We soldier on

We strike a problem as we’re about to leave Kansas and head to Nebraska.  Our 5^th wheel has a bent axle.  We end up spending a couple of extra days in Kansas while we sort out what we’re going to do.  It’s going to take 2 weeks to get fixed so we drop the 5^th wheel off and head south to Arkansas and Tennessee.  First though, we have to get out of Missouri. 

Our new best friends
- The AAA

Not always easy when you find interesting things to do along the way.  First up, Carthage that is home to Red Oak II.  Red Oak the original was a crumbling ghost town until Lowell Davis came along.  All four of his grandparents were from Red Oak so he felt an attachment – so much so that he transported the buildings to his property in Carthage and set about restoring them.  When he finished with Red Oak he started picking up some decaying buildings on the old Route 66 and restoring them.  Some of the buildings are now rented out, most are just for show.

Plumbers Nightmare at Red Oak II



Almost small enough to tow -
Jean checking it out for size

Spent the night in Joplin and had a look around the town and it’s environs the next day before heading east to Springfield and Branson.  Springfield has The Fantastic Caverns – we’ve been seeing their road signs the past 3 states so thought we’d pay them a visit.  It’s a ride-thru cave, one of only 4 in the world.  We have now done 2 of them, having visited Harrison’s Cave in Barbados a few years ago.  Saves the old shoe leather being driven through the caves but does make one feel a tad lazy.

Entrance to the cave

Low ceiling - don't forget to duck

Fantastic Caverns, Springfield



The Titanic is alive and well
and working in
Branson, Missouri

Branson has grown from a one-horse town into a real tourist trap, with prices to match.  It’s also known as The Entertainment Capital of America (that could just be some locals talking it up) but there are dozens of shows you can attend.  Go karts, bumper boats, reverse bungees, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Hollywood Wax Museum, Titanic Museum and untold others vie for your tourist dollars.  Sue went to the Adventures of Marco Polo show the first night but mostly we enjoyed walking up and down “The Strip” or Country Highway 76.  

,,, as is King Kong atop the
Hollywood Wax Museum

We did visit Branson’s Landing to watch the Fire & Water feature that plays hourly.  Best seen at night time when the lights really stand out.  Highlight of the show was a 3 year old boy who decided to dance along to the music.  He was so entertaining.  Jean has put a link to the You Tube video on Facebook otherwise look it up searching Three Year Old at Branson's Landing.
It started raining so we sought refuge in the best way possible…

Finally left Missouri, dropping into Arkansas.  First stop was Berryville where we visited Snake World.  All snakes safely behind glass.  I’m in two minds whether I enjoy seeing animals in this kind of environment, actually I didn’t enjoy it but did find it interesting.  Hearing the rattlesnakes is sure to be a help if I come across them in their natural habitat.



Jean waiting out of the rain
for the trolley bus



One of the many beautifully restored
houses in Eureka Springs

We both fell in love with a town called Eureka Springs.  It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and has some absolutely gorgeous restored (or well maintained) Victorian buildings throughout the town.  We easily could have spent a few days here but a road trip is about driving to the next place (ours is anyway) so onwards we went.

Because we spent so long at Eureka Springs we were quite late arriving at our overnight stop at Fayetteville.  This did, however, give us a lot more time the next day to travel on The Pig Trail through the Ozarks.  Nice, winding road with a few hills through some beautiful greenery.  There are a lot of motorbike trails through these hills along with a lot of motorbikes.  Still can’t get over people not wearing helmets on bikes though.  It just doesn’t seem right.

Travelled through this type of countryside for miles

One of our stops on the Pig Trail was Terra Studios.  It’s a lovely place set in park like surroundings.  Whimsical art work all around the grounds and we were able to watch the glass bluebirds of happiness being made.  Really worth the couple of hours we spent wandering through.

Fortunately these cars don't drive on the Interstate

Jean comforts a sad little person? animal? troll?

Anyone for tea?

Had some car trouble in Harrison (it never rains but it pours) when the fuel pump decided to stop working.  There were other related issues that all you mechanics out there will know about that turned our overnight stop in Harrison into an expensive couple of days.  In saying that though, the good folks at Clay Maxey Ford really looked after us and got us back on the road pretty smartly.  They even have a popcorn maker in their client waiting room.  How good is that!

Back on the road again we headed for the town of Fifty Six (yep, that’s its name) and the Blanchard Springs Cavern.  We were a bit dubious about visiting more caves so soon after the last ones but we weren’t disappointed.  Wow!  You ever get the chance, visit these caves and, if you have the time, take the wild cave tour where you get down and get dirty.

Do not adjust your computer - this image is not upside down

It's a battleship, it's a city, it's a ....

Next stop was Little Rock and again, we had to travel through some pretty scenic countryside to get to it.  Loving Arkansas.