BRANSON TO MISSISSIPPI

July 26

Soooo.  We drove from Saint Louis to Branson.  Fun sights along the road. One was too good to pass up and even though I promised Linda we wouldn't do any go backs,

this was really worth the turn around:

As you walked in they said welcome to Uranus and when you left they said thanks for picking Uranus. All of these greetings are at a loud volume (Sushi bar like greetings)  

We must apologize since we wanted to ship "Uranus Fudge Packers fudge" to our family but they do not do summer shipping because of the heat.  Imagine the disaster of melted fudge from Uranus. 

Okay.  Enough of that.  We arrived in Branson and Marty and a poor unsuspecting guy completely unloaded the car.  We've needed to make sense of our growing tumbleweed and this was a great opportunity. 

Branson is a surprise!

Our first surprise was a very good show of Clay Cooper (helped that it was one building away from our hotel. Even better that the building in between was a Walgreens and we picked up my Rx. yay for convenience!  

The Clay Cooper show was a variety performance including 

interactive audience comedic participation, 
impersonations, good music and some "dancin' ".  
We thoroughly enjoyed it and I am still
 laughing that I asked our hotel if we
 needed to get dressed up.  Many types.  Many get ups. lots of overalls and jeans...

Interesting that no one in Branson has gotten word that Cigarette Smoking is Dangerous! 

Food is just as you'd expect:

 Dieting isn't even a question here.

July 27

 Perfect second day in Branson, rain, laundry, nail salon, rest exactly as we had wanted and needed and then another evening show. 

We were treated to the Haygoods a family of six brothers and one sister, each more talented then the next. Banjos, fiddles, singing and even a harp. Darlings of the Ozarks. So much fun, from the first song when they zip lined upside down onto the stage  

to the lights, pyrotechnics and lasers it all added up to ...a great family show and we thoroughly enjoyed (and recommend it).

 After a full evening out, we began reloading the car with the intent of getting an early start in the morning. But first, we headed to the local Custard Shop (Andy's).  So right before midnight, in the heat and humidity with the rain taking a short break, we joined the masses for a late night treat.

and this is at midnight

Our first impression of Branson was that it's a perfect family vacation spot.  We have never seen so many miniature golf, go cart, water slides, or other family attractions in one place.  Add the Ozarks, the lakes, boating and shows, it's a perfect week end destination and  many families were there. 

The ferris wheel was brought in from Chicago's Navy Pier and is just one of the many attractions adding to the family fun of Branson 

 We've decided it's all about attitude and expectations. How you enjoy your self when traveling has a lot to do with flexibility and being open to new and truly different experiences.  We are definitely having many.

July 28

 We continued our drive today to Greenville Mississippi passing Choctaw Ridge and I kid you not within five minutes Bobbie Gentry with Billie Joe Mc Allister was on the radio, throwing something off Tallahatchie Bridge.

                     

Lunch just outside Little Rock, Arkansas and then that Mississippi kindness and that southern thing awaited us as our car got plugged in and we checked into the Harlow Casino Resort and Spa in Greenville.  The Spa and a massage sounded good but the energy it would take to go downstairs was more than we could muster.  

Each 5 hour drive becomes 6 1/2 with our multiple stops.  We ate at the buffet and okra, collard greens and mac and cheese were the offerings tonight.  I think that tells you all you need to know about Greenville.  We really are having the best time.  We've met some characters and decided we are probably the people they are talkin' about since we are the oddities here.  Ain't nothing like a Southern story...  The waitress tonight told me their B rating in the restaurant "weren't as good as an A but it's close".  True Story!!!