A few facts--again, compliments of Wikipedia:
--Located in the Ozark Mountains (not exactly like the Rockies--but beautiful).
--Population (not counting thousands of tourists) around 11, 000.
--A popular vacation destination with more than 50 entertainment theaters--lots of "tribute" acts (read fake Elvises and fake almost any other mostly country entertainer you can imagine).
--The huge Lake Taneycomo--formed after the White River was dammed (as opposed to "damned") in 1912.
--Some episodes (in their 8th season and were stretching for new ideas) of the Beverly Hillbillies were filmed around the Branson area.
--Andy Williams built (well, paid to have built) his Moon River theater in Branson in 1992--sadly, he no longer sings there--at least not in a "live" performance.
--Glen Campbell built his Goodtime theater here in 1994--sadly, he is no longer able to perform (tho his family would probably do most anything to get him back on a stage for the $$. Did any of you happen to see the relatively recent documentary of Glen's last tour? While his family claimed he was very happy to be performing in his quickly deteriorating Alzhimers state of mind, it was rather pathetic to watch at times).
An iconic landmark in Branson
And, lastly in my fact-finding report, Wikipedia states that the climate here in Branson is categorized as "sub-tropical." Oz thinks this would be a beautiful place to live. I agree that it is beautiful--the trees around the area are on the very verge of bursting out in glorious fall colors. But a sub-tropical climate--I am thinking the big NO!
But I am waaaay ahead of myself here. Where were we before Branson (I can just hear you screaming that question right now)? Well, after we left Durango, we spent a couple of nights in Walsenburg, CO, on our way to Pratt, Missouri. We stayed in Lathrop State Park. Two major downsides to that sojourn--NO WIFI and no sewer hook-up--a relatively big deal when traveling in an RV. However, we did meet and share wine with a very nice group of folks who were traveling together. They were all in Hitchhiker 5th wheel RV's (sort of a club) and were on their way to Albuquerque to attend the balloon festival. One couple was traveling with their rather unattractive little toy poodle whose name I did not retain in my memory bank. Another of the group was accompanying their cat, who apparently goes everywhere with them. The cat sat outside with the group but was defiitely not thrilled with the dog. We were told that the two pets had a little set-to the night before, and the cat emerged as the winner--the poodle had an owie on its nose. The park setting was nice--quiet and calm. Eastern Colorado has rolling hills and scrub brush.
This is not our RV.
On the last day of September, we left Colorado and entered Kansas. I have always been told that Kansas has a very flat and boring landscape. I did not find that description to be true. Relatively flat--especially compared to that of Western Colorado. But the fields of Kansas are beautiful; planted for the fall/winter in wheat and milo. How many people reading this blog are familiar with milo--raise your hand. From the internet: "Farmers on the hot, dry plains from Texas to South Dakota grow and use grain sorghum (milo) like Corn Belt farmers use corn. During the past 25 years, the grain sorghum acreage in the U.S. has ranged from 15 to 18 million acres per year. Grain sorghum acreage is somewhat greater than acreages for oats and barley, but considerably less than the land area planted to corn, wheat, and soybeans." The fields are beautiful!
A milo field
As I understand it, milo is used to feed cattle. Anyway, I learned something new--had never even heard of milo before entering Kansas!
Another feature of Kansas are cows, cows, cows!!! And, along with cows come feedlots. There are all those cows, munching their merry way towards becoming a nice ribeye or porterhouse steak. I tried to yell at them to stop eating and stay skinny but did they listen? Nooooo! I had expected to see fields of sunflowers but have since been told that October is too late in the season. I did see fields of dead sunflowers--awaiting the collection of their seeds--another big business. And, we also passed a Tyson Chicken processing plant--the smell of burning chicken feathers was absolutely nauseating! Then we passed a huge truck, full of live chickens on their one-way trip to the chicken processing plant. I have to tell you--I like my meat but DO NOT like seeing it in a truck on the road!
In Garden City, KS, on our way to our destination of Pratt, we saw a huge factory/plant/whatever where the parts for the GIANT windmills (think Mojave/Tehachapi) are manufactured. Seeing the blades and "stems" up close was pretty mind-blowing.
Finally, we arrive in Pratt. Home of Bob's sister-in-law, Karen, and his brother-in-law, Bob Pinkall. Karen is Linda's sister.
They were superb hosts for us, both in Pratt and again down here in Branson for the past week! But before I talk about all our exciting activities in Kansas, first a little data about Pratt. How many of you (who don't live in Kansas) have ever heard of Pratt? Uh huh, that's what I thought. Well, for starters, Pratt is the county seat of Pratt County. They have a population of around 7,000 (humans, that is--there are probably right around 4 billion cows in the area). Pratt has a community college named . . . . wait for it . . . . Pratt Community College. Their high school team is the Pratt Greenbacks. And, this is pretty big--their town hosts the Miss Kansas Pageant every year!!!
Bob and Karen have three really nice sons who are all married to really nice women.
Rita and Bruce Pinkall
Bruce and Rita's daughter, Katie, her husband, Justin, and baby Logan
Allen and Charlotte Pinkall
Michelle and Gary Pinkall with Myah the wonder dog
The second night in Pratt, we drove to Garden City (along with Rita) and watched a community college football game at which Bruce was the head referee. Learning about referee duties gave me a whole 'nother perspective from which to view football (not that I had much perspective to start with--ooops--the grammar queen meant to say "with which to start." The home team won and other than the occasional unpleasant whiff of a nearby stockyard when the wind shifted, a good time was had by all!
The stadium was spectacular!
Me and Rita at the football game--did I tell you that she is married to the head referee?
The Garden City community college football Mascot
The next day we were invited to a delicious dinner at Bruce and Rita's house. And, that day I also met Linda's other sister, Diane Floyd. She was on her way home to Johnson City, having just attended her high school reunion in Hutchinson. Diane is the youngest of the three Nonken sisters.
Me and Diane
On Tuesday the two Bobs, Karen and I drove to Hutchinson and toured a salt mine--once called the Carey Salt Mine. As a quick side note, Oz once worked for Morton Salt there in Hutchinson. It was in Hutchinson where he met Linda. The salt mine was formed about 275 million years ago when the Permian Sea dried up (cannot think of a way to not end that sentence with a preposition). It was not discovered until 1887 when a fellow was drilling for oil and found the salt deposit instead. The tour took place 650 feet underground--we got there (wearing our hard hats) via a freight elevator.
The second time on this trip where a hard hat was required!
Riding the salt mine train.
Strataca--under which the salt mine is located.
Bob and Karen
Bob's very artsy photo of his shadow in the mine.
Now for the really interesting part of the mine tour--also existing in the mine is an underground Vault and Storage facility used to store a vast number of original Hollywood movies and TV shows (with many costumes), as well as millions of documents and items from all over the world in a secure and environmentally conducive place. Lastly, there is a lot of trash in the mine dating all the way back to when the mine was first operated. It is the rule (and the neat nick in me doth protest greatly) that "what goes in the mine stays in the mine." Trash, people! That does not make a whit of sense to me! Alright--enough about the mine!
In the afternoon after our tour of the salt mine, we drove out to Allen and Charlotte's lovely home. First we walked down to the barn and met their two horses--one of which is HUGE! But a gentle giant. Next we got to meet the cat and then the two wild and crazy doggies. Later we all went to a nice Italian restaurant for dinner.
Next day Karen chauffeured me around town--first to meet her friend for coffee at a delightful shop called Simply Southwest. I could have spent hours in that store. Next we visited a couple of dress shops (where I may have purchased a little sump'em-sump'em). That evening Gary, Michelle, and Myah (the wonder dog) came to Bob and Karen's house for a delicious dinner (one of many great meals that Karen prepared for us during the course of our visit).
On Thursday Karen drove me to Wichita to meet a friend of mine, Melinda Meckenstock. We have known each other for several years but had never actually met in person. Melinda is a relative of sorts (it's complicated) on the Hladik side of the family (Al's mom)--she is the step-granddaughter of Andy's brother Frank. Anyway, when I found out that Oz and I would be going to Kansas, I just knew this might be my only opportunity to finally meet Melinda. We arranged to meet at a restaurant called Doc's Greens. Liked the restaurant--loved Melinda! She ended up spending the afternoon with me and Karen as we flitted around Dillard's Department Store (my favorite store).
Me and Melinda
Karen, me, and Melinda (not sure why my mouth is smiling but my eyes are frowning).
Another football game Friday night--this time Pratt High School v Who Knows? Neither Bob nor I can remember. This game was their homecoming coming. And, having smartly scheduled a school they knew they could beat, they did just that!
Friday night lights!
Now we come to Saturday and the pièce de résistance. FRANKIE AVALON appearing at the historic Fox Theater in Hutchinson!! Before we arrived, Karen had told us that she and Bob had been given tickets to this show last Christmas by the kids. They managed to procure two more tickets for us. At first I was thinking, "Frankie Avalon? Really?" Man oh man was I ever surprised! The show was fabulous! He still has a great voice! And, in his band was his first-born son (of 4 sons and 4 daughters!), Frankie, Jr.--drummer extroidinaire! But an even bigger surprise was one of his guitar players and back-up singer--Edan Everly. Yes, Don (of the Everly Brothers fame) Everly's son. Don is alive and kicking; but sadly, we lost Phil several years back. Edan and Frankie sang some of the Everly Brothers songs together, and it was pure magic for me!!!
Frankie Avalon and Edan Everly
The Frankie I remember from the 60's
The Frankie of today--not half bad!
Frankie and our sweet Annette
Alright, winding down now, I promise! Sunday, our last day in Pratt was spent getting ready to head off to Branson the next day. Bob discovered that we had somehow left something requiring electricity (or battery power in this case) on in the RV when we stored it for the duration of our Pratt visit. Guess what was the result of that little oversight. . . . .yep--dead battery. Fortunately he was able to recharge it on Sunday before our departure on Monday. He brought the Catfish back over to Karen and Bob's house, and we began the arduous chore of reloading it for the next leg of our trip. Rita and Bruce came over for one last (for me and Bob at least) delicious Karen lunch.
Soooooo, if you are as tired reading this blog as I am writing it, you will be thrilled to hear about my executive decision--I will write a second blog recounting our Branson adventures. Maybe tomorrow. Right how a glass of wine is calling my name. But, first, one last Pratt photo:
Bob was very amused by these Pratt water towers!
Glamgirl and Oz signing out.
