More Branson Adventures

Today we went back out to Table Rock Lake to bike and to go to the Corps of Engineers Dewey Short Visitor Center.

The Corps gives this description: "The visitor center has exhibits about the White River Watershed, local habitats, Table Rock Dam, and the US Army Corps of Engineers as well as several interactive exhibits including maps, power generation and water safety. It also features an overlook which allows visitors to view Table Rock Lake, the dam, and Lake Taneycomo from one viewing deck. The center shows a 20 minute film entitled, "Taming of the Riviera Blanche". This film is an introduction to the Table Rock Lake/White River area and details the construction and purpose of Table Rock Dam." Of course we did it all.

In the evening we went to see the Haygoods.  Currently five brothers and their sister perform in the show. It is quite a spectacle, with laser lights, foggers, pyrotechnics, and performers arriving via zip line, but it is also a group of very talented musicians. They put on a very entertaining, fast moving show.

Catherine sings and plays the saxophone, violin, piano, drums, guitar and harp during the show. [pic from https://thehaygoods.com/2017/08/haygood-profile-catherine-haygood/]

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The Beach Boys California Dreamin'

We enjoyed this high energy trip down memory lane at Hamner's Variety Theater. Here's the blurb:

Returning for it’s 5th season in Branson with a newly reimagined production! Beach Boys California Dreamin’ takes audiences on a musical journey to the West coast beaches of the 1960s! Enjoy all of your favorite Beach Boys hits, as the talented cast delivers these classic songs with true authentic style. There are even tributes to the other artists of the surf rock craze, as well as those who were influenced by them. Beautiful vocal harmonies, energizing dance, comedy, colorful costumes and sets, gorgeous lighting and video, and historical narrative come together to make this an experience you won’t want to miss.
Surfin’ U.S.A., California Girls, Help Me Rhonda, Fun Fun Fun, Little Deuce Coupe, God Only Knows, and I Get Around are only a few of the Beach Boys classics that will delight your senses during this nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Stephen Odom

Chelsie Odom

Caitlin Secrest

James Allen

Giddyup, giddyup, 4-0-9: surfing scene evolves to include muscle car music.

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Even More College of the Ozarks

We went back to the college today to bike ride and sightsee. We stopped in at the Star School, an 1800's era one room schoolhouse located next to the Ralph Foster Museum. Originally located near McDowell, Missouri, it was taken apart in sections and reconstructed here.

The interior is well furnished. Plaques on the wall detail the very restrictive rules governing teachers in those days.

We also visited the Edwards Mill, a working grist mill constructed by students in 1972, using timber harvested from older Missouri mills. Students grind and sell whole grain meal and flour products. The building is also used by students weaving baskets and creating textiles.

Finally we visited some of the greenhouses to see the school's orchid collection.

Very few of the orchids were in bloom, but we saw a few spectacular ones.

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More College of the Ozarks

Today we returned to campus, this time to visit the Ralph Foster Museum. It's impossible to adequately describe this place. It's three floors of very eclectic collections and displays. Some are related to the history and culture of the Ozarks. Others just seem pretty much off the wall.

Here's the most famous display: the original Beverly Hillbillies car.

In another area we found this 1/4 scale model of the Wright Brothers' first airplane. The model was made by students.

An extensive taxidermy collection is dispersed throughout the museum. These polar bears are the most arresting exhibits. The standing bear is nine feet tall.

We have never seen such a diverse collection under one roof.

The college chapel, the Williams Memorial Chapel, was built by students. "[It] is an outstanding example of neo-Gothic architecture. The structure, dedicated in 1956, measures 150 feet long and 80 feet wide, with an 80-foot-high vaulted ceiling and impressive stained glass windows."

This evening we went back for dinner at the Keeter Center. It's a farm to table operation. Students produce most of the ingredients in the campus greenhouses, farms, dairy, etc. Students also serve as wait staff and assist in food preparation.

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College of the Ozarks--"Hard Work U"

The College of the Ozarks was founded in 1906 as the School of the Ozarks. It's only a couple of miles from our RV park, so we decided to go bike ride there for exercise. It's a lovely campus and a great place to bike, with just enough up and downhills to keep things interesting.

From Point Lookout on campus you can see for miles. Lake Taneycomo lies below, and you can see Branson in the distance.

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Unique Unit

We often see unusual camping units as we travel, but some really stand out. There's an unusually decorated A-liner at Turkey Creek RV Village, the Escapees RV park we are staying at near Branson, MO.

Snoopy the Flying Ace especially caught our eye because Ken's son Jeff is a big Snoopy fan (and who isn't?).

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The MKT Nature and Fitness Trail

We took our last bike ride today, since we're leaving tomorrow. We chose to ride the MKT spur from Columbia south to the Katy Trail. It's a crushed gravel trail and mainly wooded. The section near Columbia is popular with cyclists, runners, dog walkers, and walkers.

Farther south we biked across the through truss bridge over Perche Creek, one of the creeks we had crossed on the Katy Trail earlier.

Where the MKT meets the Katy Trail is the Hindman Junction. We biked west a short distance from there to the McBaine Trailhead, where we ate our picnic lunch before biking back to Columbia.

We saw a Prius in the McBaine parking lot that caught our attention.

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Columbia, MO

We went to Pizza Tree in Columbia for dinner tonight and then strolled around "The District"

Situated between three colleges, The District (50 not-so-square blocks downtown) is a hip, active and artistic area. The District's friendly and energetic vibe is up early and stays late, with a lively mix of historic architecture, sidewalk cafes, retail shops, and restaurants.

The streets were bustling, mainly with students. The bar near the pizza place had $2 drinks, so you can imagine the crowds.

We were struck by the "Keys to the City" sculpture outside the City Hall Addition.

We saw lots of interesting public art and architecture.

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Total Eclipse of the Katy Trail

The big day finally arrived as we woke at 6:00 a.m. to get ready and drive to the Rocheport Trailhead for the start of the Total Eclipse of the Katy Trail Ride. We joined 498 other riders on the 31.5 mile ride from Rocheport to North Jefferson City.

The ride started at 9:00 a.m. About 9:15 a.m., Ken had a flat tire! Fortunately we were near a trailside bench where we started to change the tire. An experienced younger cyclist stop to help, and we were back on the trail in about fifteen minutes. Our first stop was 8.8 miles down the trail at the McBaine Trailhead, where volunteers and staff provided ice water, bananas, and salty snacks. Next stop in seven miles was Easley (more water, bananas, and granola bars).

Another 8.9 miles took us to the Hartsburg Trailhead, where lots of riders gathered to view the eclipse. Everyone got out their eclipse glasses to check the progress of the eclipse. Even partial eclipses are quite impressive when viewed through the glasses, although it still looked like a bright sunny day until totality grew closer.

You can still see clearly defined shadows at 1:07 p.m., only five minutes before totality, although the temperature had dropped, and the light had a strange cast.

Then came totality. Just amazing! Even Ken's camera with no special filters was able to capture some of the experience, but nothing can match being there in person and seeing it with your own eyes.

Afterward we cycled on another 10.4 miles to the North Jefferson Trailhead, where our bikes were loaded in Ryder trucks. We had chili dogs and chips before boarding our motor coaches for the trip back to Rocheport.

After months of preparation and jitters about how the ride would go and the possibility of adverse weather, everything was wonderful. Can't wait for totality on April 8, 2024!

We later watched the NOVA special Eclipse Over America. The science being done was impressive, but one of the things that impressed me most was that one scientist,  Williams College astronomer Jay Pasachoff, counted this his 66th total eclipse of the sun!

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Hartsburg to Jefferson City on the Trail

Today we started our ride at the Hartsburg Trailhead, which is where we are hoping to be to view the eclipse Monday afternoon.

It's Saturday, and we definitely encountered more riders on the trail.

When we got to the North Jefferson Trailhead, we were met by some Mizzou grad students doing a survey. We're in favor of education, so we agreed to help them out. It turned out to be the longest survey I have ever filled out! (We think the Ryder trucks are the ones that will transport our bikes back to the Rocheport Trailhead on Monday.}

When we got back to Hartsburg, we found a picnic table in the shade to eat our lunch. A neighbor with a very nice garden offered us some tomatoes to eat with our lunch. When I said we lived in our RV and couldn't have a garden, he brought us several more tomatoes to take home. Delicious!

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