GROVE, OK to BRANSON, MO (SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 2009)

I hate Molly!
If I ever find that little whimp, I’ll wring her neck!
I programmed “her” Saturday evening…
Took me hours to do so, of course, but, in spite of that, I was pretty confident we were on the same wavelength when I went to bed…
Took our sweet time getting ready Sunday morning…
We had to “unplug” everything, and drive over to the “dump” (since we didn’t have a sewer hookup at our campsite… Only water and electricity) before leaving Bear‘s Den for good…
All went well…. Until we pulled up to the road…
“Turn left on to Highway 59.”
She had decided (all on her own) that she wanted us to go North instead of South.
I wanted to go through Arkansas (since we were a hop and a skip away from there), and, to my way of thinking, this is the shortest way to get to Branson, Missouri…
Molly, evidently, had something against that, and, as I turned South, she began the first of a million whines:
“RE-CAL-CU-LATING”
She sounds so disgusted, and I want to know who the heck taught her how to complain like that? I’ll have a few words with him/her as well…
She wanted me to turn around at every crossroad, and, since I had no inkling to do her bidding, I finally turned her off… Figured she’d realize her boo-boo and come around to my way of thinking down the road a ways…
Not so…
That little “rear end” (gotta keep it clean) kept on “RE-CAL-CU-LATING” every time I turned her on…. For miles and miles… and miles…..
Not until we were well into the Ozark mountains did she finally capitulate.
Not a good day for that little broad!
We traveled highways 59, 10, 20, 72, 71, 62, and 65 through Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri today, and it was a magnificent road trip, to say the least!
The trip through the Ozarks is breathtaking… There are incredible hairpin turns, and lots of ups and downs that wears on both you and your breaks (not to mention your wife and marriage), but when you’re in a place like this, you take it easy, and you don’t give a hoot about who is behind you…. They just have to wait until there’s a big enough space for me to pull off so they can pass…. Sometimes that can be miles and miles, which stacks them up pretty good behind me… Oh, well…..
So we get into Branson, and believe it or not, Molly took us right to Treasure Lake Resort (probably felt bad about the way she acted this morning), and we got ourselves fully hooked up, which was a feat in itself in the over 100° temperature.
After a well deserved rest, we headed into Old Town, which is very nicely done… Basically, the old cobblestone roads have been revamped into pedestrian areas with all sorts of shops, boutiques, restaurants, and what-have-you… Great place to stroll down the middle of the road, since no cars are allowed.
Every hour there’s a fountain and fire show right next to the river, and we happened to be there when it took place… The National Anthem was synchronized with the display, and was fantastic!
Funny, but I get Goosebumps every time I hear it!
Seems like Branson is nestled on top, and around a bunch of hills, and the Main Strip is a replica (if you will) of Las Vegas… It would almost be impossible to walk the whole length…. I’d imagine it would probably take you a whole day, and that would be during the cold season.
There are hundreds of shows and acts, and fancy theaters everywhere… All you need is money and time, and you’d have a blast around here.
Don’t know for sure which one yet, but we’re taking in a show tonight…. And probably one tomorrow, as well?
That’s it for now… It’s 11am Monday morning, and time for something or other….
PICTURES:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Kjell.and.Luanne/LEAVINGGROVEOKDRIVINGTHRUARKANSASToBRANSONMISSOURISUNAUG162009#