Cross Ranch State Park

Yesterday we visited Cross Ranch State Park which is located on the Missouri River east of us.  We wanted to do some hiking along the river, if possible, to see an area that is billed as being in the same natural state that Lewis and Clark experienced.  What a lovely park.  Camping, boating, fishing, hiking, snow skiing, horse back riding, is offered at Cross Ranch.  Named for the people who had settled there, they bought the maltese cross cattle branding insignia from Theodore Roosevelt, and then renamed the ranch to Cross Ranch.  The family donated the land to the state after the original settlers passed away.  Butts up against another preserve, can only hike in to see it, though.

Well maintained trail.  And very pretty.

We were able to walk along the river for quite some distance, returned back to the state park and finished the interpretive trail, walking almost 3 miles.  We were warned at the beginning by the ranger that we need to take precaution because ticks are still 'out'.  We bought their tick spray right then and there, covered ourselves with it, and off we went.

Lots of snags in the River

With the high water, erosion is a big factor. 

This cottonwood tree is at least 250 years old,
very old for cottonwood.  Would have been here
when L & C came through.

When we stopped to eat a snack, I looked down on my pants and there was a tick.  Great.  We really looked ourselves over when we got back to the car and then again when we got back to the RV, did not want to take any of those buggers into the RV and get the cats infected.

Yep,  a tick.  Found one on Dave too when we were in the car.

Was a good day in the park. Very pretty.  Lots of folks camping, the river was very swift, a little too humid for us - we discovered we are in a "humid continental climate" which means high humidity in summer with very hot days and extreme cold, windy winters.  Our camp host said that this past winter they went a month with the temperature never reaching 0, it was below it and the wind chill most days was 50 below!  BELOW!!!!!!!  Ouch.  She said it was a brutal winter.  I'd say.

Yesterday the temperature was nice - 81 - but the humidity was 90%.  Ugly.  We forgot what humidity was all about, Cleveland's August weather is humid - for about a week, then humidity drops.  This area has day after day of high humidity, we can't get the RV cool enough inside so we run fans to move the air for the cats.  They are so lethargic but perk up at dusk.  Speaking of dusk - sun does not set until 10:15pm or so, it is still light out by 11pm, and we are not going to bed until after 11pm which is very unusual for us.  Daylight is around 5am, we are very tired by mid afternoon.