Our Mammoth Travels: Flipping out, BBQ and too much rain back home

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Today we got up and got going fairly quickly, and while we were eating breakfast, we heard a low-flying plane. We thought it was for an airport nearby, but quickly realized it was a crop-duster, working a field just east of the RV park. He made numerous passes, flying very low over the park as he made his 180-degree turns. It was very unusual to see a plane coming at you almost eye level, only to bank at the last minute up and over the park -- over and over again!

The cats were also intrigued by the scene!

Mambo watching the BIG LOUD BIRD!

I snapped a photo of Eileen with the rig and crop-duster in the pic.

Eileen at The Oasis RV Park, South Haven, KS

After we got ready, we hitched up and loaded cats, and as I made my last walk-around I noticed the shackles on the back axle were flipped!

Example of shackle flipped. The one on the left is pointing down, when it should be pointing up like the one on the right.

So, we had to figure out how to resolve this. Thanks to the internet, we read what the solution should be. But executing it took some trial and error. We were finally able to use our 12-ton bottle jacks to push up against the spring pack at the bolt and force the shackles to flip back, thankfully also having the Level-Up system to raise the trailer up and relieve the pressure off the suspension. Well, after an hour delay, we were finally on our way about 11AM. (sorry, no pics of the actual shackle issue or how it was resolved. Didn't think about it!)

Before the trip I researched the toll tag compatibility with NTTA, PikePass, and KTag. I "thought" they were all compatible with each other. However, the first toll booth we entered in the KTag lane, we got a RED LIGHT, meaning it did not accept our toll tag. So, when we made our pitstop for lunch, I called them to find out what happened and what we needed to do. Apparently, they WILL BE compatible, but aren't YET. Geeze! So when we got to the end of the Kansas Turnpike, we had to go through the lane to pay cash. Luckily, we had enough. $25.50 To go all the way across the state.

We had another minor detour to get from I-35 to the 435 Loop, since construction has blocked the interchanges, but we made it to the park just fine. When we arrived and got pulled in, we were greeted with lots of folks already there -- in fact, we were next-to-the-last to arrive! We were told that everyone was headed to a Kansas City style BBQ place for dinner, so we hurried to get set up so we could attend. We rode with Sally and Roy, our friends that live in the KC area.

In the morning and also while driving, we had been reading on Facebook about the continued heavy rains and flooding that was now occurring at Lake Leon and also in Eastland, Breckenridge, and Brownwood. At Lake Cisco, the water had risen 4 feet overnight and was now FLOWING over the spillway, the first time in the history of the dam (besides just lapping over the edge, someone said). When we arrived in KC, we read and saw even more sad sights as the water was going over the dam so fast, it flooded the Cisco water treatment plant at its base and then proceeded to wash out State Highway 6, in front of the dam. This means the route between Cisco and Albany is closed off, and the town is with very limited treated water until the plant can be assessed.

The area in front of the dam, as seen from the access road to the water treatment plant (far left). Remnants of the swimming pool and diving platform are visible. (pic from the internet, looks like early spring.)

Here's what the dam looked like just a few days before.

When water started going over the dam, it was quite the novelty. No one could recall it doing this in the history of the dam, built in the 20s.

The area received more than 7" of rain overnight, causing even more water to flow into Lake Cisco, flooding homes around its banks. The emergency flood gates could not be opened, as engineers believed they would be unable to close them again. They had not operated in more than 40 years.

Here's a link to a video the water going over the dam and the flooding. Various pics, below, found on Facebook as the disaster was unfolding.

Another link to video prior to the washout, you can see water going over the road and the proximity to the dam.

Water began going over State Highway 6, but the pressure was too much and the road washed away.

Washout from above.

In Kansas City, we had a great meal with everyone at SmokeHouse BBQ.

It's what's for dinner!

Rally attendees waiting for BBQ

YUM! Baby back ribs, chicken and brisket, cheesy corn, mac & cheese, fries for two!

After dinner, we headed back home and did some visiting around the park, until it was getting late.

Our hearts were saddened hearing about what was going on back in Cisco and surrounding Eastland County. We will keep them in our prayers.

One thing that is unique is that this park is directly in the flight path of the airport, so large planes were constantly flying low over the park, on approach for landing. Luckily, they were hard to hear over the ACs and fans we have going in the rig. It's going to be in the 80s here!