On To Missouri

Well after “educational, traumatic, thought-provoking, and emotional” it was time to move on to more mundane travel, but first an addendum.  Before we left Oklahoma, we heard a news report that cuttings from the “Survivor Tree” had been taken.  The cuttings would be planted in areas throughout Oklahoma with messages of reconciliation, peace and survival and to ensure that the Survivor Tree’s offspring would live for a very long time into the future.

Bonnie’s deeply involved in her 50^th college reunion so this chapter of the blog falls to me (Lew).  

That means that I get to gripe about Oklahoma roads – Their toll road toll booths are often unstaffed and a major pain for someone in a large vehicle, like a motorhome.  OK, use your imagination on the details.  And their signage is really poor.  However, their lousy signage led to an abrupt change of plans taking us into Arkansas, to Witherow Springs State Park.  There in northern Arkansas we enjoyed seeing early spring taking over the countryside.  Our visit to the park included two hikes along the banks of War Eagle Creek and through the awakening forest. 

 

Carnegie Library (Bonnie on the Balcony)

We took the short trip to historic Eureka Springs where we wandered among old buildings, some of which had been updated and others that had obviously been restored to their historic original purposes.  And yes, there were several springs; some in unexpected places in the middle of old neighborhoods.  Eureka Springs is known for its pubs and historic restaurants, but we were too late (they roll up the sidewalks early there).  So, we celebrated my seventy-fourth birthday by having an excellent dinner in a biker bar.  Yes, the local craft beer was very good, as well.

Haygoods concert

And off to Branson, MO. We were told many times that “everybody has GOT to go to Branson at least once.”  So, we did.  Branson is known for its shows, so in four days we enjoyed four great shows – and some musical foolishness.    Two of them were major extravaganzas with lots of flashing lights and movement (performers ziplining above the audience, etc.), the other two were performances by extremely talented folks singing and playing musical instruments in amazing ways.  Is Branson a big “come on” to get you to buy into timeshare deals?  OH YEAH, but is was a fun time.

I also visited the Veterans’ Memorial Museum.  They use stories of the lives and service of veterans from all the major US military conflicts to tell us about individual routine service and heroism.  Moving!  Well worth a visit.

Also in Branson, we visited the College of the Ozarks.  There students pay no tuition, they work for the college to sustain the institution in about every way possible.  We ate in their restaurant, seated by students, served by students, ate food cooked by students, watched students directing visitors in their very interesting museum, …. You get idea.  

Vacuum Cleaner Museum

And on to St James.  Why would someone stop in St James?  To tour the Vacuum Cleaner Museum, of course.  Really there is such a museum and we enjoyed seeing vacuum cleaners we had used way back when, and even the ones that our grandparents had used. Do you recognize the one in the picture?  But we also sampled wines (no, not at the vacuum cleaner museum) at the St James Winery.  Yes of course, we bought a couple of bottles.

In Lake St Louis we spent a great two weeks with old friends, Rich and Mari, some reminiscing, but mostly joining them doing the things that they do, like going to a show in their retirement community with an “illusionist” and going to an outstanding jazz performance.  We celebrated Easter with them at their church followed by Mari’s wonderful lamb dinner.  Their church congregation welcomed us warmly and we helped members of the congregation with their workday, making the church property look sharp for spring.

Great Frozen Custard

Oh yes, Rich insisted that we participate in a St Louis tradition, determining which frozen custard shop had the best, smoothest, tastiest frozen custard in the area (apparently a St Louis custom).  I endured several (well, five, actually) samples on the Frozen Custard “tour.”  Apparently my “best” selection agreed with his choice.

Oops, we missed one sad incident in our earlier travels.   One of our bikes slipped off its rack on the back of the car and was seriously damaged as it was dragged down the freeway.  So, in St Louis, Bonnie got a new bike.  She loves it.

Since St Louis is where Lewis and Clark started their cross-the-continent trek, we visited the L&C Boathouse and Museum in St Charles.  That’s the place where they headed out into the wilderness. We know that they used the rivers as they headed west, but the museum’s proximity to the Missouri river was demonstrated by the flooding of the museum’s first floor the week after we left.  Fortunately all the artifacts are on the second floor.

No trip to St Louis would be complete without checking out the new museum at the Arch.   The Arch is great, but I was content to look at it from the ground.  The little cars that take one to the top looked a bit too claustrophobic for my sensibilities.  Yes, the Arch is amazing.

Yes, he actually played "music" with this "instrument"

Enough for now.  Watch for Bonnie’s thoughts about her 50^th college reunion.  She’s assured me that it will be along soon.