Ooooooo-Oklahoma! ./` ./` ./`

"Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...."

After a few days at Lake Murray State Park, I _totally understand_ this lyric now! It was WINDY!!  As I'm typing, the wind gusts around us are 28-33 mph coming across the lake, west-north-west.  Know what, though, I don't mind too much - because the view from here is well... here, just look:

Beautiful, right?  Nothing like enjoying your morning coffee on the couch and having the entire lake as your backyard.

Ah, camping.  I love that we can visit incredible places like this! To be in the mountains, or the forest, or near the beach or a lake with every comfort of home.  It's quiet moments like yesterday (before this crazy wind) that make me feel so blessed.  

We came in Monday morning, though our reservation started Sunday evening - check in is 5pm (2:30 if you get approval from the office) so we stayed the extra time down at the KOA, knowing that we could come in any time on Monday and head right to our spot.  

We got settled in and RDB said: this would be a great place to enjoy a Miller Lite.  Well, I didn't have any (for shame!) so we ran out to the gas station up the road and grabbed a few 6 packs.  And he was right - hanging out, enjoying the afternoon sun, drinking a few cold beers was a perfect way to spend the evening.

Just. Perfect.  (As I cringe at the gust of wind rocking the camper back and forth right now.  Geesh, y'all, this isn't fun!).   We noticed a number of other campers along the shoreline sitting out and enjoying the afternoon; this campground is totally the place for big black dogs - we even saw another black and tan dobie (hi y'all!).  It's so sweet to see others with dobermans out in the parks as well. 

RDB has started up a YouTube channel of sunrises and sunsets on video, so we walked over to the point by the boat ramp and watched the sun dip below the tree line.

Tuesday morning, RDB was up before the sun, as Diesel and I slept in.  Once RDB got his footage, he came back and snuggled up in bed with us.  Sleeping in, for as long and as late as we like, might be one of our favorite things about vacationing this way.  I mentioned how we'd usually be cruising this week, and I can't tell you how many of the best naps I've had in my life were on vacation on cruise ships!

We took a late lunch/early dinner over at the Foggy Bottom Kitchen, part of the Lodge on site in the parks system. We tried hitting them up Monday afternoon only to find that they were closed on Mondays. It was worth the drive back over though - the deconstructed hamburger I had was delicious - check out my Yelp review for more details. 

Tuesday evening we were back on the water's edge, enjoying the "Geese Show."  It was interesting to watch the pairs vs the single - who then went and got her mate (we assume) who came back over to give the firs pair the 'what for.'  It was surprising to me that Diesel wasn't interested in them at all.

RDB set up the camera for another sunset shot, and we enjoyed watching the golden yellow ball slowly sink into the blue waters.  

*sigh*   I love this place.

Wednesday we cooked lunch - have you tried any of the home delivery kits? We're using Green Chef and I love that we get our delivery on Wednesday and I can bring the kits with us camping - everything we need is all ready to go. It makes cooking (and prepping) so much easier!  Lunch was Chicken and Creamy Zucchini Noodles.  Yummy!

We took a trip over to the Tucker Tower in another section of the park.  There is so much to do at this park - over 16,500 acres with the lake, hiking trails, more than 300 RV sites and unlimited tent/primitive camping. We made it over just about 20 minutes before access closed, but even though it was a quick visit up to the tower, it was still worth the drive!

Fitting that the sculpture outside was a giant egg (made with birds in flight). But the really cool thing was the tower itself.

Walking up the hill to the tower gives you great appreciation for the CCC who hauled all the rocks to built the place up the steep incline.

I was instantly enamored with the outside thanks to the guardian cast in stone up above the outdoor fireplace:

The views from ground floor were beautiful, and only become more amazing the further up the tower we went.

The first and second floors of the building act as a museum of sorts - with lots of information on the CCC and the New Deal (all round about the time this structure was built).  And, oddly enough, a large set of bones and as mastodon skull.

I fell in love with this staircase leading up to the second floor.  The place was built for the governor to have as a retreat, but was left unfinished when the cost went beyond the budget. 

With views like these, I would have moved in even without windows or doors!

A few more staircases, including this beautiful spiral one, and we were up at the top of the tower...

Lots of stairs - but it's worth it when you open the door to the top of the tower...

It was an incredible view! We were the last of the visitors up the tower; Sydney, the Ranger, met us as we were coming back in the building to make our way down the stairs.  I had a chance to chat with her and ask why the water is such an incredible shade of blue: no red clay! The rocks and sand that line the bottom of the lake are heavy enough that the water stays clear.  The colors have reminded me all week of the glacial waters in Alaska and the aqua blue waters of the Caribbean. 

Thursday morning we woke up to clear skies, very little wind (yeah!), and packed up to head to our next spot down in central Texas.  About a 4-5 hours drive, so no small feat, but I'm so glad that RDB is willing to do all the work necessary to get us from one amazing spot to another.

We were in site #55 in Elephant Rock campground at Lake Murray State Park.  The site backed right up to the waters edge, which made for the wonderful views above, but you are neck and neck with the neighbors, which is not as fun.  RDB had his eyes on site #68 (he thinks, he can't recall for sure) the next time we come up to this park - it was pull thru further down the loop with lots of privacy.  Truly, any of these sites along the water are worth it - it was just such an awesome trip!

For more camping photos, go here.