Branson, MO (USA)

We all got up at 0530L so we could beat the traffic. Left around 0615L. On I-35W north (and then I-35), not much traffic. Ended up timing Oklahoma City traffic just right, too - switched to I-44. Toll road pretty easy (except for the requirement to have exact change for the unmanned exits... We actually got stuck behind someone at the toll booth who didn't bring any money! Saw lots of Indian reservations - might be interesting to stop. Weather was pretty nice (mostly clear, mid 20s C). Stopped for gas in Tulsa - at a gas station with a major police operation in progress (luckily didn't affect us). Hadn't been in that little city in over 20 years (see OCT 1989). Continued on I-44 (toll road again) through Oklahoma - made it to Missouri around 1215L. Ozarks became evident - pretty. Got off the interstate in Springfield - took US-65 South. Hit a huge rainstorm!!! Luckily, it was just for a few minutes. Arrived in Branson around 1415L. We are staying at the Grand Country Inn - pretty neat place (restaurant, game room, variety shows, water park - all on the property). Had some trouble checking in (they had misunderstood our reservation requests - but the manager fixed everything). Had to pay in advance... That all took some time, but we avoided another huge rainstorm. We got unpacked in our connecting bedroom "suite". Katie and her family arrived soon after - in my dad's RV. It was great to see them all and the kids were all excited about having time together. Everyone changed and went to the water park. Katie, Nicky and I worked out plans for the evening, deciding on Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede. Kids came back around 1745L and we changed for the dinner show. Crammed everyone into our mini-van (it worked!). Made it to the "pre-show" just in time. Our tickets included free "boot cups" and drinks - and we added delicious buckets of popcorn, which the kids scarfed down quickly. While we waited to enter the arena, we were entertained in the Carriage Room by David Lucas. He performed some amazing stunts with chairs, rings, tennis rackets and golf clubs - he even played music and told funny jokes. Around 1930L we filed into the huge arena and got front row seating for the main event. We saw plenty of horse riding, audience participation stunts, pig racing and - even better - we were treated to some fun North versus South cheering and competition. I watched the kids faces and could tell they REALLY enjoyed the performance. We even bought some little flags to wave - the kids like that too. During the entertainment, a waitress came by every few minutes to deposit some new kind of tasty food on our plates (no silverware): biscuits, soup, a whole rotisserie chicken, pork loin, potato wedge, corn on the cob. Johnnie commented later that it was good "but they kept giving me food when I didn't ask for it!" It took a long time to leave the arena after the show but we got to talk to the performers. Photos of the family (taken as we had entered) were OK - we wanted to buy them but ended up re-taking them for an even more memorable keepsake. Walked back to the car via the horse stables. Drove back to the hotel in our "clown car" (as John called it) and we arrived just in time to watch a motorcycle show in the parking lot (guys rode around in a cage!). Kids liked that. Back at the room, heard them giggling for at least another hour in the room next door (connected by a door, fortunately) - they all liked being with their cousins... What a fun day!