We left Friday afternoon and headed south out of the metro eventually getting onto Highway 7. The trip started out uneventful and we passed cow pastures, hedge rows, and barb wire fences as we slowly headed east to Clinton, Missouri. Highway 7 skirts the northern edge of Clinton. Although we didn't pass through the town, you get a feel for the town. Part farming town with it harvester and farm implement dealerships, but also part industrial with it's lumber yards and Schreiber Foods and Tracker Boat factories right next to the highway. There's still another side to Clinton; it's the largest City next to Truman Lake and serves as a regional hub for recreation with access to the Katy Trail and outdoor sports.
Shortly after Clinton, the topography changed. It became more hilly and the road twisted, becoming a more interesting (and challenging) drive. Gradually, the road leveled off as we reached the lake shore elevation and crossed over to Warsaw, MO. Banners strung across the road in town announced that we would not be in town for Warsaw's Heritage Days. We did briefly stop to change drivers, but with it growing dark, we pressed on.
It was a long hour before we reached Camdenton. Highway 7 between Warsaw and Camdenton is a narrow, twisty road through a primeval forest. The last ice age had pushed the ground aside exposing steep rock bluffs and deep valleys. A number of small communities we passed had businesses offering dozing or mining services. Barbacue and lodging for sportsman also seemed to be fairly common. Occasionally, we would reach the top of a hill and be surprised to see a large pasture cleared and open for horses, but filled with deer. For the most part, it was usually another turn in the road or the start of a descent down the other side of the hill. I told my wife it reminded me of the videos I'd seen of the famous Nurburgring Test track, thankfully not as fast and without the tire squealing. Still, when the regulatory sign says Curve(s) Ahead, 25mph, TAKE IT at 25mph.
With less than 20 minutes to Camdenton, the girls told us they'd had enough. Our four-year-old daughter announced she needed to go potty and her not-quite-two-but-going-on-four-year- old sister told us through her whimpers that she was getting motion sick. Just when they'd had enough, we reached the intersection of Highway 7 and Highway 5 and the welcome parking lot of Woods Supermarket. Unanimously we took another break and quickly emptied our cars.
We didn't linger in the store since it was nearly dark. We were getting hungry, but remembered the deer and were afraid there would be more.
The remaining stretch of Highway 7 was uneventful and we made it to the McDonalds in Camdenton without incident. We had a bite to eat and then drove Highway 5 to our hotel, the Quail's Nest Inn & Suites in Osage Beach. On the way we encountered 2 deer attempting to cross the 65mph highway. I slowed and put on my hazard lights as the deer ran in two different directions, one back to the grassy median and the other into the safety of the forest beyond the shoulder. Suddenly, Median Deer realized it was alone and darted back across the road and into the forest.
The Quail's Nest is not a chain motel and was clean and reasonably priced with cable, an indoor pool & hot tub, and continental breakfast. Some rooms can be had with refridgerators and microwaves, a must when traveling with children. The weekend we went there was also a Chevelle club having their 10-year rally at the Nest. It was neat to see (and hear!) the classic muscle cars.
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| Jeep with the Chevelle at the Quail's Nest. Yes, that is a C5 Corvette on the far right. |
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| Fall Colors at Osage Beach City Park |
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| Fall Colors at Lake of the Ozarks State Park |
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