Branson Missouri

Driving into Branson on Rt. 65 brought back memories of when Mike and I did the same but from Arkansas heading north, and on Harleys. I entered this time from 44 West which also was familiar. Route 66 and 44 West parallel each other and we drove Route 66 to California. The mountains are more spectacular the way I approached. I managed a few photos of the Arch while driving through St. Louis. The Arch is the “Gateway To The West”. It is a gleaming stainless steel structure that towers over the city of St. Louis, Mo. It is a site to behold. It is a 630 foot semi circle that makes the arches at McDonalds look like little babies. Its purpose was to honor and inspire those who headed west to seek their fortune and fame and to expand the new frontier. You know, “Go West Young Man”. Horace Greeley.
When we were in Branson we saw a copy cat Beatle show called Liverpool Legends. I couldn’t resist taking a picture of the marquee of the same show going now. I call Branson a circus town. There is so much going on. Country Western shows of all flavor and just about any other kind of show and entertainment. This town started out when the likes of Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and others provided a venue for future stars to show off their stuff. From that small idea it has turned into a Mecca of entertainment.
I check into the Table Rock State Park and picked a site across the Table Rock River and Marina which in part is created by the Table Rock Dam. Lots of things named Table Rock here.
The wineries seem to call out my name and today I toured another. Pat the young lady who poured and toured was very informative. Those large oak barrels are 160 years old. Actually at one point in time the Stone Hill Winery was the second largest in the nation. All the grapes are from Missouri and I assure you at least the Hermannsberger is excellent. You can actually taste the oak in the flavor of the wine. No grapes from Branson though, much too rocky, only from other parts of Missouri.
This campground seems to be a place to do exactly what I am doing; make this your temporary home while you visit Branson and help the economy, which from my assessment, doesn’t need too much help. Hey, I’ll do what I can though.
Today I spent all day at Silver Dollar City. It is an 1800’s Missouri Country theme park. For a $56.00 entry fee you to see get to see numerous shows, ride a train, see many exhibits and experience great food and so much fun. I started out with breakfast of an amazing walnut cheese pastry and coffee. The pastry was baked on site and the smell sort of drew me in like a moth to a flame, or a hungry person who didn’t have breakfast. The Fiery Fiddles show was a Las Vegas quality 45 minute show that was great. Note the lovely playing fiddle upside down. She did it all, sang, played an amazing violin and did the acrobat thing too. Lunch was next that consisted of a sausage sandwich that called my attention and my name earlier. I had to go back and indulge. See the Castorine Oil picture, I figured if it didn’t work on the car it would help my stomach. I figured I would need it by the end of the day! The Silver Dollar Saloon show was great with comedy and a bevy of beauties that were cute and had great voices too. A Russian band that played Glenn Miller stuff and other American favorites was also a lot of fun. Ice cream for dinner was next on the menu. Oh well, so much for the diet. There was a glass blowing show, wood carving and a great train ride with a half way show that was very funny. The Pickers were very funny.
If you are ever in Branson, Silver Dollar City is a must. Well worth the admission and more. Kansas and all the cowboy towns is my next stop. Looking forward to that, partner…Enjoy some pictures. TC…

A Few More Illinois Photos/Lake Rend/Camping

See the Duck?

                                                 

Illinois

                                                                

I left Indiana Friday morning by Rt. 135 South to Rt. 50 by virtue of the country scenery that it promised. The advice of a few locals that I met at the Pine Room Tavern served to be accurate. They said it was a selected route for the bikers in the area. What choice did I have? The scenery was country, and included rolling hills and lots of small farms. I stopped at a general store for breakfast that was just off the side of the road. They mostly cater to the “horse crowd” and close up in winter as 135 is not an easy road in the snow. No snow today. Clear going except for a stop or two for road work, note the photo. The rest of 50 West out of Indiana was pretty much the same, hills and farm land which was totally contrary to what lay in store when I entered Illinois. There, the landscape was flat with very few hills. What bordered the road was fields of wheat. Wheat was there at one time, now just dirt. Just miles and miles of flat land with farmers tilling the dry earth that kicked up trails of dust. I suppose they were getting the land ready for planting or something like that. Whatever farmers do. I was headed to the US Army Corps of Engineers Rend Lake Campsite at South Sandusky Campground, located near the town of Benton, Illinois off of state road 57. Army Corps of Engineer sites are the same as national parks, in the sense that they are government controlled. As I have a, gulp, senior pass, I pay half price for camping fees. So, $8.00 a night isn’t too bad, electric included. When I arrived at Sandusky I choose site 125 which is abut 200 feet from Rend Lake. I was thinking I would do some fishing tomorrow, as it turned out Saturday morning proved way too chilly at the lake for fishing, so instead I drove around the lake to take a few pictures. I then headed into Benton to see what the little town had to offer. It is an interesting town that has the distinction of the last hanging in the country, a local crook. I was told that by the guy at the RV supply store. He said he was related to him. I told him I could appreciate that based on his prices. He thought that was funny. I was serious.

I also met Dan and Cindy Schmechel who own The Smoke Break. Cindy was born in Benton but then moved to Portland, Oregon. She and Dan moved back when their little girl was deathly ill and Cindy wanted to be near family. As it turned out, all is well with their daughter and they decided to stay in what they call the redneck town of Benton, although they both claim to have the “best customers in the world”. They have only been open about 6 months and have been received very well. Cough, cough….I guess there is a need for their product too. I was also given some great advice about seeing the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Dan promised I would not be disappointed.  I liked those guys.
I couldn’t stop myself from going into Toot’s Barber Shop just to check it out. It is in an old building and something told me there was a story there. Toot’s Barber Shop really has a Toots. He is not an old Toot like the building but a Toot never the less. He’s the Toot cutting hair. Turns out his dad was Big Toot and he was Little Toot, but when he got bigger than his dad, he became Big Toot. You see the confusion that might cause for all the people who weren’t sure which Big Toot you were talking about. So now he is just Toot and he’s the Toot you see. I’m not sure what they call his dad now. Anyway, the barber shop is not that old, although the building and the barber chairs are. The shop used to be a restaurant and a few other things but Toot and his six waiting customer like it just as it is. Toot charges $8.00 a haircut and he only cuts men’s hair. No women. It may have something to do with his wife and three daughters. I didn’t ask, after all he is Big Toot.
Not a lot going on in Benton. Enjoy a few pictures…TC