Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Joplin, MO Tornado Damages

IMG_1893

We are finally on our trip to the Pacific Northwest. We left Thursday, June 16th, We spent the night at the KOA just north of Fort Smith at Alma, AR. Barb was following in the Honda CRV. She took this picture as I entered the Hopper Tunnel on I-540 south of Fayetteville, AR. She also took the picture below in the tunnel.

IMG_1894

Even the pictures and video on TV didn’t prepare us for the damage in Joplin, MO. We briefly drove through town on our way to Kansas City.

IMG_1896

IMG_1899

IMG_1901

This was once a McDonald’s restaurant.

IMG_1902

IMG_1904

IMG_1906

This is what is left of Joplin High School!

IMG_1907

IMG_1909

IMG_1911

IMG_1914

IMG_1918

IMG_1919

IMG_1922

IMG_1924

IMG_1930

IMG_1934

IMG_1935

Even the bark was stripped off the trees. It was eerie to see stumps of trees stacked in the streets awaiting removal.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Jellystone RV Park at Robert, LA

Since we will be gone the rest of the summer, we decided to bring our four youngest grandkids to Jellystone RV Park for five days. They have been looking forward to this for some time. We left June 6th and would return June 10th.

IMG_1802

There is plenty here to keep them busy. They seem to want to do everything at the same time.

IMG_1804

They took the hayride and enjoyed singing songs about Yogi Bear as went rode around the park.

IMG_1810

IMG_1809

Paddle boats

IMG_1815

IMG_1816

IMG_1820

Kayaks

IMG_1823

IMG_1824

Canoes

IMG_1831

IMG_1826

IMG_1827

IMG_1833

They had a ball on the water slide but were interrupted by afternoon thunderstorms and got to go back the next two afternoons on rain checks.

IMG_1860

After four fun filled days we headed home on Friday with stops at the state capital in Baton Rouge and a tour of the battleship USS Kidd.

IMG_1862

On the steps of the Capital

IMG_1864

The Louisiana State Senate Chambers

IMG_1865

The view from the top of the Capital

IMG_1880

Boarding the USS Kidd

IMG_1875

Close quarters; what no AC!

IMG_1878 

Things to see and places to climb!