2025 Summer Road Trip - Berry Bend Campground, Harry S. Truman State Park, Missouri

We’ve hit the road on our first big adventure with Coddiwomple (our trusty pickup), Cat (our cozy RV), and Rita, our ever-faithful travel companion. We rolled out of Belton on May 15, and we’re excited to share the journey—one stop at a time.

This blog will mostly fall into the Mile Marks - Feeding Our Wanderlust Category as  blog entries will be organized by the places we stay in our home on wheels. However, I’ll be sharing stories about the amazing people we meet, the beautiful places we explore, and, of course, the delicious food we find, cook and enjoy. I hope you come along for the ride.

Park #2 - Harry S. Truman State Park

I Know a Guy Reunion

These guys—all recently retired—spent seven weeks together last November at the National RV Training Academy, learning the ins and outs of RV service and repair. Since then, each has gone on to work as a Mobile RV Technician in a different part of the country. But even as they hit the road solo, they stayed connected. Whenever one of them has come across a tricky customer question, the answer has been, "I'm not sure, but I know a guy who can help." That simple phrase has become—and their group chat turned into a platform for real-time troubleshooting and support. Just like that, the “I Know a Guy” Annual Reunion was born.

reunion Activities

Friendships sometimes form in unexpected places—like the five-week training program a year ago. What started as casual conversations in between sessions quickly turned into real connections, and recently, we turned those connections into a full-blown reunion in the great outdoors. We unplugged from our daily routines and plugged into something far more meaningful: shared meals, late-night campfire chats, hiking adventures, music, games, and plenty of laughter. Out in nature, without distractions of work, we joined up to remind ourselves powerful it is to simply be together. Here's how we spent our time:

Tincture for Respiratory Issues

Wash and dry mullein. Cut it into small pieces and stuff into a mason jar. Cover with 100 proof vodka. Let it sit for 6-8 weeks, shaking occasionally.

Dosage: One medicine dropper under the tongue every 2-4 hours until symptoms improve.

Enjoying historical Warsaw, MO

Benton County Veterans Memorial

On Monday, rainy weather interrupted our outdoor plans, so we made the short drive into Warsaw hunting for some history and local food. We learned a lot about Harry S. Truman and toured the town square, centered around the courthouse and the Veterans Memorial.

And More Eating... at The Landing overlooking Drake Harbor

Owners of this restaurant source all ingredients from local producers. They don't own a deep fryer or a freezer, so every dish is fresh and the menu depends on what's available. They serve a variety of craft beers, all from local breweries. With nine in our party, we enjoyed a large variety from the menu and left with bellies full of delicious offerings.

Berry Bend Campground

The drive into Harry S Truman State Park definitely set the stage for arrival to this campground. The road was winding, shaded, and narrow road that immediately felt peaceful and tranquil. We stayed on Loop C, Site 74. The park hosts were friendly and attentive, and welcomed us right from the start.

All the campsites we saw were spacious, shaded, and offered plenty of room between neighbors.

Showers and restrooms were convenient and impressively clean. I always look for showers with private dressing areas, and this park did not disappoint.

The park itself features extensive lake frontage, miles of paved walking trails, playgrounds, and stunning sunrises.

It also includes a diverse mix of trees, birds, and wildlife, along with clear waters surrounded by dramatic bluffs. Warsaw, the nearest town with a grocery store, is about 8 miles away—roughly a 20-minute drive.

Situated on a peninsula, it also offers a marina, excellent fishing and boating and water that's great for swimming, along with hiking trails, picnic areas, all surrounded by lots of variety of wildlife.

Harry S. Truman State Park Hiking Trails

We hiked two trails: 1000th Mile Trail with the entire group, and the slightly more strenuous Bluff Ridge Trail with a smaller group

One note: cell service is poor throughout the park, but Starlink Roaming Satellite worked well for us.

We're off tomorrow to Hannibal, Missouri. I can't wait to catch up with Tom and Huck. Come along for the ride!

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