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October 21, 2007
Sunday
We rested.
Monday
We left Pleasant Hill in a pouring rain and drove south to Shell Knob, new home to Gail’s brother David Walters and his lovely bride, Diann.
Dave drove us into Arkansas to see the sights. We toured Berryville and Eureka Springs, home of the historic Crescent Hotel, built in 1886. Eureka Springs is a fabulous village, built around hot springs on tree-covered Ozark hillsides. It was Monday in late October and we did not see a single vacant parking space on the streets.
Tuesday
Dave drove us through Mark Twain National Forest past Shepherd of the Hills Historic Homestead and Observation Tower to Branson. The town was packed, though David said that summers are even more crowded.
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Theatre after theatre, hotel after hotel–Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede across the street from Dick Clark’s American Bandstand.
Observing billboards and marquees answered the question, "Where have all theold rock and rollers gone?"
We visited the Bass Pro Shop and White River Promenade. Imagine a store large enough to contain trees, a fishing stream, a salt water aquarium and a four-story waterfall. Three thousand fishing rods and enough guns to outfit Blackwater. More outdoor clothing than REI.
Bass Pro has forty-three stores nationwide and twelve more under construction, under the sole ownership of Johnny Morris of Springfield MO. No stockholders, no board of directors. Even California has one, in Cucamonga, and two more a-building in Bakersfield and Manteca.
Dave took us to lunch at Devils Pool Restaurant in Big Cedar. Johnny Morris owns that too. Not just the restaurant, but the cottages, lodges, marina, golf course, stables, spa and sauna.
On a Tuesday afternoon in late October, Falls Lodge did not have a vacant room.
After lunch, we drove back to Shell Knob and inspected the S.S. Dianna, Dave and Diann’s tri-pontoon pleasure boat. They dock at a marina that is a short golf-cart drive from the Walters estate on Table Rock Lake, 43,000 acres, 745 miles of shoreline,.
Wednesday
Gail and I got on the road at 0200 and drove a thousand miles to Gallup.
Thursday
On the road again at 0300. West of Needles, we passed a convoy of Arizona fire engines on their way to Southern California.
Barstow was full of smoke from the wild fires and so was Bakersfield but we didn’t slow down. Eight hundred miles today and home in time for supper.
Sunday
We rested.
Monday
We left Pleasant Hill in a pouring rain and drove south to Shell Knob, new home to Gail’s brother David Walters and his lovely bride, Diann.
Dave drove us into Arkansas to see the sights. We toured Berryville and Eureka Springs, home of the historic Crescent Hotel, built in 1886. Eureka Springs is a fabulous village, built around hot springs on tree-covered Ozark hillsides. It was Monday in late October and we did not see a single vacant parking space on the streets.
Tuesday
Dave drove us through Mark Twain National Forest past Shepherd of the Hills Historic Homestead and Observation Tower to Branson. The town was packed, though David said that summers are even more crowded.
.JPG)
Theatre after theatre, hotel after hotel–Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede across the street from Dick Clark’s American Bandstand.Observing billboards and marquees answered the question, "Where have all theold rock and rollers gone?"
We visited the Bass Pro Shop and White River Promenade. Imagine a store large enough to contain trees, a fishing stream, a salt water aquarium and a four-story waterfall. Three thousand fishing rods and enough guns to outfit Blackwater. More outdoor clothing than REI.
Bass Pro has forty-three stores nationwide and twelve more under construction, under the sole ownership of Johnny Morris of Springfield MO. No stockholders, no board of directors. Even California has one, in Cucamonga, and two more a-building in Bakersfield and Manteca.
Dave took us to lunch at Devils Pool Restaurant in Big Cedar. Johnny Morris owns that too. Not just the restaurant, but the cottages, lodges, marina, golf course, stables, spa and sauna.
On a Tuesday afternoon in late October, Falls Lodge did not have a vacant room.
After lunch, we drove back to Shell Knob and inspected the S.S. Dianna, Dave and Diann’s tri-pontoon pleasure boat. They dock at a marina that is a short golf-cart drive from the Walters estate on Table Rock Lake, 43,000 acres, 745 miles of shoreline,.
Wednesday
Gail and I got on the road at 0200 and drove a thousand miles to Gallup.
Thursday
On the road again at 0300. West of Needles, we passed a convoy of Arizona fire engines on their way to Southern California.
Barstow was full of smoke from the wild fires and so was Bakersfield but we didn’t slow down. Eight hundred miles today and home in time for supper.
1 comment:
There are some great Branson shows to see if you ever have the chance!
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