Rock Island Trail at Lake of the Ozarks

Plans for the Rock Island Trail, which will run through Eldon, Missouri, are well underway. Communities along the route have been working to turn the Rock Island corridor into a statewide trail since the railroad last saw traffic in the 1980s. With existing Katy Trail and portions of the Rock Island Trail already underway, Missouri will have an interconnected statewide trail network of over 450 miles. Most states don't even have the opportunity to create one major cross-state trail, while Missouri is building two interconnected cross-state trails. The opportunities for tourism, recreation and economic development along the entire Rock Island and Katy Trail corridors are tremendous!

Future of the Rock Island Trail

• 143.7 miles - Rock Island from Windsor to Beaufort (near Washington) was donated by Ameren for the trail and committed to railbanking. 
• 47.6 miles - Rock Island from Pleasant Hill to Windsor has already been railbanked and salvage work/trail construction is currently underway. This is a result of the Taum Sauk settlement with Ameren. 
• 24.8 miles - Rock Island from Pleasant Hill to KC is currently in negotiations for purchase from Union Pacific. Perhaps the momentum of the new 144-mile addition to the eastern end of the Rock Island Trail will provide momentum to finalize the deal on the western end as well. 
• TOTAL Rock Island Trail mileage from Kansas City to Beaufort is 216.7 miles. 
• The Katy Trail is now 240 miles so total the Katy/Rock Island system will be 457 miles. 

The trail will connect Kansas City and St. Louis to the Lake of the Ozarks area and boost tourism all across the state of Missouri.

How Long Will It Take? 

Before the Rock Island corridor can become a trail, three things must happen:

1. Railbanking - This is a complex legal process. Railbanking previous portions of the Rock Island line has taken 12-18 months minimum. If the process stays on track, it is likely to take 1-2 years for this first step. 
2. Salvage - The rails and equipment will need to be salvaged. The 46-mile Rock Island segment from Pleasant Hill to Windsor (the Katy Trail Connector) is currently on this step. Experience says that salvage work will take 12-18 months, minimum and possibly more if any difficulties are encountered. 
3. Trail Building - Finally, there is the trail construction itself. It took a decade before the majority of Katy Trail was usable and Missouri State Parks continues to add sections after more than two decades of use. Optimistically, we should see selected portions of the trail within 1-3 of the salvage work being completed. However, it may be a decade before we see a complete trail running from Windsor to Beaufort. 

Once the trail is complete, we will have one more great way to enjoy the outdoors at the Lake of the Ozarks! Mission Bay's convenient Lake location puts you close to Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Lake of the Ozarks State Park and eventually the Rock Island Trail. For more information on other trails currently at the Lake of the Ozarks, check out our previous blog titled, "Winter Hikes at Lake of the Ozarks." For Lake living at it's finest, be sure to check out our lake view and lakefront homes at the Lake of the Ozarks.

For more information on the plans for the Rock Island Trail, visit: MoBikeFed.org.  

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Camdenton, MO 65020

9 Common Household Problems You Don't Need a Professional For

Many common household problems can easily be fixed with out dishing out big bucks for the professional. Since it could cost you a couple hundred for them just to come to your Lake of the Ozarks home, why not try fixing it yourself first. Try finding a YouTube video with step by step instructions on how to resolve your problem. You can find a video for pretty much anything these days. Here are several household repairs from LifeHacker.com that are simple enough, you can probably do them yourself!

1. Low Water Pressure. 

If you're experiencing low water pressure from your kitchen or bathroom faucet, try cleaning or replacing the aerator. Over time, aerators get clogged with minerals or other bits of stuff that break loose from the inside of the pipes. You can easily remove the aerator with a pair of pliers. Simply turn it clockwise when you're looking down on it. Once removed, you can either take the parts out and clean them, or sometimes its easier to just take it to the hardware store to find a match and replace it.

2. Small Pipe Leak. 

The next time you see a puddle of water, don't jump on the phone to call a plumber. First, try looking for a leaky valve to see if water is leaking out around the valve stem. If it is, use a wrench to try turning the packing nut about an eighth turn. If tightening the nut doesn't fix the leak, you'll need to shut off the main water valve, remove the handle and nut, and then add to or replace the packing material. This is still a pretty easy fix.

3. No Hot Water. 

The first thing  you should do is make sure the water heater pilot light is on. Remove the metal cover located at the bottom of the water heater or simply look through the glass door to see if it's lit. If you do not see a small flame, follow the instructions for relighting it. There should be a label pasted to the tank with these instructions. Some newer high-efficiency water heaters won't have a pilot light that stays lit the entire time. If that's the case, check your owners manual.

4. Refrigerator Not Cooling. 

This may sound like common sense, but check the temperature dial first. The dial could easily be bumped by food or if you have children they could have messed with it. It is not uncommon to find the controls set wrong. If the dial is set right, check the cooling coils. Cooling coils completely caked with pet hair and dust are also incredibly common. Remove the front grille and vacuum the coils.

5. No Flame for Gas Burners. 

Be sure to check the stove power source first. If you don't hear gas coming out when the burner is turned on, gas isn't getting to the stove. In this case, make sure the gas is turned on. If you hear gas coming out but the burner won't light, make sure the stove is plugged in. If the stove is getting gas and has power, clean the igniter near the burner or clean out the pilot light hole. However, if you smell gas coming from some place other than the burners, you should definitely call a professional as it may be very dangerous.

6. Electric Stove Burner Not Heating. 

Sometimes cleaning your stove can cause these problems. There is a possibility that when you slid the burner back into the top, the terminal didn't engage with the receptacle under the stove top or the plastic terminal block got knocked out of its holder. Lift the stove top and try re-installing the terminal block. You can also try spreading the terminals slightly to create a tighter connection.

7. Electrical Outlet Not Working. 

Sometimes outlets are set on a switch, be sure that your switch is turned on if that is the case. If that is not the issue, reset your GFCI electrical outlets. Some outlets are protected by GFCIs or GFCI circuit breakers. Look in the circuit box for a GFCI circuit breaker and in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms for GFCI outlets. Test and reset them. This may solve your problem. If that doesn't work, its probably time to consult with an electrician, as working with electricity can be dangerous.

8. Not Getting Enough Heat. 

One of the most common causes of insufficient heat or cooled air is a plugged furnace filter. Change inexpensive woven fiberglass filters once a month or buy a better-quality pleated filter. Those better ones will only need changed every three months to avoid heating and cooling problems. Another common cause for cold rooms is a blocked cold air return. Be sure your couch or an area rug is not covering a cold air return vent because this can slow the entry of heated air into the room.

9. Not Working or Clogged Garbage Disposal. 

First of all, never put your hand down the garbage disposal! If the disposal won't even turn on check the power source and breaker. Also try pushing the reset button. If you think something is jammed in the disposal, find the hex wrench that came with your disposal, insert it into the hole and move it back and forth in both directions to free the impellers. If you can't do that, put a short broom stick into the disposal and try to rotate the impeller that way. If you find something hard in there, use tongs or pliers to try to get it out.

So save yourself some money and try these tips before calling a professional. Mission Bay is here to help you with all of your homeowner needs. Our lake view and lakefront homes at the Lake of the Ozarks offer Lake Living at its finest. If you're in the market for a new home this season, contact us at 573-216-5311.

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Camdenton, MO 65020

Visit Lake of the Ozarks this St. Patrick's Day!

Grab your green and head on over to the Lake of the Ozarks for a weekend full of St. Patrick's Day fun! The Lake will be hoppin' on and off the water. From the annual parades to live entertainment and food & drink specials at various bars and restaurants, the Lake of the Ozarks is the place to celebrate this weekend! Mission Bay has the details on 3 of the Lake's favorite St. Patrick's Day events:

Photo Courtesy of: Lake West Chamber

St. Patrick's Water Parade 

The 24th Annual St. Pats Water Parade will take place Saturday, March 14.  The parade is a fun day trip on the water and a perfect way to kick off the Spring boating season! This year's route will begin at Captain Ron's, traveling to Bear Bottom, Bulldogs Beach House and then Larry's on the Lake. New this year will be a give-away for the "Best Decorated Boat & Crew." You could win a 55" Flat Screen TV! They have now enlisted the Celebration Cruise boat and 100 more tickets are available. Call 573-374-5500 today!

31st Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade 

St. Patrick's Day is just around corner and what better way to spend the day than a parade! The Lake of the Ozarks St. Patrick's Day Parade will take place on March 14, 2015 at 1:00 pm on the historic Bagnell Dam Strip at Lake of the Ozarks Missouri. Deck the whole family out in green, grab the lawn chairs and head out to Bagnell Dam Strip for an afternoon of family fun watching the various floats, cars, motorcycles and yes even boats as they make trip along the Strip. And who knows you might even score some candy!

Photo Courtesy of: Short Bus Shuffle Facebook Page

St. Patrick's Short Bus Shuffle

Whether you're Irish or not, visitors to Lake of the Ozarks can get a head start on St. Patrick's Day at the 5th Annual St. Patrick's Day Short Bus Shuffle. Ten restaurants and bars will offer live entertainment and St. Patrick's Day food and drink specials. In addition, six West Side lodging establishments will have special rate for shufflers who make reservations in advance. Buses will begin at 4 pm and just $5 gets you a wrist band to participate!

The Lake of the Ozarks offers many different events throughout the year! By owning a second home at the Lake of the Ozarks, you can participate in each of these awesome annual events. While you're in town for a Lake style St. Patrick's Day celebration, stop by and see us at Mission Bay! Our lake view and lakefront homes offer lake living at its finest!

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237 Mission Bay Blvd.

Camdenton, MO 65020

6 Ways to Prep for Spring Around the Yard

Spring is just around the corner and you'll want to be outside enjoying the warm air. Mission Bay is here to help you get prepared! Once all the snow is gone and the sun comes out to play, you're yard is going to need some work. There are many things you can start doing now to get your home at the Lake of the Ozarks  ready for the season change. Here are 6 tips on prepping your yard for spring from FoxNews.com:

1. Remove Any Debris. 

The first thing you want to do is rake away any debris from the fall and winter months, including leaves and sticks. If you have anything left on your lawn, it can get in the way of mowing, watering, planting seed and so on. Raking also has the benefit of loosening the soil, encouraging healthy airflow. By raking your lawn, your creating a fresh start for spring!

2. Apply More Grass Seed. 

Scan your yard and look for areas that have weak grass growth or dead grass. Use a strong rake to open the surface. Mix the grass seed with new healthy soil and then spread the mixture over the surface. Don't forget to regularly water the area to promote growth.

3. Use Mulch.

Lock in the moisture by applying a protective cover of mulch over the soil. Mulching with a depth of 2-4 inches around the bases of trees, shrubs and in flower beds will retain water and keep plants warm.

4. Water Deeply. 

Many homeowners tend to water their lawns quite regulary, maybe even have sprinklers with a timer. However, most of the time they're using very little water. A better approach is to only water when your lawn needs it and with a lot of water. You want that what to seep deep into the soil. By watering deep and sparingly, you will train the grass roots to dig deeper into the soil. If you water lightly and often, the roots will just stay near the surface.

5. Look for Snow Mold. 

Snow mold is a condition caused when the grass doesn't recieve enough oxygen because it's been covered in snow. Snow mold doesn't reveal itself until the snow melts. If you rake your lawn before it snows, you can reduce the risk of snow mold. If your area is prone to snow, you can try to avoid this condition by mowing the lawn well into the fall adn spreading snow evenly across the lawn during winter.

6. Mow High. 

You'll want to mow your lawn with a sharp blade, and often. Grass doesn't adjust as wel to infrequent mowing. If you keep your grass a bit on the longer side, it will grow thicker and healthier, with a better-established root system. Better roots will help your grass survive whatever is thrown at it, such as insects or drought.

By following these simple steps, you're yard will be ready for spring in no time! At Mission Bay, we're ready for spring! While the development is built for year round living, nothing beats being able to go out on the Lake during the warmer season. Soon the docks will be bustling with people enjoying the beautiful Lake. You could enjoy it too with your very own waterfront home at the Lake of the Ozarks. Come on down and check out Mission Bay today!

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Phone: (573) 873-3465

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OUR LOCATION

237 Mission Bay Blvd.

Camdenton, MO 65020