A day in the city...

Silver Dollar City, that is.

Silver Dollar City is an amusement park in Branson.  Not a typical amusement park - oh, there are rides, and greasy food, and themes, but Silver Dollar City is also about entertainment and craftspeople.  The current theme is World Fest...

Silver Dollar City celebrates Americana, but World Fest brings other countries and cultures to the park.

It was a chilly ride to the park first thing in the morning on the scooters; nice curvy roads all the way there, though.  We were there early enough to get a good parking place (yes, they have free parking) and catch the tram that takes you from parking to the park...

We had breakfast there, before they allow people to enter the park; a buffet, but a country-feel to the food choices.  Our timing was good - just as we finished eating, the park opened.  The crowd was lighter than I expected.  We looked through the park newspaper to determine what entertainment we wanted to see - they have venues all around the park, but the timing doesn't always work to go right from one to another.  We watched some opening entertainment...\

... then walked around a bit to see some craftspeople and get on a couple rides...

Took in a few shows...

By noon, the crowds were thick...

Nice weather and reasonable season pass prices make it easy for people who live near or come to the area often to do the park for a few hours instead of an all-day marathon.  We stood in some lines, walked around, ate some greasy food... the crowds were interesting: older folks and a lot of school age kids, apparently doing class trips (said so on their matching t-shirts).

The weather was lovely: low 70s and sunshine.  The kids didn't take to the water rides until about noon...

After which, there were a lot of wet people, with squishy shoes, walking around the park.

By late afternoon, the park was getting quiet again...

I heard one employee telling a guest that they were "expecting about 15,000 people today"... we thought it might be quiet on a week day; not during most of the day.

They have a "late show" - a relative term, since that show starts at 6:00, when the rest of the park closes.  We decided to take a pass on that, and headed back to the trams to get to the scoots.  A relaxing grown-up supper out topped off a very nice day.  And still back to the RV in time for Izzy to get a walk around the park before the sun set.

College of the Ozarks...

Also known as Hard Work U.

When we're in Branson, one of our "must do" lunch stops is at the College of the Ozarks.  The restaurant is staffed by students.  In fact, the students here all do 15 hours of work each week, plus a 2-week 40 hour per week stint during breaks.  In return, they graduate with no student debt; no tuition is charged.  They can work more during their break to cover room and board.  Seems like a great premise to me, especially with college costs these days.  College of the Ozarks offers BA and BS degrees in over 30 areas; has an enrollment of 1,500.

Our waitress today was from Tennessee - and obviously well-trained.  Listening to other wait staff in the very nice dining area, that was a definite theme.

Where the restaurant is located...

Both before and after lunch, we were out exploring on the scooters.  The roads in and around Branson are hilly and curvy - just what we like.  Nice views from an overlook...

Riding through downtown and the "Red, Green, and Yellow" routes, you pass all the theaters and attractions... and there are a bunch.  We eventually made our way to the Branson Landing shopping area... couldn't pass up a visit to Bass Pro Shop.  And a nice walk along Lake Taneycomo...

A gorgeous day today: high in the low 70s.  Just right for a light jacket on the scoots.  This is our first time here in the spring (we have done autumn) - the crowds are lighter.  The traffic on the in-town main roads isn't bumper-to-bumper.  Nice.

More cat walking...

Well, more like meandering.  When Izzy and I go for a walk, it isn't like walking a dog - there is no heeling, like with a dog.  We take a few steps, stop and smell the grass... or a rock... or look at a bug.  I rarely influence the direction.

After sunset this evening, Izzy wanted to go out.  I clipped on her leash and out we went.  I didn't know, but Joan was taking photos of us through the dinette window in the motorhome.  No, you can't see in - the window is heavily tinted; I am surprised she was able to get anything, considering that tint and the diminishing light outside.

We were down a couple sites...

There are some dandelions at the puffball stage...

Izzy got one of those puffballs between her and the leash, and it stuck to her fur...

I was picking the bits of dandelion out of her fur, and... "Hisssssssssss!"

Joan thought this "scolding" photo was pretty funny.  I am trying to teach Izzy respect...yeah, not a concept that cats buy into.

We don't hold a grudge, though...

I mean, seriously, how could you hold a grudge with that cute little face?  And, Izzy is kinda sweet, too.

;-)

Short driving day...

We're planning a few days in Branson, after getting service done this morning.  Well, just the initial oil change.  We had an 8:00 am appointment, and (as usual) were there early; time to find a place to put the cargo trailer.

We knew that they didn't have a bay that would accommodate our size - Mike, the service manager, said they'd do the work outside.

The young mechanic came out to put the motorhome in front of the service bay... driving it like it was a Mustang... "Easy there, big fella!" I said... yeah, we were in the motorhome while he moved it.  And stayed in it while he did the oil change and 20 point check (or however many points they check).

Joan said, "Maybe they are more careful with it, knowing we are in here."

"Maybe."

The young guy was quick with his work, and had us done around 8:30.  Too early for us to head to the RV park in Branson, so we hooked up the trailer and headed to Village Inn for a leisurely breakfast.

It is 30 miles from the Ford dealer in Ozark to Branson; nice 4-lane road all the way...

And plenty of billboards along the way, telling you what shows you should see while in Branson...

Still a bit early for checking in, so we stopped at Target and Wal-Mart to pick up supplies and groceries.  The Aspect is small enough that big store parking lots aren't an issue.

Around 11:00, we rolled into the Escapees park in Branson (well, Hollister).  We have stayed here before - the Escapees parks are friendly, and this one is well located.  I checked with the manager to see if it would be OK to wash our rig, explaining about all the rain we drove through and promising to use very little water... "No problem."

Not wanting to make a wet mess of our site, I was conservative about the water use, but the Aspect was pretty dirty.  The baby shampoo that Winnebago recommends does a good job getting it clean; well, that and some scrubbing and wiping down.  It is looking good again...

Compared to where we stayed last night, this Escapees park is almost a bargain - less money, more scenic, and bunch of cable TV channels.  There is a picnic table at each site, and a small concrete patio.  All for less than $25 per night, if you are an Escapees member.

For the non-RVers, there is no standard for RV parks.  Most offer electric, water, and sewer.  Some have cable TV and wifi.  Level sites are a plus, as are pull-through sites for us to easily use the scooters (in and out of the trailer).  This park has gravel roads and gravel sites, with grassy areas between each site.  Little Izzy is a fan of having some grass to walk on.

Escapees tend to be full or extended time RVers; it's not a requirement, though.  As such, they tend to be more retired folks and fewer young families with kids, like you often find at KOAs and state parks.  Quieter.  And, they generally have some kind of social hour.

This park is located alongside Turkey Creek (a branch off Taneycomo) - we have a view of the water 100 yards or so away.  We have launched our kayaks here in the past (didn't bring them along this time).

Branson is a hopping place; a bit quieter right now than during the summer.  This park is only about half occupied, something we haven't seen when visiting here in the fall.  We're just looking for some relaxation.  We will probably do a day at Silver Dollar City, and take the scoots on some of the curvy roads in the area.

--------------------

Bird Watching...

No, not me with a pair of binoculars.  With the trees, there are a lot of birds nearby.  Little Izzy loves watching the birds.  She watched them from one of the windows in the RV, then asked to go outside for a walk.  Yes, she has to be on a leash... and she patiently waits by the door for me to clip it on. 

We walked for a bit, then the birds in the tree above her started making a fuss.  They are safely beyond her ability to catch them, but she keeps an eye on them...

Watching them fly, this way and that...

Crooked and steep road ahead...

We saw a bunch of those signs today.

We passed one that said the above, "Next 53 miles"... they weren't kidding.

Rain overnight.  The hourly forecast showed that we would have a break between 8 and 9 this morning.  We planned our unhooking and departure around that... and it actually happened.

The plan for the day: head north on "Scenic Seven" - Highway 7 that runs north to the Missouri border.  We considered spending a night in Mountain View, but the weather forecast wasn't promising, and they don't do the music in the square on Mondays.  So, off towards Branson.  The motorhome is due for its first oil change... we bought our HitchHiker at a Ford/RV dealer north of Branson... I called them and set us up for an appointment first thing tomorrow.  We figured it would take most of the day to do the curvy roads getting us to Ozark, MO.

There was an occasional bit of rain and wet roads as we set out...

Much of this road has a 45 mile per hour speed limit, occasionally less than that.  Sometimes way less than that.

An hour and a half north of Hot Springs, we saw occasional bits of blue sky...

... that came and went...

The built-in navigation in the motorhome gives you voice and screen warnings for upcoming curves, low overheads, etc; she was talking A LOT today...

Occasional road construction...

Nothing bad, but there was plenty of road that could use some fixing.

We stopped at one scenic overlook...

... not just to take in the view - my arms and shoulders needed a rest.  We talked about "traveling the two-lanes" when we left home, but this road would be better on the scoots than an RV.  Oh, it was plenty pretty; some narrow lanes and 15 mph switchbacks kept it interesting.

Over the Missouri border, the road opened up to a modern 4 lane...

We stopped for gas before settling in at an RV park for the night.  Well, not much of a "park" - it is a gravel lot...

... "self contained units only" - no facilities other than hookups and a reasonably level spot in the gravel.  Over-priced for what it is, but it is close to the Ford dealer and right next door to Lambert's - "Home of the throwed rolls."  It is a "down home" restaurant that serves up some good "grandma type food"... generous portions, and young servers bringing around other side dishes for you to try.  And, the "throwed rolls" - fresh, hot rolls that a young guy tosses to you from 20 feet away.  Attentive waiters and waitresses.  And fast.  Foods like: roast beef and mashed potatoes, meatloaf, porkchops, BBQ pork, chicken pot pie, and a bunch of other hearty (and not particularly heart-healthy) foods.

We are one exit away from our early service appointment.  Easy.

Little Izzy wanted to go for a walk - not much besides gravel here.  Chilly; after days in the 80s, today, it didn't get out of the 50s.  Izzy didn't want to stay out long.  Me, either.  ;-)