Lake of the Ozarks

This was my 1st visit to the Midwest, Lake of the Ozarks - it was a small pretty town of about 10,000 people, mostly families, over by a man-made lake.

When I told people I was from NY, the immediate response was - "what the f you doin out here?!" *I was* diversity :)! What struck me about the area as soon as I drove into Missouri was the size of the vehicles there - every alternate vehicle was an SUV or a pick-up truck, with "Save Our Soldiers" and "God Bless America" stickers. Lake of the Ozarks would make for an amazing spot in the summer, but right now for me it was a welcome change from NY.

Met friends in Chicago, drove down to Central Missouri (nice 8hr drive!), and checked into a beautiful cabin on the lake - huge 4-bedroom condo with a deck facing the lake. We stocked ourselves with enough alcohol, just in case aliens struck or something, barbequed food Friday night, and chilled out at the cabin.

Woke up early on Sat morn only to see the sunrise over the lake - that was among the most beautiful sights - to see colors you would never expect to find on the sky during sunrise and sunset over the lake. The weather was a wonderful 70F - after a prolonged winter in NY this was much appreciated. Every trip I have a personal Song of the Trip (Nauleans - Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong, on a cruise on the Mississippi; Paris - Buddha Bar Oriental Trance @ the Buddha Bar) - this time it was a Shaggy song - sitting on the deck, sun beating down my neck, sipping beers, hanging out with friends, talking about how a Shaggy song would complete the picture, and the local RJ hears our request - good times!

The town had a St. Patrick's Day parade and celebrations on Sat - with the other activities we had in our minds (boat ride, go carting, horse ride) becoming increasingly impossible with the whole town out on the streets, we just walked in and out of local bars to indulge in St. Patrick's Day festivities - was a good call. Spoke to some locals, played chess, listened some great live music (rock n' roll), drank some, danced some..nice.. Came back to our condo, freshened up, and headed out for Sat Nite out in that town - hit a bar by the lake, umm..drank some more :), and stuttered and stumbled our ways to the end of a day very well spent in Ozark-land.

Had a 7pm flight to catch on Sunday from Chicago - had to leave quite early Sunday morn - drive back was smooth and eventless - empty, wide roads with a 70mph speed limit.

What I was hoping to achieve at this trip - some quality alone time (check), catch up with an old friend (check), good weather (check), check out the Midwest to get some idea of the place (check), unwind, relax, meet ppl (check, check, check) - very good way to spend my 1st vacation day since I started work!