Branson Part 2 Titanic and Variety Show

Today we went to see the Titanic Museum which is the largest museum in the world devoted to the subject.

We were quite frustrated to pay over $20 per person and then not be allowed to take photographs anywhere inside the museum. No flash photography..okay..but what about pictures without a flash and videos...But wait...you can of course buy a video of the museum for another $20...NOT.

The museum was pretty interesting with its artifacts and information.

We were rebels and managed to snap this picture in the restroom.
After arriving back from Titanic, we attended a Variety Show in the activity center of Fall Creek Resort. It had a Mexican Fiesta theme.

The party included an "all you can put on your plate at one time" mexican buffet and performances by many of the stars of Branson area shows.

We managed to capture some video of the performances and put it together in a video below.

One star, Lisa Layne, sings the hit "All I Want For Christmas Is You." She let us take this picture with Marlon.

Marlon enjoyed playing in the sand at Fall Creek Resort with this Tonka truck.

For more pictures of Branson Part 2 go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/september/titanic-variety-sho/ .

To be continued...

Fall Creek Resort and Branson Part 1

Today we left Carthage, Missouri and family behind to head on down the road to Branson, Missouri. Final destination Davenport, Florida.

We would be staying at Fall Creek Resort for 5 nights. Here was our campsite.

The sites seemed a little closer than most we had been in so far. But besides staying at the Palmer house for free, this resort was the lowest price we had paid for an RV site yet-$8.00 per night plus tax. It was part of the Coast to Coast Camping network which we joined in March with over 300 resorts around the country members can stay at for $8.00 per night. So far we had paid an average of about $20 per night everywhere we had been.

Fall Creek Resort is a huge complex consisting of 3 different campgrounds, multiple buildings which look like hotel rooms and multiple buildings of condos.

Here's Marlon relaxing in front of one of the ponds on the property.

Doug decides to stop on the bridge and contemplate life.

Marlon challenged Doug to a game of checkers...and won. Doug thinks and knows that checkers is a boring and stupid game.

Marlon's mom, Angie, just happened to be in Branson for the weekend with Georgie, Jack and Tanis. They all stopped by to visit us after their Saturday morning shopping spree across the border in Arkansas.

Sunday, we sought out show information. As it had just entered off season, our choices seemed to be somewhat limited. But we WERE able to find a show that we thought we would enjoy.

We opted for the Hamner Barber Variety Show. This show combines a little song, dance and comedy with a lot of magic and ventriloquism. We DID enjoy this show.

Co-Star of the Show Dave Hamner posed with Co-Star of the Blog Marlon.

Other Co-Star of the Show Jim Barber posed with Other Co-Star of the Blog Doug.

After the show we drove around Branson and happened upon the Table Rock Dam. This photo is of the Table Rock Dam Powerhouse.

We took the scenic drive above Branson to take this picture. We could actually make out the RV in the distance.

Here's the Co-Stars of the Blog. Again.

Sunday night we decided to go swimming and walked over to the activity center. Here's a view of Fall Creek Resort at night.

It took about 5 tries to get this non-blurry picture of Marlon swimming (he swims too fast).

For more pictures of Branson Part 1 go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/september/fall-creek-resort-b/ and http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/september/mom-georgie-jack--t/ and
http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/september/hamner--barber-show/ .

To be continued...

Praying Hands and Hamburger Night at Linda's

Doug's Aunt Terri and Uncle Rodney came by for a look at the motorhome in the morning.

That afternoon we drove a little around the area and found one of Webb City's claims to fame: the Praying Hands Memorial.

Hands in Prayer...World in Peace...if only...

For information about the praying hands go to http://www.prayinghands.org/ .

After viewing the Hands, we first went to another Webb City claim to fame: Big Lots; then we headed to Linda's house for the Mayfield Family Hamburger Night. This is a regularly occurring event on Thursdays.

Linda's husband, Gary, grilled up the hamburgers and hot dogs. Doug's cousin, Kim, said you could find Gary out grilling even in the dead of winter.

Speaking of Kim, Doug finally managed to snap her picture. She wasn't too thrilled as she told us she had just finished mowing.

Aunt Patty came by too and we all had a nice visit...

that is, we had a nice visit until Jeff Foxworthy informed us all that we were NOT smarter than a fifth grader.

Linda (in her new glasses) and Marlon (who needs glasses) enjoy the fact that they aren't smarter than a fifth grader.

This was our last night visiting Doug's family. Thanks to everybody who came out and wished us luck.

For more pictures of Hamburger Night at The Mayfield's go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/september/sightseeing-around-/ .

To be continued...

Superman is on Route 66 in Carterville, Missouri

After the family dinner Marlon, Doug and Aunt Patty headed over to Supertam on 66 Ice Cream Parlor and Museum. Owned and operated by Doug's uncle, Larry TAMminen, this Superman Museum and Ice Cream Parlor opened in 2006.

We showed up just before closing as you can see, but there was still time for ice cream. Let's face it, there's always time for ice cream.

Doug, Larry and Marlon pose for a shot.

The view through the front door.

This is a version of Superman which Larry commissioned from a local artist.

Larry attended the 2004 Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois where he visited with Lois Lane of the Superman Movies, Margot Kidder.

Originally called Superman on 66, the Ice Cream Parlor showcases Superman Ice Cream which is red (strawberry), yellow (lemon) and blue (bubble gum). What a combo!

The Museum boasts a huge collection of Superman memorabilia which is 30 years in the making.

Larry's collection continues to grow as customers often bring items in for Larry to add to the museum.

Check out the old Superman lunch boxes which should bring back memories for anyone over 35.

The bathroom is decorated with original 1970's Super Jr.'s wallpaper.

A collection of Route 66 memorabilia is also featured as Larry is also involved, along with Doug's dad, Bob (his brother), in the effort to keep Route 66 alive.

Here's a link to a Route 66 website all about Carterville and the other Route 66 businesses nearby. http://www.route66tvonline.homestead.com/CARTERVILLEpage.html

Here Larry shows us another really neat thing at the store. All new customers get their picture taken on their first visit (including us). Larry then prints the photos out and frames them for display. Pretty cool idea!

Click below for a video of Supertam on 66.

We wish Larry the best of luck with his Ice Cream Parlor and Museum which he runs in the evenings after his full-time job.

If you're ever near Joplin, head on over to Route 66 (Main Street) in Carterville and check it out.

After having ice cream at Supertam on 66, head down the road to Carthage on West Fir St. and try Shake's Frozen Custard, owned and operated by Doug's cousin, Mike and Mike's wife, Jill.

After ice cream and frozen custard, you'll probably have a brain freeze.

For more pictures of Supertam on 66, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/september/larryssupermanmuseu/ .

To be continued...

Big Red Barn RV Park and A Big Family Dinner

Note from Doug: At this point, I would like to point out that I have not yet driven the motorhome (as of the date I published this blog, September 28). Thanks to Marlon for all the good driving! Keep it up!

Tuesday, September 4-We made our way to Carthage, Missouri in the southern portion of the state. Carthage is the home of Precious Moments and the Big Red Barn RV Park.

Here we are at our RV Site.

We ARE really there. Marlon's there behind the camera...Doug's there inside the RV. And, yes, they DO have a Big Red Barn.

The surrounding area includes Joplin, Webb City and Carterville. Doug has relatives in all 4 towns. And Marlon got to meet them all.

Doug's Aunt Brenda arranged to have a family dinner at her house. This was a huge undertaking! And yet she still managed to look happy after all the cooking. Here she is with one of her four granddaughters.

Thank you Brenda!

And we also need to thank Brenda's husband, Norm, for allowing the family to invade their home. Here he is with another granddaughter.

The whole family thanks God and anyone else who had a part in Brenda and Norm surviving their recent bouts with cancer (Brenda in 2005 and Norm in 2006).

Doug's Aunt Patty came over to Brenda's early and took Doug and Marlon for a drive around town. She took us to Arby's where we ordered 5 for $5.95 between the two of us. She promptly treated us and told us we were cheap dates. Here she is sitting with one of her cheap dates.

Patty is an animal lover, as everyone should be. She feeds and provides a home for many cats and dogs. She recently discovered she was even feeding a skunk!

Patty, Marlon and Doug drove to Carthage to pick up the oldest member of the family currently living in the area. Doug's Grand Aunt Wilma (we looked up this alternative term to Great Aunt and decided Grand sounds...well Grander) is the sister of his late grandfather, Ray Palmer.

Here are Aunt Wilma, age 91, Doug and another of Doug's oldest relatives living in the area, Doug's Aunt Linda.

All totaled, 20 relatives came by and pictures of almost all of them can be viewed at http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/september/dinner-at-brendas/ .

Regrets to Cousin Kim and Aunt Terri. Somehow we missed taking pictures of you at this dinner, but we'll have your pictures on another post!

Before leaving Brenda's house, Sidney, Brenda's oldest granddaughter, entertained us with a song from High School Musical, which her school will be producing this fall. Here's a video of Sidney.

Of course being the animal lovers that we are, we got four pictures of the puppy that was just visiting.

To be continued...