Jim Stafford--Hard Luck Diner and More!

Last month I hoodwinked my friend into joining me for a day trip to Branson to see the infamous Jim Stafford Show. I waited until the weather was perfect, since it is a pretty long drive and seized the moment! Along the way we watched as the countryside turned green. Really, I still believe it was MORE green on the way back than it was on the way there...but then that's just me.

Our first stop was the Hard Luck Diner and by judging the size of the meal one gets here, its no wonder they call it that.  I don't see how they make a profit on these burgers. See for yourself

I especially like the 'action shot'. notice the enthusiasm with which Judy is getting ready to squirt the mustard! In case the food is not enough to entice you, all the wait staff entertain the customers with song and show in-between the serving and all that.  It really was a fun lunch.

Here is Jim himself doing a fantastic banjo piece. There was so much to enjoy here I hardly know where to start. If you are looking for some good clean fun, this is the place. Hands down.

Then, after the show as I was walking to the car, I looked up and saw this.

Heavy Metal High Rise - - - Go Carts Extraordinaire!!! I begged Judy to join me in trying them out but she flatly refused. Gee, what kind of a friend would do that? I guess one that wants to live to be a ripe old age.

Ah well, I still enjoyed it from afar. Maybe next time! Ha!

Wicked, Fox Theater, St Louis, MO

While I was in Seattle I noticed that Wicked was playing there. It was impossible for me to get a ticket for less than $175 so I decided to pass on seeing the show. But wouldn't you know that it opened in St Louis in mid December through mid January and I was able to snag some tickets for $75 each. My cousin, her friend and I went to the show and a good time was had by all. I saw it first in New York about eight years ago and was ready to see it again. It was just as good the second time around.

I really liked the restored Fox Theater in St Louis. It reminded me so much of NYCs Radio City Music Hall, though on a decidedly smaller scale. One day I will have to make it back to St Louis on a Saturday morning so I can take one of the theater tours and hear all about the restoration and the history of this fine theater.

Both of the shots were taken in the entry area of the theater using my Iphone.  Had I known photos were allowed I would've brought my good camera.  Better luck next time!

The Prohibition and More

During my trip on the Katy Trail we were fortunate enough to stop in Augusta, Missouri and listen to a presentation by Anita Mallinckrodt, Ph.D, the town's Historian (among many other things!).



We listened to a delightful presentation about the Prohibition and how it affected the little town of Augusta; how the Revenuers ascended on the town and discovered alcohol being sold in several establishments!!! She then told the story of how all the townspeople rose to the occasion, modified their ways and managed to survive this most interesting period of American History. She has written a book entitled: According to the Law and it has been released this week. I am sure it will be very interesting and enjoyable. Anyone who may be interested in obtaining a copy, please email me.

Then we toured the building and discovered a old wooden box with drawers and a functional lid (see below) It was the record keeping system for the local General Store during the early years of the 1900's







Since I spent the majority of my life in accounting, I find this fascinating because, if one were to look closely at these little slips of paper, you would find everything, every little thing that they purchased...which would indicate the kind of life they lived back then. There was a system for credit as well, which showed the struggle a lot of people went through and how the merchants helped them to make it through the hard times. All very interesting stuff! I think Anita may be working on yet another book!

The Katy Trail -- Sedalia to St Charles

I signed up with Road Scholar to do a biking program on the Katy Trail in Missouri. Mind you most of the folks that were in my group were older than me and I just turned 60something. Anyway, we met in St Charles, got some idea about the week's itinerary and then shuttled to Sedalia, Missouri, mile marker 229. That is a city that is about 30 miles east of Kansas City, Missouri. We stayed in a motel that night and the next day (my birthday) we began our trek across Missouri on the converted railroad line...now a biking trail, the longest in the rails to trails program in the United States. Our destination was St Charles, Missouri (just outside of St Louis).

We stopped in a McDonalds along the way and I got this shot from one of the pictures they had on the wall. I thought it was appropriate as a starting shot for this entry.

Here we are getting ready to start the trip from the parking lot of our hotel in Sedalia. We had the sag wagon stopping at various points along the way; anyone who felt they could not go further on the bike could load it and ride the van. Only one person did that because she had a biking accident. All the others managed to ride the entire trip as planned.

I had been practicing every day making sure I got at least 10 miles in, often I would do 15 or 20 miles. I tried to make sure I was in shape for this trip, but I think I was a little light on the miles. The first day we went 37 miles; that was more than my very best day of 36. The trail had at least three long sections of uphill (not severe, but still) which were enough to make me realize that this was going to be a challenging week.

We stayed in Boonville the second night, mile marker 191.8 and had dinner at the Isle of Capri Casino. I got this shot from the trail the following morning.

I behaved myself at the buffet and then got a little naughty with the slots.




They treated me well and I ended up $45 to the good. I appreciated the generosity and accepted it as a birthday present for my good behaviour.

We headed out first thing in the morning on Tuesday because we knew we had a 52 miles day ahead of us. Lordy, the last three miles were the longest miles I have ever done. The muscles between my shoulders felt like someone stuck a knife in them. I could not turn my head even an inch. I was seriously considering walking the last mile or two, but we were already running late and I was the last one in the group still on the trail; somehow I managed to finish the 52 miles but I was really glad I brought Advil with me. That helped a lot; the following day I found doing a series of stretching exercises for my neck and shoulders I could prevent the severe pain from recurring.

We stayed the third night in North Jefferson; mile marker 143.2. On Wednesday we headed out and continued to Hermann at mile marker 100.8. We stayed at the Harbor House and we did a tour of the Stone Hill Winery before having dinner there as well. It was a perfect setting, the foliage was turning gold and brown and the rows of grapes were mesmerising.



All in all it could almost make one forget the pains of the day. The German wursts dinner was delicious and everyone seemed to enjoy the mood.

The most spectacular bluffs were found in the Rocheport section of the trail; they seemed to go on and on..bluffs on one side, the Missouri River on the other. We were never at a loss for something gorgeous to look at
Like this beautiful weathered barn
They took what appeared to be the ends of a caboose and created this make-believe piano at the depot in Sedalia, I pretended to be a great pianist...see how I have those keys jumping?

Have you ever seen the scene in the desert where cars are half-buried vertically? Well, this appears to be Missouri's version of the same thing, but with boats.
A little wild life on the trail. The snake I saw was too quick for a picture.
The last day, I rode straight through and checked in to the hotel, then went searching for lunch and found it at an outside cafe. They had a special soup 'n half sandwich. Since I was starving, I had the baked potato soup and a turkey BLT...I think it was the best meal I had all week. So delicious!


One of the "fru-fru" shops in Old Town St. Charles...it really is quite picturesque

Here is a shot of the sag wagon and my speedometer showing the trip mileage at 200.69 miles.

My dusty old bike happy to be at the end of the line in St Charles, mile marker 39.5.

Note:
Augusta was such a special stop that I will be making a separate posting about it, since it has nothing to do with biking!

Pre-Birthday Fun

Last week I visited with my cousin and her family for a day before I started my week-long trek across Missouri on the Katy Trail. I try never to visit with them without bringing some munchies. This time it was bags and bags of cookies; there were thumbprints, cherry/butter cookies, chocolate butter cookies, Chinese Chews (which seem to be the hands down favorite among the group), oatmeal date cookies and finally a light as air chocolate ball cookie covered in walnuts. The biggest challenge for me was not to have any prior to my starting the trip. I knew if I started eating them before I got there, the pickins' would be slim. I was very proud of myself. I had NONE!




So after coming up with that great array of cookies I later found out that Darline's favorite cookie is peanut butter....back to the drawing board! Even though I did not have her favorite, it looked like everyone was enjoying the bounty!

Then it was on to Harrah's for a seafood buffet. Man o man that was fabulous. They had steamed crab legs and Hong Kong crab legs; big fat and juicy and as much as you wanted...just can't beat it. But since crab legs don't make for a very exciting photo, I thought I would show some of the desserts that we could choose from
Here Darline found a peanut butter cheesecake that seemed to satisfy that craving...
I was torn between the lemon meringue and the little fruit tarts...so I had them all!
Sissy had gelato and little key lime tartlets
Then it was on for a little slot fun. I took this as an omen for my success for the evening...

$20.90 isn't huge, but it's better than nothing!

A "Sign" of the Times?

There I was munching on my taco and I noticed a new drive-thru wash-up combination. Too bad I was in a rush...no time to actually see it in action. I am envisioning a huge dog in the back of a pick-up truck though...

Kc Bird Makes Friends

For the last almost eight years my pet bird has been pretty much a one person pet; not very friendly to others who may be sharing space for a while. When it comes to shoulders it was usually only mine that he wanted to be on.

My latest trip to Missouri gave him an opportunity to widen his horizons a little, here he has made two new friends in a very short time. I guess he is learning to overcome his fears of strangers!



He is adopting my cousin here
Bobbi Jo is really happy that he has chosen her shoulder to stand on for a while


Aw....mom, can I stay here?

The Stuff You Pick Up on the Road

I was driving from Ste Genevieve, Missouri north towards Chicago last week. After being on the road for an hour or so I heard a weird but forceful thud. Since there was no one in the immediate area, I knew it was not an accident but it was definitely something serious.

I tried the remotely moving my side view mirrors to see if there were any dents on the car but they showed nothing. Occasionally when I crossed the reflectors that are embedded in the road surface I would hear another odd sound, as if a part of the car had come loose and was moving. Still I saw nothing. There was too much traffic to pull over, so I decided that unless it interfered with my driving, I would check it out when I stopped.

So, just over the state line into Illinois I pulled into a rest stop, for, well, a rest. I almost forgot about looking for the damage when I returned but fortunately as I approached the car I looked at the painted surfaces and a little of the undercarriage. There it was. A mangled piece of metal that seemed to be originally about a foot long; now in a tangled mess jammed up in between the frame of the car and the back wheel well.






If this thing had hit tire instead of the frame I think I would have had some serious trouble!

Ever Have a Favorite Picture?

I have two...

Visiting with Family

I spent New Years' Day with my aunt Rita, Darline and Rugger...

Here's Rugger trying to sneak up on birdie...but KC is too sharp for any of that!
Darline, she seems to be wondering why I take so many pictures...
Aunt Rita. I took all these shots with my Iphone since I knew she would never sit still for a real picture. She did not know I took this. It was the only one I got. I'm glad it is so natural. She was feeling pretty good at the time.

Visit with Aunt and Cousin and Children

My visit to Arkansas has come an end and I have stopped to visit with my aunt and cousin here in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri for a couple of days.

My cousin Darline is caring for her two grandchildren...they are beautiful children, full of energy and enthusiasm for life. They stopped by Aunt Rita's house to see (not me) KC Bird. He is such a wienie when new people are around. He managed to behave himself and not bite the children,



so they are still excited to see him again and again.

Later we went to El Torrero for dinner



and then back to Gramma's house to play on the swings and the electric cars. Boy! the toys they have for children now!!! It (almost) makes me want to be a kid again.