The Sun Might Be Beautiful, but Boy Does She Sting!

As the water falls and temperatures climb, my sun soaked skin thirsts for high SPF block in Leasburg. Finally....clear water, blue skies and hot temps at Ozark Outdoors...YES!

My entire body needs color, but I know the dangers of UVA and UVB rays, so I'm taking precautions with good sunscreen and plenty of it. My white legs need blush, but hold the red please. I want a tan, but it's not worth the long-term damage to get it, so pass the sun screen and I'll slather it on!

I love the sun's positive effects like warmth, light and immunity boosting vitamin D3 synthesis in my body. Sunshine also enhances my mood and kills pathogens. Finding the happy-medium between healthy sunlight and damaging UV rays makes me a happy camper.

It's going to be a scorcher this weekend, so cover up and cool off at the river. A golden glow is the finishing touch to a great outdoors experience!

This past weekend, I witnessed dozens and dozens of floaters and campers with skin-damaging sun burns, and it reminds me how precious our skin is. We were given our skin to protect our bodies, and when our skin is damaged, our bodies are vulnerable to damage. My teeth cringe and my skin tightens when I see all of those sunburns!

So take care of your skin this summer! I hope to see you soon!

Life in the Fast Lane!

Let’s Talk Express Lane!

Who ever thought that it would be possible to check in to a resort as big as Ozark Outdoors by simply providing a few extra details before you arrive? It might seem a little hard to understand at first, but the staff and management at Ozark Outdoors are constantly trying new technologies to benefit our customers from the time they check in to the time they leave. You can qualify yourself for our Express Check-In service so that you can detour your vehicle through the Express Lane and avoid long lines in our store! Here’s how it works:

1. Call a River Fun Guide to make your reservation.
2. Register and Pay for your reservation by vehicle (This is the most important part - Don’t pay for Johnny if Johnny isn’t riding in your car!)
3. Obtain your reservation number from your River Fun Guide.
4. Visit our website: http://www.ozarkoutdoors.net/
5. Click on the “Vehicle Registration” link.
6. Fill out the simple form and email it straight back to us at least a week before your arrival.
7. Receive our email confirmation that you have been registered for Express Check-In.
8. Arrive the same way you registered and enjoy a speedy check-in!

If you have used our Express Check-In service before, let us know how well you liked it! You can share those feelings with us on this blog or on our Facebook. Like all new technologies, there will be the occasional kink in the cord, but we are working hard to lessen each of those kinks until we have marked perfection.

Already this year, hundreds of Vehicle Registration Forms have allowed customers to enjoy the benefits of Express Check-In. You can get to your site sooner, set up camp faster, spend more time relaxing and less time sweating and stressing.

If you haven’t tried our Express Check-In process yet, try it next time you come down! We’ll be happy to help you!

Oh the B-e-a-utiful Meramec!

The week has been extremely busy, and my blogging has fallen behind. Here is an update on the river conditions around our place...



The Meramec, Huzzah and Courtois look absolutely fantastic. The storm that rolled through last night didn't rain on our parade. Check this out...

The highest point on the blue line was where the river peaked at last week when I blogged. If you look at the previous post, you will see tha that the Meramec crested at more than 8 feet above normal. Where the line ends is where it is now. See the fluctuation? The Meramec had fallen more than 6 feet in a week. As you can see, the rain the past few days has made the water levels jump up and down, but it's nothing to worry about. There won't be any dragging this weekend!

As long as the rain stays minimal, it will be a perfect weekend for floating. It's going to be a busy weekend, and we are so ready for it!

Take some time off from you daily lives and join us for a relaxing weekend in the outdoors. You won't regret it!

Meramec Overflow Update

All of the recent rain has finally caught up with us at Ozark Outdoors. The rain that drenched Northern Missouri has traveled down the Meramec right into our back yard. Although the water is a little on the high side, its absolutely nothing compared to the floods of recent years. Check out these pictures that I took this morning...

This is normally where you would end your float. Our beach is a tad bit under water.

Meramec River up stream from the take-out bridge.

Scotia bridge - Huzzah Creek

Yup, there's only about 1-2 inches on the bridge.

No floating underneath the bridge today!

There is always a positive outlook to an overdose of rain. Because there was so much rain, stretches of river that we wouldn't even attempt to float in July and August have enough water in them to experience. We put several groups upstream on the Courtois today, and they came back with smiles!

Although the rivers are up today, they could easily be back within their banks tomorrow. The water levels fluctuate at a rate that is mind-boggling. To show you how much they fluctuate, take a look at this graph provided by the USGS:

As you can see, the Meramec has crested, and water levels are already starting to drop. I'll try to have an update on the river conditions tomorrow. In the mean-time, keep soaking up those rays! It's going to be 80 degrees this weekend!

Sunlight...Shine On!

Cool rain finally submitted to the bright rays of summer, and skin kissed by sunlight never felt so good. Last week was pretty bogged down with rain and clouds, but the rain stopped, the clouds cleared, and the Meramec, Huzzah and Courtois fell back to normal. After limiting our guests to “rafts only,” because of water levels, it’s nice to know our customers can come enjoy warm days and soft breezes in the boat of their choice.

Some of our staff were able to take a break before the busy season and enjoyed a few lazy days on the river. They returned with sunburns, tans, and lots of interesting stories. It’s nice to send the entire staff out on the river every now and then. It gives our crew a chance to get to know each other, and be together in a fun setting without work responsibilities. Our mini-trips bond us and allow us to experience the same stretches of water our guests float. We can offer personal guidance and share our paddling stories with customers; something we LOVE to do!

Even if you can’t visit us, please make an effort to find a gravel bar and share the beauty of the outdoors with someone special this weekend. You deserve a relaxing day by the river. Pack a lunch, bring your favorite someone, grab some sunscreen and meet us at Ozark Outdoors Riverfront Resort. Rain or shine – It’s always a great time!