After leaving Branson Saturday the 6/25/2016 we end up in Tunica, Mississippi. In one day we went from Missouri, into Arkansas then briefly in and out of Tennessee while ending up in Mississippi. How can that be................well that's the way of the roads we took. Our reservations on the gulf coast are for Tuesday so we're spending our second night here and heading to the coast in the morning. Even at that we may see about checking a day early there since we're not that many hours from Biloxi/Gulfport, Mississippi. Tunica is like a little Casino oasis in the middle of Mississippi, and it hasn't been very friendly either, camped outside a few casinos and sitting in the coach watching TV, these machines are a bit tight to say the least.
We did manage to squeeze in 9 holes of golf between, shows, rain and darkness on Friday evening. Thousand Hills golf club, Branson, Mo. The best par 64 course in the world is how it's billed and that is an understatement, one very difficult course but oh so beautiful. Best fairways I've played on in quite some time and very nice greens, but way too many side-hill, up hill, down hill lies for this duffer..........wow but what a challenge! Regardless we seem to enjoy the punishment in hands out, and with the humidity we both struggle a bit but still have a good time for the most part and keep coming back for more!
We're both looking forward to revisiting some of the places we went on our honeymoon back in 1972, not sure how much things have changed but we think back to some of the pictures and would like to retake a few from the same locations. You know, like here we are in 1972 and here we are now in 2016, I believe there will be some marked changes in us if not the picture locations!
In this day of "Small houses" or Tiny houses" Beverly has lately been referring to our motor home as our "little house" and how much we really love this traveling in our little house! Hell we have roughly 450 sq. ft. of living quarters, including a kitchen, living room, bedroom, bath w/shower and a corner office for Beverly to work in not to mention a hutch and pantry with plenty of storage inside. The basement compartments are numerous and roomy, plenty of storage for sure.
The last fill up with gas was 1.99/gallon and that is making things sweet..........average for the trip so far would be something like 2.12/gallon since leaving home. That is a very good thing and we hope it continues throughout the south!
In closing Branson was worth the visit, you can either spend a lot more time there or bypass it in the future................we may vote for bypass, very commercialized to say the least but some great shows.
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Branson, Missouri
Let me start by saying after all these years I really never remembered or realized Missouri (at least from the Quads down towards Branson) was such a state full of "rolling hills" and not just small bumps! It was a literally a up and down ride all the way to Branson, not like Pikes Peak or the Rockies but some very long up and down grades.....it sure kept me on my toes!
Branson literally has 96 (that I counted) theaters/attractions to visit from music to comedy, singing and dancing and all with "Faith" and "Patriotism" in most underlying themes. We plan on only 4 shows in our three days here, and it is and was a very hard decision to make as to which ones. Just might have to return one day.
We weren't in town 6 hours before we were set up on our camp site and getting ready for the first show, the Showboat Branson dinner cruise on Table Rock Lake. The upgraded tickets were well worth the few extra bucks, from front row mezzanine seating to a top shelf dinner. It stead of the mundane run of the mill chicken dinners with iceberg salads and a piece of cake, we had either Prime Rib, Trout, Mahi Mahi and grilled Pork chops. Very much impressed with the entire evening and with my beautiful best gal. If you're ever visiting Branson we both recommend this cruise and the upgraded seats and meal.
Today it's the Haygoods family (72 sellouts in a row) www.thehaygoods.com and #1 Hit's of the 60's and 50's at the Americana Theater. Tomorrow it will be the Comedy Jamboree and New Jersey Nights (Four Seasons Show). A number of great looking golf courses in the area, but I don't think we'll have time to fit one of them in, only because we have made advance reservations on the Gulf coast beach at Biloxi, Mississippi. With the 4th being during that week we felt we would need the reservations to get a spot anywhere near the beach! I played golf on the USAF base (Keesler AFB) in Biloxi back in 1966/67..........wonder if they'll let me on the give it another go 50 years later?
Looks like maybe rain late today and tomorrow.........got the umbrella out just in case!
Branson literally has 96 (that I counted) theaters/attractions to visit from music to comedy, singing and dancing and all with "Faith" and "Patriotism" in most underlying themes. We plan on only 4 shows in our three days here, and it is and was a very hard decision to make as to which ones. Just might have to return one day.
We weren't in town 6 hours before we were set up on our camp site and getting ready for the first show, the Showboat Branson dinner cruise on Table Rock Lake. The upgraded tickets were well worth the few extra bucks, from front row mezzanine seating to a top shelf dinner. It stead of the mundane run of the mill chicken dinners with iceberg salads and a piece of cake, we had either Prime Rib, Trout, Mahi Mahi and grilled Pork chops. Very much impressed with the entire evening and with my beautiful best gal. If you're ever visiting Branson we both recommend this cruise and the upgraded seats and meal.
Today it's the Haygoods family (72 sellouts in a row) www.thehaygoods.com and #1 Hit's of the 60's and 50's at the Americana Theater. Tomorrow it will be the Comedy Jamboree and New Jersey Nights (Four Seasons Show). A number of great looking golf courses in the area, but I don't think we'll have time to fit one of them in, only because we have made advance reservations on the Gulf coast beach at Biloxi, Mississippi. With the 4th being during that week we felt we would need the reservations to get a spot anywhere near the beach! I played golf on the USAF base (Keesler AFB) in Biloxi back in 1966/67..........wonder if they'll let me on the give it another go 50 years later?
Looks like maybe rain late today and tomorrow.........got the umbrella out just in case!
Monday, June 20, 2016
Monday 6/20 Columbia, Missouri
Got out of Davenport and Thompson's Trailer and RV service center by 10:15 am this morning. Had an appointment at Thompson's for 8:15 to have some wiring checked out between coach and tow vehicle. There was a short and some corrosion in both the 7-way and the 4-way connections, an hour and a half later we hooking the car up and getting ready to head south on Hwy 61. Highway 61 is what we took last year up to Superior, Wisconsin and now this year heading south on the same road departing Davenport. Hwy 61 to Hwy 24 to Hwy 63 and here we are for the night in Columbia, Missouri at the Cottonwood RV Park. Shouldn't be more than about 3 hours into Branson, Missouri tomorrow, no place picked out to stay yet just hoping for a good spot in a clean RV park.
These secondary and state highways are in some ways nice and in others not. Stop and go in all the small towns along the way, but usually some good sights in each place.........real Americana if you know what I mean. Then again the rest stops and almost non-existent for the most part and usually difficult in and out for a rig like ours. Gas dipped to $2.01 around Monroe, Missouri but back up to $2.15 here in Columbia, we'll see what going further south does tomorrow. To this point we've traveled 1946 miles since leaving Phoenix (holy cow batman...I was born in 1946) and we're only getting started, Bev keeps adding places to stop.
Just happen to think, I feel like Paul Revere or Ben Franklin and the like sitting here drinking from my new copper mug, Ice water, coffee and oh yes Moscow Mules are all good in the copper!
Started raining and storming shortly after we got set up here at about 7 pm and the storming has subsided but the rain continues, ought to be some good sleeping tonight with the pitter patter of rain drops hitting the roof. We could us a few good night sleeps after 3 jam packed weeks in Iowa and all the visiting and activities we took part in, it's always great fun filling those 3 weeks with new memories and thoughts of those of times gone by! We sincerely thank all our friends and family for the hospitality we're always shown.
Our last visit with Mom was a good one, she did at first remember both of us and the again on and off while we were visiting, we made that our last visit wanting to remember her remembering us as best she could. It's very emotional seeing your Mother like that and just talking with my sister Nancy about her causes us both to feel sad, it's just so hard.
TV is back on the storm and rain must be letting up a bit, got an old western to watch, my favorite thing to do don't ya know!
These secondary and state highways are in some ways nice and in others not. Stop and go in all the small towns along the way, but usually some good sights in each place.........real Americana if you know what I mean. Then again the rest stops and almost non-existent for the most part and usually difficult in and out for a rig like ours. Gas dipped to $2.01 around Monroe, Missouri but back up to $2.15 here in Columbia, we'll see what going further south does tomorrow. To this point we've traveled 1946 miles since leaving Phoenix (holy cow batman...I was born in 1946) and we're only getting started, Bev keeps adding places to stop.
Just happen to think, I feel like Paul Revere or Ben Franklin and the like sitting here drinking from my new copper mug, Ice water, coffee and oh yes Moscow Mules are all good in the copper!
Started raining and storming shortly after we got set up here at about 7 pm and the storming has subsided but the rain continues, ought to be some good sleeping tonight with the pitter patter of rain drops hitting the roof. We could us a few good night sleeps after 3 jam packed weeks in Iowa and all the visiting and activities we took part in, it's always great fun filling those 3 weeks with new memories and thoughts of those of times gone by! We sincerely thank all our friends and family for the hospitality we're always shown.
Our last visit with Mom was a good one, she did at first remember both of us and the again on and off while we were visiting, we made that our last visit wanting to remember her remembering us as best she could. It's very emotional seeing your Mother like that and just talking with my sister Nancy about her causes us both to feel sad, it's just so hard.
TV is back on the storm and rain must be letting up a bit, got an old western to watch, my favorite thing to do don't ya know!
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Sunday a.m. 6/19 Happy Fathers Day
Happy Fathers Day to me (and all the fathers out there), one of the downer's to being on the road and away from my family on this day. I miss my kids today and really miss my grand kids today! Maybe I'll get a surprise face time call or phone call later (we are two hours ahead here in Davenport and it's now only 7:00 am.
After a week full of golf, yes we played 3 time this past week and are very thankful the weather has cooperated so well this year, now we gear up for the next venture down the road tomorrow morning. We will be heading toward Branson, Mo. in the morning and even though it's only like 10 hours south it will probably be two days travel for us.
The weight loss plans we have been on since the end of February have taken a bit of a hit these past 3 weeks in Iowa, but in a way we kind of expected that. Now on the rest of our journey we can do more of our eating in the coach and not restaurants with family and friends. Bev has been afraid to step on the scale, but I have and this 3 weeks cost me 7 pounds of the 31 I had lost before leaving Phoenix. Better meals and maybe a little more golf and walking and we will get back on track for our goals!
After a Mexican feast last night we will be going to a BBQ at niece and nephew John and Katheryn's place just like last year, only like I said the kids won't be with us this time. It still will be nice to be with family today and we thank them for the hospitality and thoughtfulness. I would like to see my Mom once more before we leave, not sure if that will happen though. Our second visit with Mom at the Lutheran Home was a bit more enjoyable, she actually for the most part remembered who we were and that was good. It's emotional seeing her like that, but this place is so nice and they really all love her there and take great care of her..........she seems really happy! Until you are in this situation of your Mother not knowing who you are you can't imagine how sad it make you. It has to be the worst, but she continues to smile and we wonder what she is really thinking inside. Not sure she new who we were when we left the other day, but upon greeting her she said "Michael" and that was so nice the hear!!!
Well I need to start putting the outside things away, like chairs and grille and get ready to dump sewer etc. so we can be all set to head out in the morning. I make it sound like a chore, and it is, but really just a routine we have gotten into and it's not all that bad. It the bending down that gets me the worst but that comes with age I guess. I've stocked up on Boetje's (pronounced Boat-Chee) stone ground mustard made right here in the Quad Cities and some Jim's Rib Haven BBQ sauce. The Boetje's is a Five time worldwide award winning mustard!!!
Next blog will most likely come from Missouri and the Branson area.
After a week full of golf, yes we played 3 time this past week and are very thankful the weather has cooperated so well this year, now we gear up for the next venture down the road tomorrow morning. We will be heading toward Branson, Mo. in the morning and even though it's only like 10 hours south it will probably be two days travel for us.
The weight loss plans we have been on since the end of February have taken a bit of a hit these past 3 weeks in Iowa, but in a way we kind of expected that. Now on the rest of our journey we can do more of our eating in the coach and not restaurants with family and friends. Bev has been afraid to step on the scale, but I have and this 3 weeks cost me 7 pounds of the 31 I had lost before leaving Phoenix. Better meals and maybe a little more golf and walking and we will get back on track for our goals!
After a Mexican feast last night we will be going to a BBQ at niece and nephew John and Katheryn's place just like last year, only like I said the kids won't be with us this time. It still will be nice to be with family today and we thank them for the hospitality and thoughtfulness. I would like to see my Mom once more before we leave, not sure if that will happen though. Our second visit with Mom at the Lutheran Home was a bit more enjoyable, she actually for the most part remembered who we were and that was good. It's emotional seeing her like that, but this place is so nice and they really all love her there and take great care of her..........she seems really happy! Until you are in this situation of your Mother not knowing who you are you can't imagine how sad it make you. It has to be the worst, but she continues to smile and we wonder what she is really thinking inside. Not sure she new who we were when we left the other day, but upon greeting her she said "Michael" and that was so nice the hear!!!
Well I need to start putting the outside things away, like chairs and grille and get ready to dump sewer etc. so we can be all set to head out in the morning. I make it sound like a chore, and it is, but really just a routine we have gotten into and it's not all that bad. It the bending down that gets me the worst but that comes with age I guess. I've stocked up on Boetje's (pronounced Boat-Chee) stone ground mustard made right here in the Quad Cities and some Jim's Rib Haven BBQ sauce. The Boetje's is a Five time worldwide award winning mustard!!!
Next blog will most likely come from Missouri and the Branson area.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Thursday 6/16/2016....relaxing day scheduled
Today Bev will start with a little work, it usually has to wait a bit due to the time change being two hours difference from here in Iowa. We got caught up on laundry yesterday, hair care is on today's schedule and then my sister Nancy has plans for us to accompany them to the "grand opening" of the new Rhythm City Casino just off of I-80 and I-74 junction. The old river boat casino will now be dry docked north of Davenport rather than on the Mississippi. Hope we have a bit of luck tonight while gaming at this new landmark in the Quad Cities! http://rhythmcitycasino.com/
I will be doing some window washing this morning and general cleaning around the motor home today..........always a little house keeping even on the road!
I will be doing some window washing this morning and general cleaning around the motor home today..........always a little house keeping even on the road!
Journey of 2016 begins......
Let me begin by saying we left Phoenix on May 27th this year, a few days earlier than normal and now it's the 14th of June so I have some catching up to do. I decided today to do the blog again this year, not that it's being brought back due to popular demand but because I enjoy it. Let's do some quick catching up, we arrive once again at Adventureland park, Altoona, Iowa just outside of Des Moines. We have family in the Des Moines area in the way of Bev's brother and his family, nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews who we love visiting. Once again it was a great week of visiting the Ackelson, Carico and Ahrendsen families. Bev took in the famous "Farmers Market" downtown Des Moines, we both played a little golf too! Bev and I played Copper Creek and then I played Bright-Grand View with Bob and Mason, missed playing with Steve this year which is always a pleasure and something I look forward to. We did get two VIP passes to the Principle Senior golf tournament while we were in town, yep... from Steve and as good as a round of golf. Box seats on the 18th green with all the food and drink you wanted, too bad Bev and I have been on weight loss plans we could have really chowed down! It was a great day of watching some of the pros we are more familiar with, including John Daley and his road show! A very enjoyable day and we thank Steve for being so thoughtful.
The Des Moines area was once again a week full of fun and family, from soccer games to birthday parties, to golf, horse racing and dinners and morning coffee. Despite everyone still working when we visit we seem to always cram in as much time together as humanly possible. We sure appreciate all of them taking the time to help entertain us visitors from the far West while in their neck of the woods.
We arrived in Davenport on the 6th of May and parked the motor home at West Lake park once again this year. We do enjoy parking at West Lake for a number of reasons, close to friends and family, close to just about everything but of course there isn't anything in the Quad Cities too far from wherever you are. We attend both the Anderson and the Ackelson reunion the second weekend of June each since getting the motor home. The Anderson reunion has only been revived since I believe 2008 when I asked my sister Nancy to try and get something going that first year we drove the motor home back to our roots. It's been well attended ever since and it's always good to see family if for only once a year.
After our 10th day here in Davenport Bev and I have played 3 rounds of golf (9 holes each) and I must say in this humidity it feels like 18 holes when we finish. We will play our last round on Friday with brother Russ at Duck Creek golf course, a shorter, easier course for Bev's game and she has enjoyed playing it for the most part. The rest of the week here looks good weather wise, sunny and mid 80's and we can take that. We did have our rain days this year as always, but it's only been for 3 days so far. It's about this time each year after about 3 weeks in Iowa we're ready to continue on our journey which will be a new direction for a change.
Weather, storms and heat may change the plans, but for now it's the journey heading to Branson, MO. onto the gulf coast and Biloxi, New Orleans and then east towards Florida then turning north into the Carolina's, Virginia back towards the west and Tennessee and who knows from there on........I will try and keep up this year and make this blog interesting at the same time letting the readers know where we are have been and what we're up to. Hope you enjoy.
The Des Moines area was once again a week full of fun and family, from soccer games to birthday parties, to golf, horse racing and dinners and morning coffee. Despite everyone still working when we visit we seem to always cram in as much time together as humanly possible. We sure appreciate all of them taking the time to help entertain us visitors from the far West while in their neck of the woods.
We arrived in Davenport on the 6th of May and parked the motor home at West Lake park once again this year. We do enjoy parking at West Lake for a number of reasons, close to friends and family, close to just about everything but of course there isn't anything in the Quad Cities too far from wherever you are. We attend both the Anderson and the Ackelson reunion the second weekend of June each since getting the motor home. The Anderson reunion has only been revived since I believe 2008 when I asked my sister Nancy to try and get something going that first year we drove the motor home back to our roots. It's been well attended ever since and it's always good to see family if for only once a year.
After our 10th day here in Davenport Bev and I have played 3 rounds of golf (9 holes each) and I must say in this humidity it feels like 18 holes when we finish. We will play our last round on Friday with brother Russ at Duck Creek golf course, a shorter, easier course for Bev's game and she has enjoyed playing it for the most part. The rest of the week here looks good weather wise, sunny and mid 80's and we can take that. We did have our rain days this year as always, but it's only been for 3 days so far. It's about this time each year after about 3 weeks in Iowa we're ready to continue on our journey which will be a new direction for a change.
Weather, storms and heat may change the plans, but for now it's the journey heading to Branson, MO. onto the gulf coast and Biloxi, New Orleans and then east towards Florida then turning north into the Carolina's, Virginia back towards the west and Tennessee and who knows from there on........I will try and keep up this year and make this blog interesting at the same time letting the readers know where we are have been and what we're up to. Hope you enjoy.
Monday, September 28, 2015
I've Evolved......not Flip-Flopping?
I'm starting to get a real kick out of some of these candidates running for office in our country, and the media reporting the so called news. Reporting, I'm not sure we can call it reporting any longer, it's more like campaigning for liberals by the vastly liberal media......but that's a different subject.
What used to be lying, pandering, flip-flopping is now being conveyed as evolving....I have evolved since then, the world is evolving, our country is evolving...bullshit! Just like we didn't evolve from a monkey, these politicians aren't evolving, their just changing their minds to go along with those folks who's vote they want at the time. Flip-flopping (an abrupt reversal) to please the crowd at the time, why can't we just say "dude, I changed my mind on that issue"? Is it so bad to change your mind, has not everyone changed their mind now and again? No you don't evolve on all these subjects you flat out change your mind to please those whom you seek their approval.
All of a sudden liberal candidates who once believed marriage is between a man and a women as God has taught us, are now pimping themselves for those few votes from those believing their gay or as God calls them an abomination! You really think Barrack Obama and his wife Michelle or Hillary and Bill would rather their daughters lay down with another female and not care one way or another? Do those of you who follow and agree with them really don't care who your sons or daughters lays down with? Do you really think they'd rather their daughters never conceived an heir to the family name or lineage, or never give them blood grandchildren? I for one am very pleased to have my grandchildren and don't know what I'd have done without them. No I believe they're looking for votes and will get on whichever side of the fence is convenient at the time. Do they really stand with those on an issue like this if they have a child and are looking forward to grandchildren....I believe they are doing nothing but pandering!
No, don't give me this crap "I've evolved" on that issue or because the "world is evolving when it comes to that or this" no just tell me you changed your mind to get a few more votes. We all want our children to do it the way God intended, to give us grandchildren the way Adam and Eve started this world. God created a Man and a Women to look after the other creature of the earth, and to marry and have children. These are my opinions and the way I believe, just saying........even candidates can change their minds and should be able to without getting so much flack.
If there are a couple of words/phrases that just drive me up a wall now days it's "I've evolved" or "Don't Judge" or "Don't Judge Me"...........giving ones opinion is not judging and changing ones mind is not evolving.........
What used to be lying, pandering, flip-flopping is now being conveyed as evolving....I have evolved since then, the world is evolving, our country is evolving...bullshit! Just like we didn't evolve from a monkey, these politicians aren't evolving, their just changing their minds to go along with those folks who's vote they want at the time. Flip-flopping (an abrupt reversal) to please the crowd at the time, why can't we just say "dude, I changed my mind on that issue"? Is it so bad to change your mind, has not everyone changed their mind now and again? No you don't evolve on all these subjects you flat out change your mind to please those whom you seek their approval.
All of a sudden liberal candidates who once believed marriage is between a man and a women as God has taught us, are now pimping themselves for those few votes from those believing their gay or as God calls them an abomination! You really think Barrack Obama and his wife Michelle or Hillary and Bill would rather their daughters lay down with another female and not care one way or another? Do those of you who follow and agree with them really don't care who your sons or daughters lays down with? Do you really think they'd rather their daughters never conceived an heir to the family name or lineage, or never give them blood grandchildren? I for one am very pleased to have my grandchildren and don't know what I'd have done without them. No I believe they're looking for votes and will get on whichever side of the fence is convenient at the time. Do they really stand with those on an issue like this if they have a child and are looking forward to grandchildren....I believe they are doing nothing but pandering!
No, don't give me this crap "I've evolved" on that issue or because the "world is evolving when it comes to that or this" no just tell me you changed your mind to get a few more votes. We all want our children to do it the way God intended, to give us grandchildren the way Adam and Eve started this world. God created a Man and a Women to look after the other creature of the earth, and to marry and have children. These are my opinions and the way I believe, just saying........even candidates can change their minds and should be able to without getting so much flack.
If there are a couple of words/phrases that just drive me up a wall now days it's "I've evolved" or "Don't Judge" or "Don't Judge Me"...........giving ones opinion is not judging and changing ones mind is not evolving.........
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
