First Motorhome Trip

September 21, 2016

Left Georgetown around 9 AM in the new Unity motorhome, Bob was still sick so we cancelled our stops in Waxahachie and Dallas so as not to infect anyone.  Arrived late afternoon at Mt. Vernon, TX where we pulled in to Still Meadows RV Park, $27, nice level spot, nice campground, had a few permanents that reminded us of South Arkansas (junk under and around trailers) but we had an enjoyable evening eating our leftover Mexican food from a couple of days ago.  Easy and fast.

September 22, 2016

Left Still Meadows and continued north on I-30 with a stop at Hope, AR for Walmart purchases and fuel.  Continued on to Little Rock where we picked up our rental car from Hertz and made it to the Maumelle Corps of Engineers campground. There we set up in space B-32 with a great view of the Arkansas River flowing West to East.  Nice level spot so Bob was happy.  Lots of big, old trees so a really beautiful spot and our long time favorite in Little Rock.  As the temperature was 96 F we decided some A/C would be in order.  Both tired so relaxed in our lounge chairs and got ready to watch the evening news with a glass of vino.

Dinner at Capers, a favorite, close to the Maumelle Campground with Richard and Anne, good food and fun evening.

September 23, 2016

Little Rock

To Starbucks for internet then to Trios for lunch with Kathy and Charles, good food, Bob had his favorite, chicken and dumplings, afterward a nap back at Maumelle Park.  Went to the Core’s at 6 PM for wine and snacks then to a fabulous restaurant, Brave New, where we sat on the deck overlooking the Arkansas River.  After dark we could see the Little Rock skyline reflected in the water.  We had the scollops and they were exceptional.  Fun evening with good friends, Mac & Carol.

September 24, 2016

Little Rock

Because of the big bicycle race starting at Pinnacle Mountain and past Maumelle Park we left early to meet John, Sean and Shea at Mexico Chichita on Highway 10 where we chowed down on Mexican food.  We returned to the motorhome where they inspected the new motorhome and we visited sitting on the banks of the Arkansas River.  Early evening as we are driving to Branson tomorrow.

September 25, 2016

Little Rock to Branson

Picked up John and Sean at 9:30 AM in our rent car for our drive to Branson.  We had a stop at St Joe, Arkansas at Coursey’s Smoked Meat for ham and turkey sandwiches with smoked cheddar cheese.  Fantastic as usual. A beautiful drive into Branson through Northeast Arkansas and South Missouri.  Then on to Branson where we checked John and Sean into the Hampton Inn close to the house of to Lucy (Bob’s niece) and John. We visited awhile before picking up John and Sean and heading to the White River Fish House at Bass Pro Shop beside Lake Tanycomo.  We enjoyed great fish dishes and some crisp white wine.  The night’s entertainments was at the Lawrence Welk Theater to see the Million Dollar Quartet, tributes to Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, all recording at Sun Records in Memphis at the same time.  Good show, good 50”s music (Sean had never heard any of the songs).  Between the food and entertainment, John and Lucy drove us around the area for an overview for Sean of the area.  John is a great tour guide.  We stayed with John & Lucy for the night in their nice guest room.

September 26, 2016

Branson

Today is the main reason for being in Branson, for Sean to tour College of the Ozarks.  We were in the Admissions office at 9:00 AM, our appointed tour time where a second year student gave us an excellent tour of the campus including a mens’ dorm room, the chapel was a highlight (constructed by students in the 1950’s) with spectacular woodwork and stained glass windows.  After the tour we went to the museum where John and Sean enjoyed the top floor with the guns and weapons display while Iris and Bob enjoyed the displays on the first floor.  College of the Ozarks has a work program so that any student accepted (only 500 accepted each year out of 4,000 applicants).  COO requires good grades and hight ACT scores, each student must agree to not use tobacco, alcohol or drugs during their time at COO, zero tolerance.  If caught the student has 24 hours to be gone.  Upon completion of four years the student can graduate with zero student loans as the work program pays 100% of tuition plus if a student works during the summer his room and board are paid also.

Lucy and John met us for lunch at the restaurant at the Keeter Center, 4-star lodge where all the servers are students (freshmen).

We left COO and drove back to St Joe to pick up some bacon and summer sausage to stock the motorhome refrigerator.  The beautiful drive from there to Little Rock went pretty fast and we arrived back to let John and Sean off before we had to have the rent car back by 5 PM.  The agent from Hertz drove us back to the campground and we were glad to put our feet up as it was a tiring two days.

September 27, 2016

Little Rock to Oklahoma City

Leaving Maumelle Park we got on IH-40 West from Little Rock to Oklahoma City where we checked into the Twin Fountains RV Park.  We called and made plans to visit Burianella at her house the next day.  

September 28, 2016

Edmond, OK

Arriving in Edmond we parked the motorhome in the dead end street behind her house and had a good visit before Burianella drove us the the Interurban Cafe where we had some of the best Mexican enchiladas  we’ve ever had north of Mexico.  After lunch some more visiting (never a lag  in the conversation) and then we drove back to the RV park to spend our second night.