4 Dec 17
Today we started to schedule our Music concerts.
Last evening while having dinner a " Cowgirl " walked in a gave us customer a brochure with a 2 for 1 offer at 2 shows at the IMax complex. The shows were a Tribute to John Denver at 10:00 AM and the George Strait show was at 5:PM today. The normal price was 30.00 each so we only paid 15.00. Then, when we left the John Denver show I noticed that there was a Tribute show for George Jones and I inquired about it. Because we went to John Denver show we could get tickets to George Jones show at 1/2 price at 15.00 so we bought them.
We then heard about the show called the Sights and Sound which is the Miracles of Christmas. The show is highly recommended so we visited the "Palace like Building" and got the tickets before they sold out. These ticket cost 45.00 but , Carroll using her best "pleading " voice said do you have a discount for veterans. The clerk no; but if you have a AAA card ( which we do ) I will discount the tickets by 5.00. The tickets cost us 40.00.
While attending the John Denver show. Carroll heard a lady in the seats above us talking about other shows so she ask for a recommendation for a good show and she recommended the Dixie Stampede ( mainly owned by Dolly Pardon ). This is an early afternoon 4 PM dinner show followed by a horse show. There is a music show 40 minutes and the dinner show starts at 5 PM. These tickets were not negotiable and cost 122.00
Now we had to look for an evening show, so we chose the Presley's Country Jubilee, again recommended by people we don't know. This cost 77.00 a pair.
Now we had to get our schedule straight.
Monday John Denver 10:00 AM and George Strait 5 PM
Tuesday George Jones 9:30 AM and Sight and Sound 3:30 PM
Wednesday Dixie Stampede 4:00 PM and Presley's 8:00 PM
We managed to squeeze in an hour to window shop at the Branson Landing which is a Street Maul with no vehicles.
Our schedule is fairly busy but we will likely find another show for Wednesday morning. Cheers
Don't do something permanently Stupid: because you are Temporarily upset.
Monday, 4 December 2017
Arrived in Braanson
3 Dec 17
We arrived in Branson around 6 PM (Temp 23 C ) to the gilts and glamour of the lights but without the Gambling, Drinking and dare I say "ladies of the night ". They even refer to the main street as the "Strip ".
We left Sioux Falls at 8 AM and we knew it would be a 9 or 10 hour drive to Branson but it is/was Interstate all the way. Google says 8 hours but when you throw in a few Pit stops and my 20 minute rest/sleep period, followed by one fuel stop it adds up to 10 hours. Speaking of fuel, the best I got was 2.25 but it got cheaper in MO and the radio said it was on average 2.05 between Springfield and Branson. At 28.00 USD, for a fill up, I say Bring it on!!!
The scenery from Sioux Falls to Kansas City did not change much, just fields and fields of harvested corn stubble , sprinkled with some hay fields. We did see some feed lots and some baled hay nearby. What we did notice in Iowa and MO ( but not in ND or SD) was many large Pivots so I assume they get less rain than the Dakotas.
Although there were many grain Elevators along the way, we did seen long elongated piles of grain, covered with a tarp outside the Elevators so I would conclude that they had a bumper crop this year.
Branson is already decorated for the Christmas theme which we noticed on the way in but we will do a "driveby " tonight for a full picture of the scenery. We have schedule George Strait Country for tonight and the Sight and Sound of Country for tomorrow.
The weather has been great for the drive down but the weatherman has predicted winds of 40 MPH today accompanied with a few hours of rain which will be pushed out of the area but followed with some very cold, Not cool , weather. Brrrr.
We now have 4 days to enjoy Branson. cheers
Jesus Loves You;
It is nice to hear in Church but not in a Mexican Prison
Saturday, 2 December 2017
Winter trip to TX
2 Dec 17
We left Minot, ND at 8 AM and drove for 9 hours to arrive in Sioux Falls, SD. at 5 PM. If you want boredom take a day trip thru the Dakotas. The scenery never changes.
The Interstates are excellent;75 MPH in ND and 80 in SD. They are in general, straight as a die with a few hills which could be called knolls.
These states exist to produce Agriculture, with cornfields already harvested ) that appear so endless that they seem to run off the curvature of the earth. I did notice that after they harvest the corn cobs, they cut the stocks and then bale it so there must be a market for corn straw, if that is what it is called. I did notice that most fields were already "worked up " and ready for planting in the Spring,
In ND there were many small pond, dugouts and slews that were full of water and frozen over to a glass like finish. I fully expect to see a game of shinny popup but it never happened. We did see a huge lake and the Interstate had a causeway right thru the middle. There was a sign with the name of a Dam, so I assumed that this lake was the result of the dam which the Americans are famous for.
The only noticeable difference, from the drivers seat, between the Dakotas is that SD did not did not have many water ponds or slews nor did I notice many Pivots which I did notice a few in ND. Maybe it rains more in SD.
When we arrived at the Best Western I put on my best poker face hoping to get a room with a King bed at a reasonable price. The young lady at the counter was in her early 20's and I thought "Oh shit" she won't have the authority to "dicker". Anyhow I ask for a room and the cost and she said 119.00. I said that is about my pay scale , can you do better. She said I can if you are AAA and I said I am and I'm also a Veteran. She replied she could give me the room for 90.00. The I laid the " I am a Cdn " and I said I thought your company had a special price for us Cdns so she said , OK I'll give you the room for 80.00. I figured that was the best I could do so I took the room. Cheers
We left Minot, ND at 8 AM and drove for 9 hours to arrive in Sioux Falls, SD. at 5 PM. If you want boredom take a day trip thru the Dakotas. The scenery never changes.
The Interstates are excellent;75 MPH in ND and 80 in SD. They are in general, straight as a die with a few hills which could be called knolls.
These states exist to produce Agriculture, with cornfields already harvested ) that appear so endless that they seem to run off the curvature of the earth. I did notice that after they harvest the corn cobs, they cut the stocks and then bale it so there must be a market for corn straw, if that is what it is called. I did notice that most fields were already "worked up " and ready for planting in the Spring,
In ND there were many small pond, dugouts and slews that were full of water and frozen over to a glass like finish. I fully expect to see a game of shinny popup but it never happened. We did see a huge lake and the Interstate had a causeway right thru the middle. There was a sign with the name of a Dam, so I assumed that this lake was the result of the dam which the Americans are famous for.
The only noticeable difference, from the drivers seat, between the Dakotas is that SD did not did not have many water ponds or slews nor did I notice many Pivots which I did notice a few in ND. Maybe it rains more in SD.
When we arrived at the Best Western I put on my best poker face hoping to get a room with a King bed at a reasonable price. The young lady at the counter was in her early 20's and I thought "Oh shit" she won't have the authority to "dicker". Anyhow I ask for a room and the cost and she said 119.00. I said that is about my pay scale , can you do better. She said I can if you are AAA and I said I am and I'm also a Veteran. She replied she could give me the room for 90.00. The I laid the " I am a Cdn " and I said I thought your company had a special price for us Cdns so she said , OK I'll give you the room for 80.00. I figured that was the best I could do so I took the room. Cheers
Friday, 1 December 2017
Winter Trip To TX
1 Dec17 Start of our Journey
As promised to our friends we were on the road at 0700 hr but I was up at 5 AM to finishing packing the Van. Somehow, Carroll seemed to think that whatever came out of our 40 ft MH, which we sold in June could be packed in the Van. In fact I think she found "stuff " to pack that was even in the MH.
Once the front door of the house was locked , we were on our way. Our house sitters where scheduled to arrive later today. Our first stop was to Mac D for a coffee and a egg wrap, neither of which was worth stopping for. ( I know all you English Majors are going to say that you never end a sentence with a preposition ). We hit the TransCanada heading east to Moose Jaw and then south east to Estavan and to the border at North Portal. We stopped at the Duty Free where I picked a litre of Crown Royal $18.00 and a litre of Gibson's finest for 16.00.
The Border crossing was painless, just the perverbal question and then onward to Minot, ND where we planned to stop for the night. North Portal is a 24 hour crossing and it is huge, probably because it handles a lot of trucks.
The Enslens advised us to try the Best Western hotel chain and it turned out to be a bonus. We stopped at the Best Western in Minot and as I was bargaining for a better deal than the first offer of 89.00 I ask for the Veteran's price which surely would better than the first offer. Because I was an AAA member he knocked off 10.00 to 79.00. I agreed to the price and then when I said my address was Alberta, he said Oh, we have a Canadian price which is the best price so I got the room for 69.00. And since I ask for their Rewards Card I get a 10.00 gift card. " Does it every quit"
We are spending the evening at the Best Western, having a dip in the Hot Tub and seeping on a beer. Life is great!!!!
A story about North Portal.
I 1964 I was posted to CFS Yorkton for my first posting and I crossed from the USA into Canada at the North Portal border crossing , on my way from London to Yorkton. At that time , the North Portal crossing consisted of a wooded pole across the road that was not locked. There was a sign that said; Please stop at the white house on the right, which housed the Custom Officer. Itd was around 5 or 6 PM so I said , "Piss on it " and headed down the road. I had gone about 1/2 a mile and a sign read: If you did not check in with Customs at the White House , the RCMP already has you License Number. I did a quick U-turn and returned to the white house where the custom Officer was waiting with a "smerk " on his face and said I knew you would return.
I was surprised at the size of this crossing since it is the first time return here in the past 53 years. I guess the wooden pole rotted away.
As promised to our friends we were on the road at 0700 hr but I was up at 5 AM to finishing packing the Van. Somehow, Carroll seemed to think that whatever came out of our 40 ft MH, which we sold in June could be packed in the Van. In fact I think she found "stuff " to pack that was even in the MH.
Once the front door of the house was locked , we were on our way. Our house sitters where scheduled to arrive later today. Our first stop was to Mac D for a coffee and a egg wrap, neither of which was worth stopping for. ( I know all you English Majors are going to say that you never end a sentence with a preposition ). We hit the TransCanada heading east to Moose Jaw and then south east to Estavan and to the border at North Portal. We stopped at the Duty Free where I picked a litre of Crown Royal $18.00 and a litre of Gibson's finest for 16.00.
The Border crossing was painless, just the perverbal question and then onward to Minot, ND where we planned to stop for the night. North Portal is a 24 hour crossing and it is huge, probably because it handles a lot of trucks.
The Enslens advised us to try the Best Western hotel chain and it turned out to be a bonus. We stopped at the Best Western in Minot and as I was bargaining for a better deal than the first offer of 89.00 I ask for the Veteran's price which surely would better than the first offer. Because I was an AAA member he knocked off 10.00 to 79.00. I agreed to the price and then when I said my address was Alberta, he said Oh, we have a Canadian price which is the best price so I got the room for 69.00. And since I ask for their Rewards Card I get a 10.00 gift card. " Does it every quit"
We are spending the evening at the Best Western, having a dip in the Hot Tub and seeping on a beer. Life is great!!!!
A story about North Portal.
I 1964 I was posted to CFS Yorkton for my first posting and I crossed from the USA into Canada at the North Portal border crossing , on my way from London to Yorkton. At that time , the North Portal crossing consisted of a wooded pole across the road that was not locked. There was a sign that said; Please stop at the white house on the right, which housed the Custom Officer. Itd was around 5 or 6 PM so I said , "Piss on it " and headed down the road. I had gone about 1/2 a mile and a sign read: If you did not check in with Customs at the White House , the RCMP already has you License Number. I did a quick U-turn and returned to the white house where the custom Officer was waiting with a "smerk " on his face and said I knew you would return.
I was surprised at the size of this crossing since it is the first time return here in the past 53 years. I guess the wooden pole rotted away.
Tuesday, 4 April 2017
Homeward bound
26 Mar
By 8 AM I had the satellite packed into the car and we were off by 8:30. We picked up our coffee/hot chocolate at Mac D's and we were on our way. Our next issue was San Antonia; actually it was do we go around it or thru it. I hate to drive into the heart of any city but my friend advised me that it was the best way to get thru San Antonia.
Four hours after leaving Weslaco, were cleared San Antonia and were on I-10 which would eventually take us to Mesa.AZ for a 2 day stay with friends and then to Yuma too also visit friends before heading home.
We did what we never do very often and that was to was to make a reservation. We booked a hotel in Van Horn, TX so we had to drive until 6 PM which was too much for me. Now that we are "Cell Phone " savvy we will now book a hotel in the late afternoon on travel day rather that days ahead. This way we can stop when we feel like it.
27 Mar
We left Van Horn and our next issue was El Paso , TX and it is dam need Gridlock just driving through this city but luckily they have build a bypass around the city a few years ago which we did not realize. However, our friends mentioned it so we took it and it was great, with limited traffic and we could travel at 75 MPH. There is a time change just before El Paso and another as we enter AZ so we will gain two hours today.
After leaving TX, we enter New Mexico. I know that the mid western states like Wisconsin, Indianapolis and Nebraska are Dairy producing states but New Mexico and AZ also has a host of dairy farms which can be seen from I-10. These farms have 1000's of cattle not just a few hundred and these are 24/7 operation as the milk the cows every 8 hours.
We had pre-planned to stop in Tucson and due to the 2 hour time change we arrived at our hotel in the early afternoon. Carroll wanted to go to a casino so while checking in I ask about the distance to the Dessert Diamond Casino since we had used their parking lot for an overnight stay on several occasions. The clerk strongly suggested we go to another casino as she said it was bigger and better so we took her advise.
Once I pulled into the Casino lot I realized that we had stay here in 1999 on our way to TX. Anyway we each got a Club Card which entitled us to 10.00 free play so Carroll played her money and mine and she ended up with 40.00
I spent my time at the Sports Bar and drummed up a conversation with a local Bar Fly. The bar tender was busy and seemed to ignored me so the Bar Fly called him by his first name and said I needed a beer. The Bar Fly then told me that the Bar had 1/2 price beer on one specific brand of beer all month ( changing monthly ) assuming that you drank that beer and for March the special was Dos Equuis XX. Since that is my beer of choice I took the offer.
When the Bar Fly realized I was Canadian he mentioned that he and his buddies go to the Pas. MB every year on a fishing trip and he says the fishing is so good you have to hide behind a tree to bait your hook.
Tomorrow, we head for Mesa, AZ. cheers
By 8 AM I had the satellite packed into the car and we were off by 8:30. We picked up our coffee/hot chocolate at Mac D's and we were on our way. Our next issue was San Antonia; actually it was do we go around it or thru it. I hate to drive into the heart of any city but my friend advised me that it was the best way to get thru San Antonia.
Four hours after leaving Weslaco, were cleared San Antonia and were on I-10 which would eventually take us to Mesa.AZ for a 2 day stay with friends and then to Yuma too also visit friends before heading home.
We did what we never do very often and that was to was to make a reservation. We booked a hotel in Van Horn, TX so we had to drive until 6 PM which was too much for me. Now that we are "Cell Phone " savvy we will now book a hotel in the late afternoon on travel day rather that days ahead. This way we can stop when we feel like it.
27 Mar
We left Van Horn and our next issue was El Paso , TX and it is dam need Gridlock just driving through this city but luckily they have build a bypass around the city a few years ago which we did not realize. However, our friends mentioned it so we took it and it was great, with limited traffic and we could travel at 75 MPH. There is a time change just before El Paso and another as we enter AZ so we will gain two hours today.
After leaving TX, we enter New Mexico. I know that the mid western states like Wisconsin, Indianapolis and Nebraska are Dairy producing states but New Mexico and AZ also has a host of dairy farms which can be seen from I-10. These farms have 1000's of cattle not just a few hundred and these are 24/7 operation as the milk the cows every 8 hours.
We had pre-planned to stop in Tucson and due to the 2 hour time change we arrived at our hotel in the early afternoon. Carroll wanted to go to a casino so while checking in I ask about the distance to the Dessert Diamond Casino since we had used their parking lot for an overnight stay on several occasions. The clerk strongly suggested we go to another casino as she said it was bigger and better so we took her advise.
Once I pulled into the Casino lot I realized that we had stay here in 1999 on our way to TX. Anyway we each got a Club Card which entitled us to 10.00 free play so Carroll played her money and mine and she ended up with 40.00
I spent my time at the Sports Bar and drummed up a conversation with a local Bar Fly. The bar tender was busy and seemed to ignored me so the Bar Fly called him by his first name and said I needed a beer. The Bar Fly then told me that the Bar had 1/2 price beer on one specific brand of beer all month ( changing monthly ) assuming that you drank that beer and for March the special was Dos Equuis XX. Since that is my beer of choice I took the offer.
When the Bar Fly realized I was Canadian he mentioned that he and his buddies go to the Pas. MB every year on a fishing trip and he says the fishing is so good you have to hide behind a tree to bait your hook.
Tomorrow, we head for Mesa, AZ. cheers
Friday, 31 March 2017
Final Packing Day
25 Mar
This is were the Rubber hits the Road. Somehow I have to find a way to pack everything today and still leave enough room for my satellite dish and tripod. The fridge door that I purchased for the MH is the linch pin as I can't pile things on top of it so it has to stand up on its' edge. Then we have a large plastic box for all the loose items such as 2 jars of MX honey, several bottles of vanilla, a few bags of Cinnamon and 6 bottles of booze, etc etc It surprised me just how heavy all this crap weights.
I have already given up on using the rear view mirror because we will be packed to the roof. Once we packed the car we now had to clean the house which took us a couple of hours. We are also going out at 5 PM for supper at Dirty Al's, with several friends.
When we arrive home at 9 PM our Landlord was parked in our driveway. We knew he was coming to do the " close up " but we thought it would be in April. The landlord is 82 year old and he drove from Winnipeg to Weslaco in 2 days just to close up and I already said I would do it. I hope he is not staying long because I had the power disconnected for Monday. He said he came to pick up some boxes to take home but he must have been dreaming as there is not one box in the house. His wife is very ill so I think he will sell the house.
Anyhow, all we have to do tomorrow morning is to disconnect and pack the Satellite and I believe I have enough space but just barely.cheers
This is were the Rubber hits the Road. Somehow I have to find a way to pack everything today and still leave enough room for my satellite dish and tripod. The fridge door that I purchased for the MH is the linch pin as I can't pile things on top of it so it has to stand up on its' edge. Then we have a large plastic box for all the loose items such as 2 jars of MX honey, several bottles of vanilla, a few bags of Cinnamon and 6 bottles of booze, etc etc It surprised me just how heavy all this crap weights.
I have already given up on using the rear view mirror because we will be packed to the roof. Once we packed the car we now had to clean the house which took us a couple of hours. We are also going out at 5 PM for supper at Dirty Al's, with several friends.
When we arrive home at 9 PM our Landlord was parked in our driveway. We knew he was coming to do the " close up " but we thought it would be in April. The landlord is 82 year old and he drove from Winnipeg to Weslaco in 2 days just to close up and I already said I would do it. I hope he is not staying long because I had the power disconnected for Monday. He said he came to pick up some boxes to take home but he must have been dreaming as there is not one box in the house. His wife is very ill so I think he will sell the house.
Anyhow, all we have to do tomorrow morning is to disconnect and pack the Satellite and I believe I have enough space but just barely.cheers
Thursday, 30 March 2017
Lazy Days
23 Mar
We can't do much but wait for Saturday so we can do the final packing and the cleaning of the house. We still have items in the fridge so that will be cleaned on Friday. I can't take my satellite dish down until Sunday morning because I need to watch a few hockey games on Saturday. Carroll thinks the Satellite dish should go on the roof of the car but I think I can get it in the car somehow????
At least we got some great curling to watch and since most of our food is gone we will go for lunch and supper at the local"Hispanic " restaurants just to get our last taste of Mexican "cuisine". cheers
24 Mar
It is amazing how much work is left to the last minute when you rent a place. With the MH you just close up the slide, raise the jacks and " Kick Ass ". However, with a rental you hope to leave it the way you found it and to the satisfaction of the owner.
Today we are putting everything that has to go in the car, in the kitchen / dining room area to make sure we have it all. There is much more "stuff" then I expected. If we shut off the fridge the beer will get cold so we can't clean the fridge until tomorrow. Carroll say she is doing the last washing today but I'm sure she will find clothes to wash again tomorrow.
Our friends who are also leaving on Sunday called to say that our group are going out to Dirty Al's for supper on Saturday and we are invited so we will accept the invite. We also took a paused to watch our favorite ladies curling team continue their winning ways. We hope they go all the way undefeated. cheers
We can't do much but wait for Saturday so we can do the final packing and the cleaning of the house. We still have items in the fridge so that will be cleaned on Friday. I can't take my satellite dish down until Sunday morning because I need to watch a few hockey games on Saturday. Carroll thinks the Satellite dish should go on the roof of the car but I think I can get it in the car somehow????
At least we got some great curling to watch and since most of our food is gone we will go for lunch and supper at the local"Hispanic " restaurants just to get our last taste of Mexican "cuisine". cheers
24 Mar
It is amazing how much work is left to the last minute when you rent a place. With the MH you just close up the slide, raise the jacks and " Kick Ass ". However, with a rental you hope to leave it the way you found it and to the satisfaction of the owner.
Today we are putting everything that has to go in the car, in the kitchen / dining room area to make sure we have it all. There is much more "stuff" then I expected. If we shut off the fridge the beer will get cold so we can't clean the fridge until tomorrow. Carroll say she is doing the last washing today but I'm sure she will find clothes to wash again tomorrow.
Our friends who are also leaving on Sunday called to say that our group are going out to Dirty Al's for supper on Saturday and we are invited so we will accept the invite. We also took a paused to watch our favorite ladies curling team continue their winning ways. We hope they go all the way undefeated. cheers
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