Donna and I took a three night trip to Waveland Park on Blue Mountain Lake. We reserved campsite #29 adjacent to the the campsite we previously had on our trip in October 2016 with grandkids. This time the lake was much higher with water up into the cypress trees near the swim beach. Our previous trip you could walk into the cypress trees which is where Hannah took some great pictures that we had printed for Donna's Christmas.
The park during crappie fishing season was full of fishermen. Everyone around us appeared to know each other and according to our neighbors they were all from the Logan county area. They were all catching their 30 fish limits everyday. Catching so many that they brought deep freezers to their campsites to keep fish. I assume no one was really concerned with the 60 fish possession limits. It was quiet as most of the folks went to bed early to wake up for fishing.
I took a morning walk around the park to get some pictures. Campsites near the water have been renovated with new covered picnic tables and landscape block terracing (sites 37 - 43).
As usual when things quiet down we had a nighttime visitor. This trash bandit walked right up to me at the campfire until I chased him off. I few minutes later I heard something behind me. He was back scratching at our camp carpet. When I shined a light on him he stood on his hind legs begging for handouts. It was so pitiful.
Driving into the park the road has a "Y" with one side going to Waveland Park and the other crossing the spillway bridge. I assume that the bridge exists so that during a flood the Corp of Engineers can reach their office and the lake outlet control structure across the dam.
From the road across the top of the dam you reach the Blue Mountain Lake outlet control structure.
Great view of Waveland Park and Blue Mountain lake from the Opal L James Memorial Lookout.
Following the road around from the overlook you come to Outlet Park - Right. With the lake level high the discharge was flowing lots of water.
Returning across the dam we made our way to Outlet Park - Left (you cannot access the Left and Right parks directly. Outlet Park - Left would be the easier access for a large camper trailer given that you do not have to go up and over the dam.
Our next door neighbor had an interesting campsite setup. First thing he did was sprinkle a white power around each tire and jack on his trailer. We are guessing that this was for ant control, not a part of some satanic ritual. Later someone showed up with a funny sounding dog. Turns out it was a pig that they kept in a portable kennel. Later we saw a small child in the pin with the pig. The pig appeared to be well cared for and not part of a ritual or their dinner plans.
Donna and I went out one night for a walk. The pollen was so thick that you could see it in the air in front of our flashlights. When we got back to camp Donna took the picture below. The streaks in the photo are from the flash reflecting off of the pollen (kind of a pollen rainbow).
