn Louisiana. Was our first stop, on the start of 5 consecutive travel days. 

What a way to start.

 We drove out of the rain but once we arrived and got set up it poured again that evening. After we set up Jim went and filled up with diesel. 

Tomorrow will be better :)

Bigfoot SIU Campout in Oklahoma

Bigfoot SIU Campout in Oklahoma 

Thursday October 26, 2023

This morning we packed up to leave Branson and head to our second Switch It Up camp out,  in Honobia Oklahoma. It's supposed to be a huge area for Bigfoot sightings.

 Just so you know, we're not seeking it out to find Bigfoot. But our host Jerry is involved with a group of people that have a property here, they are using it for a church mission and camp for underprivileged kids etc. There's a couple big Believers in Bigfoot here, who knew.

 It's something that Todd from switch it up has mentioned quite a bit since we've been hanging with them. We went for the fun of it all, in the beautiful area and to hang with crew members, not all in full belief of Bigfoot.

Jim and I went back and forth many times, trying to decide if we should even go to the campout. Because the forecast was for torrential rain the whole time. Which starts tonight,  Thursday and we leave on Sunday.

 Back and forth we went and finally last minute-ish, Jim decided we should just go for it, I agreed.

We had a beautiful drive, close to 5 hours. The scenery was amazing, it was so fall like. But till we arrived it felt like we drove right out of fall, and everything was green again. Was a very different experience.

We did our typical One-Stop with potty lunch and a diesel fill up.

 Arrived to the 94 acre property around 4:00 in the afternoon.

 It was funny because we pulled in and then Julie and Andy pulled in, then Todd and Sheila was behind them, also Eddie and Kelly, they said they passed us today too.

Tom and Marlo were already here along with Jerry our host and Steve with the huge Luxe and HDT that we briefly met at the Rally. 

John was already here too, all by himself, he stayed in a cabin.

We all tried to figure where we would park. Jerry was helping us all.. We actually had 30 amp and water.

Up until this point the weather was decent, no rain yet, but it's coming tonight they say. Although it was a little chilly and breezy later.

We all gathered together to go over the plans for the rest of the evening. 

We went up to the fellowship hall, had an appetizers potluck.

Todd, Tim and Jerry, our SIU Campout Host.

 Then are hosts for the week including the pastor here, talked about the history of the property, and their new mission of what they plan on accomplishing. They told us they just had a Bigfoot Festival that 7,500 people attended. 

The local area Bigfoot expert, Tim talked on what we would do for the rest of the week. Then we all enjoyed each other's company as we had a hearty snack.

After we all went back up the hill together. A few gathered to take a little walk in the woods to see what they could find. I stayed inside and when they all came back they had a little campfire, so later I went out. I almost went too, Tim was a pretty good salesman, cuz he made me want to go and look for bigfoot too. I really liked the idea of just walking in the woods.

See what tomorrow brings.

Friday October 27, 2023

This morning we had made plans lastnight, a handful of us we're going to go to a local restaurant they recommended we patronize for breakfast. 

Todd and Sheila and John along with Julie and Andy, Jim and I went. It was very small and was a lot of people inside so we ate outside on the picnic tables they provided. I just ate a biscuit which was fantastic a lot of other people had biscuits with sausage gravy. 

Then we left and in true switch it up fashion we are doing a give back on the property. 

They had a small boys and girls bathroom that they wanted the inside totally demolished and gutted. We all headed down there on the four-wheelers with tools in hand, proceeded to work for a few hours down there. 

The heat was in the work and then eventually it started to drizzle pretty good.

 After we finished our project we went home for a light lunch. 

Then went out again in search of Bigfoot.

It was fun riding in Steve 4-wheeler it rides on the back of his HGT.

He had 3 of his boys here. They were the nicest, most well behaved, hardest working kids.

 Later we gathered up at the fellowship hall again and had an amazing potluck together. 

Jerry made a Cajun gumbo with two kinds of rice. Chocolate was the theme for dessert. 

I made chocolate chip zucchini cake, somebody had chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, and a chocolate lava cake.

 There was only one non-chocolate option,  a fruit cobbler. After dinner we went back out again on a walk in the dark.

It is very wet and muddy out.

There are 7 different dogs running all over. They don't tie them up, it's there property, I could see it being a problem in the future.

This is one of the 7, Jack.

 Tim the Bigfoot Wrangler, LOL did a few Bigfoot calls. It kind of cracked me up, they were calling him in like they call in turkeys during hunting season.

I went, Jim did not. We did have a rock thrown at us. They say it happens alot. Couldn't explain it, Todd did get a recording of the sound it made when it hit the ground near us.

Who know, was crazy....

Leaving Campout to Branson MO

Leaving Campout to Branson MO

Sunday October 22, 2023

This morning we all gathered together and Tom made everyone breakfast before we all head out in our own separate directions. 

As Jim says " we're not in Kansas anymore." Heading to Branson Missouri for a few days. 

Cindy came over and we took this picture together of a lap blanket I made her. She wanted me to teach her to crochet. It didn't go well, so I bought a few more skeins of yarn and made her this blanket.

We had our hugs and goodbyes and love you, see you, bye. As I always say.

 We had a great travel day, only traveled about 4 hours or so. We arrived at our Campground City of Branson Lakeside RV Resort.

We were happy our inverter had arrived and we picked it up right away. It was a huge very heavy box.

 It was very tight, but we made it into our site.

At least there was Macadam and concrete.

 There was geese and ducks everywhere. And where Jim was standing they had like fake coyotes to keep the geese from coming up in the parking lot.

 They were almost all buddy sites and there was a motorhome with a guy sitting out watching the Chiefs play football, with two little dogs with him. He said I hope your Chiefs fans, I told Jim say yes, say yes, don't want to tic them off.

 He actually helped us move a table and we got into our site and I told him I guess they thought you needed a buddy.

 So later as we set up, this little car pulled up and five women got out. I told him, he's doing fine and he didn't look lonely at all now. 

Later Jim and I took a little walk around, went up the path next to us. 

and then had dinner together and relaxed the rest of the evening.

Happy Monday 

Monday October 23, 2023

This morning after breakfast Jim got everything ready to install the new inverter. It took a few hours everything went well and seems to be working properly.

Today we have our first show I booked in Branson today. Called Legends. It is at the Dick Clark theater. Our show is at 3:00 in the afternoon. Which does break up the day for doing anything else, and he did have to get the inverter done first.

We did each have a cold now too, so we didn't feel our best. My bee sting was really itchy and swollen now.

Upon arrival there was a car museum next door, which we looked at before we went in the theater.

First we saw Lightning McQuee and Mater.

Cars were from Friends, Better Call Saul

Then we went in got our tickets. 

Jim got a soda and I held it trying to get the swelling to go back down on my hand. First you walked in and they made you get your picture taken with Reba. It's not really her, people.

 When the show starts she is the host. Kenny Chesney, Elton John, Blues Brothers, and Elvis performers went  next.

When "Kenny" sang he invited couples to get up and dance in the isles and we did. Jim said you feel so warm. Oh not good.

 It was a really good show, wish we would have felt a little bit better. 

After the show we went home for the night trying to rest up for tomorrow.

Tuesday October 24, 2023

Today we just rested feeling a little better. Our show today was at 2:00, so after lunch we headed over super early as they recommended. And Jim insisted that we do. We went to the wrong theater.  Yakov Smirnoff has his own theater,

 but it was closed from storm damage, we had to go 5 minutes away, to a different venue. But they didn't have it posted very well once we arrived got our tickets everything was fine.

 The show was really good, they did have a lot of products and merch to sell. I  believe it was his daughter that sung the National Anthem 

 He is also a painter.. He did the painting that hung at the World Trade Center Memorial.

He is very patriotic as he became a citizen years ago.

Then she was dressed as the Statue of Liberty at the end. And then she walked down and they danced together. So sweet.
Never expected to get teary eyed at a comedy show. He is a very proud American now. Love hearing his stories how he grew up. He's also very funny.

Wednesday October 25, 2023

Today we were going to spend the day walking around Branson. We're able to get on a free trolley that picks you up at the campground. We got on late morning about 10:00 a.m. took a little ride around, and the bus driver was great about telling you what was at each stop.

This is Dick's 5 and 10. We spent alot of time in there. So much to look at.

Then a Switch Crew member told us to go to Mr. G for pizza and it was really good.

Later we found this cute little Tea Shop and shared a key lime pie.

Then we saw Paula Deens Restaurant,  we went in to look around. They were doing Thanksgiving, that would be great. But we will be long gone. Was about 35.00 a person not to bad.

I wanted to get this shirt for Jim in there. As he said, he has alot like this.

Was so funny.

They had a cool fountain that went off every hour, with fire and music.

The above building that's purple is the oldest building in Branson. As the bus driver said now they sell rocks in there.

Then we saw a KC tree

Then the bus went through the CG, and I wanted to drive a little longer. 

We did, but we ended up get off in the parking lot next door. We walked home pretty tired from the day. Alot of walking especially when you don't feel 100%. 

Home sweet home later had dinner. Tomorrow another travel day.