Stargazing (again)

This was before the Branson trip. Our Michigan friends Tom and Kathy hiked with us to Abrams Falls in Cades Cove, then we joined the other tourists in a big meadow at sunset. The Park Ranger gave a program on the stars that we could see so very clearly in the dark sky away from any light pollution.

I know, I know -- we seem to be spending a lot of time lying on the ground in the dark lately ... maybe it's a sign of our approaching old-fogey-ness.

Fountains at Branson Landings

There were great fountains in a park beside an upscale shopping center in Branson. (For example, there was a "Gourmet Mexican Restaurant" ... isn't that a great indication of upscale?!)

The water shot up in time to recorded music every hour on the hour.

Flames

The fountains got really exciting when the flames started shooting up!

Fly fishing in a ditch

No photos with this one, but a fun story.

Just across the busy street from the little sports bar we went to on Saturday we saw several guys practicing fly fishing ... casting the flies along a grassy ditch, between a paved parking lot and car loads of tourists going by. If they mis-aimed even a little they were likely to catch an automobile.

When we were joking about it back in the bar, a young fellow at the next table said earnestly, "But, these rods and all the equipment are very expensive; you really need to try them out before you buy."

We said, "We get that, but usually whenever we've seen guys trying them out there was water involved, if not actual fish."

He was so serious, and he never got what we thought was so funny. Turned out he had arrived in town the afternoon before and had been out fishing with his buddy until about three a.m., so I guess the lack of sleep may have explained his lack of levity.

The four of us still laugh whenever we think about it; maybe you had to be there to appreciate it!

Branson Railway

Bill and Donna and John are ready to begin our train ride from Branson Missouri into Arkansas (out in the middle of nowhere). Just a fun ride with no destination.

Branson train leaving the station

The train had an engine on each end; we didn't have to turn around at the end of the run, we just used the other engine to pull us back the way we had come. This scene is at the beginning, with the station roof showing over the cars.

Several of the cars had domed roofs, which made it easy to see out. The other cars were the standard sort. All of them were rather low budget, but decent, and trains are always fun.

Tunnel

We are just coming out of one of the two tunnels on our 20-mile ride. I am sitting in the dome car to take the photo.

UT Football

The friends we are traveling with are also big University of Tennessee football fans, so on Saturday we all went to a sports bar to watch the game on tv. Actually, it was apparently the ONLY sports bar in Branson ... it was quite a dive, but one of the tv's was tuned to ESPN and they had plenty of beer, so all was well.

The Beatles

Tonite we went to a "Beatles" concert ... the four guys looked like them and played and sang their songs. Here I am on stage with "George Harrison" and "Ringo Starr." I'm hitting a tambourine over my head.

They invited everyone on stage who had a birthday in October, so our friend Donna and I both got to go up. It was a blast!

Cap'n Bubba

I had a chance to help Cap'n Bubba steer the Duck when we were in the water. Here we ham it up while the boat apparently was steering itself.

Quackers

When we rode the Duck, we all had "quackers" which were plastic whistles shaped like duck bills. We blew through them to make a quacking noise. John and I both were enthusiastic goof balls and quacked often.

Branson MO

Here we are in Branson. The "mountains" are 1400 feet - but the hills are still pretty. Probably will start their fall color change just as we leave. (Leave -- get it?!)

The first two days were warm and sunny with a bright blue sky. We took advantage and rode the "Duck" (amphibious vehicles) and the train. The Duck took us into Table Rock Lake; I had a turn driving it.

Home again

We drove home uneventfully a week or so ago. Were practically followed in the door by house guests (very welcome ones -- the Nesbitts from Michigan) and had a wonderful weekend with them. We drove around in Cades' Cove, hiked to Abrams Falls, then stayed for a ranger-led star-gazing event. The ranger said she was using a laser pointer, but none of us could see it. Fun to lie on a blanket and see the stars on a dark, clear night, though, anyway. Clear enough to see the Milky Way, which is often obscured by light pollution any place where we ever happen to be.

Yesterday and the day before I worked on a Habitat House again. I volunteered for the roofing crew ... didn't realize till I got there that this one is a two story house! No problem though, but a little sobering at first.

Tomorrow morning we will go with friends to Branson, Missouri for a relaxing week watching shows, enjoying the mountain scenery, and playing card/board games in the down times.

Still here

Hi, just a quick note to say I'm still around, even if I haven't been blogging much lately.

Still in Florida, still writing. John's here, too.

We'll go over to his brother's this evening to see the job they've just finished doing painting their interior walls, then out to dinner somewhere. Lots of good places to eat here!