BRANSON, MISSOURI

WE ARRIVED IN BRANSON AROUND 1:00 ON FRIDAY, APRIL 6, GOT ALL SET UP IN OUR PASSPORT AMERICA RV PARK, BRANSON STAGE COACH RV PARK.

 WE WERE SURPRISED AT ALL THE EMPTY SITES!! WE HAVE A NICE SITE, CEMENT PAD, PICNIC TABLE,  CABLE TV,  TREES, ALL THE CONVENIENCES OF HOME!

WE RESTED A BIT, AND THEN COULDN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER, WE HAD TO GO EXPLORING!! WENT TO BASS PRO, DOWNTOWN BRANSON, JUST HAD A GENERAL LOOK AROUND. ATE, AND PICKED UP SOME SHOW TICKET INFORMATION.

WE ARE OUTSIDE OF BRANSON A FEW MILES, AND CROSS TABLE ROCK DAM TO GET INTO THE TOWN OF BRANSON. WHAT  BEAUTIFUL VIEWS!!

OUR FIRST SHOW WAS A REAL TREAT, WE WENT TO THE IMAX THEATRE COMPLEX AND  WERE TREATED TO A JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTE IN THE  LITTLE OPREY THEATRE.

ON EASTER SUNDAY MORNING WE WENT BACK TO THE IMAX THEATRE AND ENJOYED SOME GOSPEL MUSIC.

WE ARE  ALSO NEAR TABLE ROCK  STATE PARK AND WONDERFUL WALKING TRAILS. WE'VE ENJOYED OUR WALKS AND SO HAVE MAGGIE AND MARLEE. 

I FINALLY GOT TO SEE AZALEAS IN BLOOM!

WE WENT TO THE SHOW "SIX"  MONDAY AFTERNOON. IT WAS A GREAT SHOW!!!

THESE GUYS ARE 6 BROTHERS AND  EVERY ONE OF THEM IS SO TALENTED!!!

ON TUESDAY MORNING I WENT ZIPLINING!! DARRELL DID NOT WANT TO GO, I HAD BOUGHT MY TICKET BEFORE GETTING TO BRANSON. I WAS A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE THAT MORNING, BUT I KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO TO CELEBRATE MY 65 YEARS ON THIS EARTH. 

THERE WERE 9 OF US AND HERE WE ARE GETTING ALL THE "GEAR" ON.

AND GETTING READY TO LEAVE TO TAKE US UP THE MOUNTAIN. IT WAS A VERY BUMPY RIDE!

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!

IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!! I TOOK THE QZARKS XPLORER CANOPY TOUR WITH 7 ZIPLINES AND 10 SUSPENSION BRIDGES. IT TOOK A COUPLE OF HOURS. THE GUIDES WERE SO HELPFUL! HERE I AM AT THE END!!

AND I JUST HAD TO HAVE THIS SHIRT!!!

IT SAYS, "THIS GRANDMA CAN FLY!"

THIS IS THE PICTURE THEY TOOK OF ME!! I LOVE IT!!!

AND THAT NIGHT WE WENT TO AN ELVIS TRIBUTE!!

TONY ROI WAS A GREAT ENTERTAINER! WE ENJOYED HIS SHOW VERY MUCH!

THE END TO A PERFECT DAY!!

THE DAY BEFORE WE LEFT BRANSON WE WENT TO THE COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS FOR LUNCH. A LADY AT THE CAMPGROUND TOLD US ABOUT THIS AND WE WERE ANXIOUS  TO TRY IT.

WE ATE AT THE KEETER CENTER, THAT IS LOCATED AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAMPUS. THE FOOD IS PREPARED AND SERVED BY THE STUDENTS. STUDENTS HERE WORK FOR THEIR TUITION.

THE RESTAURANT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND WE WERE SERVED IN STYLE!!

WE ENJOYED A WONDERFUL LUNCH IN ELEGANT SURROUNDINGS WITH FRESH FLOWERS ON ALL THE TABLES.

THE FOOD WAS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!

WE WENT OVER TO THE BAKERY AFTER LUNCH AND HAD A SAMPLE OF THE FRUIT CAKE THEY MAKE AND BOUGHT SOME JELLY. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS AND IT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE A COLLEGE THAT BELIEVES IN HARD WORK!!



WORKAMPING AT GRAND LAKE

WE STARTED WORK ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012. OUR FIRST JOB WAS TO WASH DOWN TWO BUILDINGS IN PREPARATION FOR PAINTING. ON THURSDAY, WE STARTED PAINTING A GARAGE THAT HAD NOT BEEN PAINTED IN 20 YEARS. HERE IS A "BEFORE" PICTURE.

AND AN "AFTER".

WE WERE PRETTY PROUD OF THE WAY IT TURNED OUT AND KATHI AND IRV WERE QUITE PLEASED WITH THE RESULT. THEN WE MOVED ON TO THE RV  PARK BATHROOM BUILDING. HERE IS THE "BEFORE".

AND AN "AFTER."

WE ARE WORKING 10 HOURS EACH FOR OUR SITE. THE SOFFIT HAD NEVER BEEN PUT ON THE GARAGE, SO WE STARTED GETTING THAT CUT AND PAINTED.

AND THEN IT STARTED RAINING, IT RAINED   FOR FIVE DAYS. WE ENDED UP WITH EIGHT INCHES OF RAIN BEFORE IT WAS DONE. WATER STANDING EVERYWHERE!

THE TREE OUT THE BACK WINDOW WAS STARTING TO DROWN!!!

WE TRIED TO FIND WORK TO DO INDOORS......KATHI HAD DARRELL CUT AROUND A SIGN FOR HER.

SHE WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP!!

ONE OF THE RAINY DAYS WE WENT DOWNTOWN SHOPPING AND  SAW THIS SHIRT, WHICH   WAS CLOSE TO HOW WE WERE FEELING ABOUT OKLAHOMA.

OUR WALKING PATH ALSO DISAPPPEARED INTO THE WATER!!!

THIS IS  NOT EVEN CONSIDERED "FLOODING" HERE, I GUESS THE LAKE FLUCTUATES YEAR AROUND.  KATHI AND IRV WANTED TO TAKE US OUT TO EAT, SO ONE OF THE LESS RAINY DAYS WE WENT TO PENSACOLA DAM AND ATE AT PENSACOLA PIZZA. THE DAM WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD.

SO MUCH WATER!!!

THE PIZZA AND SPAGHETTI WAS GOOD TOO!  

SO, WHEN THE RAIN STOPPED, AND THE SUN CAME OUT AGAIN, WE PUT THE SOFFIT UP ON THE GARAGE. IT LOOKED REALLY NICE. 

IRV HAD ROOF VENTS HE HAD NEVER PUT ON, SO WE PUT THOSE ON FOR HIM.

AND FINALLY THE GARAGE WAS FINISHED!

THE FLOWER BEDS STILL NEED WEEDING, SO WE GOT RIGHT ON IT!!!

IN PREPARATION FOR LEAVING FRIDAY, APRIL 6, WE TOOK DUALLY OVER TO VINITA TO BE SERVICED. WHILE WE WERE WAITING WE WALKED OVER TO CLANTON'S CAFE, WHICH WAS A CAFE THAT GUY FIERI  SHOWCASED ON DINERS DRIVE-INS AND DIVES.  WE REMEMBER WATCHING THAT EPISODE ON FOOD NETWORK WHILE LIVING IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

WE HAD A DELICIOUS BREAKFAST, VERY REASONABLY PRICED, AND LARGE PORTIONS!!

WE WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE VISITING WITH THE GAL AND SHE ASKED US IF WE HAD SEEN THE LARGEST MCDONALD'S  IN THE WORLD.......WE SAID, "NO, WHERE IS IT?" SHE GAVE US DIRECTIONS AND WE WERE SO GLAD WE WENT, BECAUSE WE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS!! 

BUILT ACROSS  INTERSTATE  44!!! OF COURSE, WE HAD TO GO IN AND LOOK AROUND, IT IS HUGE!!

INSTEAD OF BEING A "DRIVE THROUGH", IT'S A "DRIVE UNDER!" WE DIDN'T SEE THIS ADVERTISED ANYWHERE, AND WERE SO GLAD SHE TOLD US ABOUT IT!!  WE'VE BEEN FANS OF MCDONALD'S SINCE HIGH SCHOOL!!!
WE FINISHED UP OUR WORK AT GRAND COUNTRY LAKESIDE RV PARK AND SAID OUR GOODBYES TO KATHI AND IRV ON FRIDAY APRIL 6.

 

WE DIDN'T REALIZE WE WERE ONLY 2 1/2 HOURS AWAY FROM BRANSON UNTIL AFTER WE ARRIVED AT GRAND LAKE. IT WAS TOO CLOSE TO PASS UP....SO WE SAID HELLO TO MISSOURI!!

GOING ON DOWN THE ROAD

WE LEFT DONNA, TEXAS ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, FOR AFTON, OKLAHOMA TO WORK AT GRAND COUNTRY LAKESIDE RV PARK.  THIS WILL BE OUR SECOND WORKAMPING JOB. KATHI SILKORSKI CALLED US LAST FALL WHEN WE WERE STILL IN RAPID OFFERING US JOBS. I TURNED HER DOWN THEN, THOUGHT THE WINTER WAS TOO COLD FOR US. SHE CALLED AFTER CHRISTMAS, WANTING US TO COME FOR THE SPRING OR SUMMER. SHE SAYS, " COME WHEN YOU CAN, STAY AS LONG AS YOU CAN." IT WILL BE ALL OUTDOOR WORK. WE DECIDED TO TAKE HER UP ON IT, SINCE IT IS ON THE WAY TO DES MOINES.  WE HAD PLANNED ON LEAVING FRIDAY, BUT THE WIND WAS BLOWING 40 MPH, SO WE DECIDED TO STAY ANOTHER DAY.  WHEN WE WENT DOWN TO PAY FOR THE EXTRA DAY, DOTTIE, THE MANAGER OFFERED US JOBS FOR NEXT WINTER. WE WILL MISS THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE HERE IN MAGNOLIA PARK, AND HOPE WE DO GET TO COME DOWN HERE AGAIN. WHEN WE WOKE UP IT WAS POURING DOWN RAIN, WE FINALLY LEFT AT 10:30, PLANNING TO DRIVE AS LONG AS WE COULD THAT DAY.
AFTER DRIVING A FEW HOURS, WE CAME TO THIS CHECKPOINT, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING.

THE MAN ASKED US IF WE WERE HEADED HOME, DARRELL SAYS," THIS IS HOME!"

AMERICA'S FRONTLINE!!!! WOW!!  I GUESS IT'S WORKING!!!

WE DECIDED TO STOP FOR THE EVENING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WE HAD MADE RESERVATIONS FOR MCKINNEY FALLS  STATE PARK FOR THE NIGHT BEFORE, THAT WE HAD TO CANCEL DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS ON FRIDAY. DECIDED TO STOP AND SEE IF THEY HAD A SPOT  FOR US.

 THEY WERE FULL, BUT OFFERED US A SPOT IN THE "OVERFLOW PARKING LOT" FOR THE NIGHT FOR $8.00. NO HOOK-UPS. WE WEREN'T THRILLED WITH NO HOOK-UPS, BUT IT WAS QUIET AND BEAUTIFUL AND WE HAD THE WHOLE PARKING LOT TO OURSELVES!!

WE GOT AN EARLY START IN THE MORNING AND DROVE TO THACKERVILLE, OKLAHOMA. I HATED LEAVING TEXAS, I LOVE TEXAS, AND HOPE AND PRAY I GET TO COME BACK SOMEDAY! WE HAD PLANNED ON STAYING IN A PASSPORT AMERICA PARK THAT I HAD FOUND AND HAD   CALLED SEVERAL TIMES THAT DAY TO GET RESERVATIONS. WHEN WE ARRIVED THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE OFFICE, BUT ONE OF THE FOLKS THAT LIVE THERE, CATHY,  STOPPED AND TALKED TO US.  SHE  TOLD US ABOUT THE CASINO  AND STATE OF THE ART, BRAND NEW RV PARK DOWN THE ROAD.  WE CHECKED INTO WINSTAR RV PARK, WHICH IS LESS THAN 200 YEARS FROM THE THIRD LARGEST CASINO  IN THE WORLD.

WE WENT IN AND REGISTERED, AND IF WE WOULD GET A CASINO CLUB CARD, WE COULD STAY FREE.  NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE GOT A CASINO CLUB CARD!  WE TOOK THE SHUTTLE BUS OVER TO THE CASINO FOR DINNER.

OWNED BY THE CHICKASAW INDIAN TRIBE, THEY ARE ADDING ON TO MAKE THIS THE LARGEST CASINO IN THE WORLD.

THIS WAS A WONDERFUL RV PARK, PAVED ROADS, BEAUTIFUL SHOWER ROOMS, STATE OF THE ART EVERYTHING!! THE NICEST RV PARK WE HAVE  STAYED IN SO FAR.

IN THE MORNING WHEN DARRELL WAS BUTTONING UP EVERYTHING, HE NOTICED A TEAR IN THE ROOF OF GUSTOW. HE WAS UP ON A LADDER PUTTING SEALER ON IT WHEN A NICE MAN CAME OVER OFFERING US SOME  ACTUAL ROOF REPAIR TAPE,  ESPECIALLY FOR RVS. WE WERE GRATEFUL, AS HEAVY RAIN WAS PREDICTED.  THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS!! WE ARRIVED IN GRAND COUNTRY LAKESIDE RV PARK ABOUT 5:00 AND MET KATHI AND IRV SYKORSKI, OUR EMPLOYERS.

THE RV PARK SITS ON GRAND LAKE 'O THE CHEROKEES IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA. WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A SMALL LAKE,  TURNS OUT TO BE  46,500 ACRES AND 1,300 MILES OF SHORELINE.  THIS IS THE VIEW OUT OUR BACK WINDOW.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SPOT HERE, SO QUIET, PEACEFUL, AND WITH ONLY ONE OTHER  RV PERSON HERE,  WE ARE  ENJOYING  PRIVACY AND FREEDOM.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE TO FIND A PLACE FOR MAGGIE AND MARLEE TO PLAY BALL, THEY CAN PLAY BALL RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR. WE TAKE THEM FOR A WALK EVERYDAY ON THIS NATURE TRAIL THAT IS RIGHT BY THE RV PARK. THEY LOVE IT!!

THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF THE LAKE.

IT IS SPRING HERE, TREES AND BUSHES  ARE BLOOMING AND WE CAN PRACTICALLY WATCH THE TREES LEAF OUT.  THE TRAIL LEADS TO THIS STATE PARK.

AND WATERS EDGE.