Today marks the eighth day of almost constant rain storms and scattered tornadoes training through the Mid-West and into the South.  Yesterday, for almost three hours, we here at Almosta Ranch were blessed with clear skies and sunshine between the fast moving storms and we took advantage of the lull by making our way, via roundabout back roads, into the town of Doniphan, Missouri.

Under normal conditions Doniphan is about a ten minute trip from the ranch but Tuesday it took us almost thirty minutes to finally arrive in the little town being slowly covered by the Current River. 

We had two reasons for venturing out yesterday; we needed to resupply our pantry in case the water made it impossible to get out again for awhile and I wanted to get some pictures of the flood waters.  We succeeded in both endeavors. 

Here are some snapshots of the ongoing Great Spring Floods of 2011.  Keep in mind that it is far from over and the Current River in Doniphan and the Black River in Poplar Bluff is not expected to crest until later tonight or tomorrow and God only knows what the bigger rivers such as the Mississippi, the Ohio, and the Arkansas will do over the next few days.

Fred's is an old fashioned General Store that sells everything from nails to clothing and one of my favorite stops.

 This is a shot of power lines that normally  span the Current River and are usually about fifteen or twenty feet above the river.  The shot is taken from the last major bridge still open on the West side of town. This bridge will probably be covered some time today if it isn't already.

 This is our local Sonic Drive-In.  It is hell not to be able to get my customary Cherry Creme Slush!

 Businesses are not the only ones hard hit during this storm. Here is one example of the many homes once high and dry, now almost completely covered by the flood waters.

And finally, if you look closely to the left side of this picture, you will see the top of a stop sign....yeah, that's my sentiment exactly....STOP already with the rain....we surrender! 

As I write this entry it is 12:50 in the afternoon. The rain is falling continuously as it did all night last night and the rivers are still rising. If I go out of my driveway and turn right I can only go about a hundred yards before I am stopped by high water.  If I go left I can still make it out to the small black-top road but can only go a few miles in either direction after that. 

The ranch is located upon a hill and the house and barn remain unthreatened by flood water...right now.....Though we may loose our little pond that has already left it's bank on one side and covered much of our side pasture. If it breaches it back levee, the entire pond will empty into the back pasture and we will lose it.  Other than that, all the animals and their human servants are doing well.....water logged but well.