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2021 Campout #3 - Mark Twain State Park
Finally, a camping trip that doesn't include a heat advisory! How exactly this happens in the middle of August is beyond me but it did and it was perfect! The trip this time would be to Mark Twain State Park featuring a large body of water to sit in if the temperatures had been worse. On top of the reasonable temperature, no rain again! This was really turning out to be an ideal weekend on all counts!

Trail Guide Joe
Aug 13, 20214 min read
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2021 Campout #2 - Cuivre River State Park
It's July and summer has officially set in. How do I know? I glisten in the sun for nothing more than sitting still. Despite this time of year not being my favorite camping weather, it's time for camping at Cuivre River State Park ! Featuring a lake and newly renovated beach, reopened in May 2021, we would be making use of the water and beach opportunities to beat the heat! At least, given recent weather trends, it wasn't expected to storm or rain on this trip meaning post tr

Trail Guide Joe
Jul 22, 20213 min read
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2021 Campout #1 - Babler State Park
More that half the year has gone by and I am just now getting the first camping trip in. Got a lot of ground to cover and not much time left do it! Unfortunately, this trip would occur in some of the worst humidity possible with a frequent chance of storms each day. Although I made my site reservation nearly 1 month in advanced, I was really liking the pick of Dr Edmund Babler Memorial State Park in case things went seriously awry with the weather. Being rather close by, if

Trail Guide Joe
Jun 25, 20211 min read
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2020 Campout #5 - Table Rock Lake State Park
This trip would be a special one for a lot of reasons. First, it would be the first time staying at Table Rock Lake State Park , a park I have visited in the past though, in my memory, have never stayed the night. Second, and perhaps the biggest reason for this trip being special, it would be an anniversary celebration! Of course, in the midst of a pandemic, you must take time out to celebrate the major life accomplishments! Lastly, this trip would not be the standard run-of

Trail Guide Joe
Oct 18, 20203 min read
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2020 Campout #4 - Montauk State Park
October is here once again! And that can only mean one thing... The annual Montauk State Park trout fishing trip is here once again! The question to be asked is... will this be the year the trout drought ends?

Trail Guide Joe
Oct 8, 20203 min read
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2020 Campout #3 - Mark Twain State Park
Finally, after taking a roughly 3 month break from camping, due to the peak heat of summer, it was time to get back at it!

Trail Guide Joe
Sep 24, 20204 min read
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2020 Campout #2 - Cuivre River State Park
Pandemic campout #2!

Trail Guide Joe
Jul 1, 20202 min read
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2020 Campout #1 - Graham Cave State Park
Let's see how camping in 2020 is going to work out...

Trail Guide Joe
Jun 11, 20202 min read
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2019 Campout #5 - Babler State Park
More often than not, it's down to December...

Trail Guide Joe
Dec 7, 20192 min read
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2019 Campout #4 - Montauk State Park
At long last, it was once again time for the annual trout fishing trip to Montauk State Park !

Trail Guide Joe
Oct 11, 20192 min read
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2019 Campout #3 - Sam A. Baker State Park
The next trip with my trailer, and the second trip to be centered around a holiday this year, the trip to Sam A. Baker State Park ! This trip was a memorable one...

Trail Guide Joe
Aug 30, 20193 min read
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2019 Campout #2 - Mark Twain State Park
Just when it seemed like the rain had stopped...

Trail Guide Joe
Jul 5, 20193 min read
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2019 Campout #1 - Trail of Tears State Park
Holiday weekend campout? I'm in!

Trail Guide Joe
May 24, 20191 min read
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2018 Campout #8 - Johnson's Shut-ins State Park
The eighth trip of the year would take me back to my favorite area of the whole state of Missouri at the best time to visit! For me, that would be the Arcadia Valley during fall! The colors and landscape combine in a way not found in many other places around me.

Trail Guide Joe
Oct 26, 20183 min read
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2018 Campout #7 - Wallace State Park
The seventh trip of the year would, again, take me to Wallace State Park which is one I had visited before on the MO Centennial Passport Challenge. Like the Long Branch trip, I had never camped at Wallace before and it turned out to be quite a great place! Nearing the peak of fall colors season, Wallace turned out to be the perfect place I had never camped at before! Trees were thick in the campground bathing you in fall colors everywhere you looked. Beautiful!

Trail Guide Joe
Oct 19, 20181 min read
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2018 Campout #6 - Montauk State Park
The time had come once again for the annual Montauk State Park trout fishing trip! The hope this year, over last year, would be to avoid the crowds of the Rose Holland Derby and actually catch some fish! Although we were able to avoid Rose Holland weekend, we were unable to guarantee good weather. It was cold and it was wet. Unfortunately neither of those makes for great fishing nor a great campout.

Trail Guide Joe
Oct 11, 20182 min read
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2018 Campout #3 - Mark Twain Lake State Park
My hunt for my 18th Missouri Camper Award brought me, again, to Mark Twain Lake State Park just in time for the annual Perseid Meteor shower! Easily one of the best places I can think of to see the meteors (as long as the skies are clear)! Like last year, this year did not disappoint!

Trail Guide Joe
Aug 9, 20181 min read
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2018 Campout #2 - Cuivre River State Park
It was an impromptu trip, much like many of my trips, to say the least! After what seemed like the longest winter on record, the first sign of nice weather and my gear was packed before the destination was picked!

Trail Guide Joe
Apr 26, 20181 min read
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2018 Campout #1 - St Francois State Park
With the weather.... better than it was and a fever to get back to camping, it was time to start the quest for the 18th camper award!

Trail Guide Joe
Mar 15, 20181 min read
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2017 Campout #12 - Montauk State Park
The hunt for a second MO Camper Award ends!!

Trail Guide Joe
Oct 5, 20171 min read
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