Day 17: Mostly driving over the Ozark mountains north from Hot Springs to Branson. Skipped many defunct tourist stops. Did see some scenery.
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After loading up the car, up and down the stairs a few times, Dan rests in the room at the Hot Springs Best Western. It was a noisy motel, where the concrete walkways rang with each footstep of the restless occcupants.
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Before leaving Hot Springs, Karen filled a jug from the actually hot, hot spring spigots next to the Visitors Center.
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We found a place for espresso drinks a ways up the road at 10:30. Seemd to be a mid-morning gathering place for moms.
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Well caffeinated, we impulsively took a gravel side road that had a weathered "Scenic Route" sign at the junction. About a half hour down this road, with no other signs, all we saw were trees. Google was no help, The map/GPS kept telling us to turn around. So eventually we did.
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Karen stretches at a surviving rest area in the Ouachita National Forest. AR-7 has amenities that indicate that once they had hopes of it becoming a Federal highway.
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AR-7 is what one would expect of a highway through the Ozark mountains.
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We stopped to look over the Ozark National Forest.
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If you look closely, you can see the infestation here at the facilities at this scenic overlook.
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Here's a closer look at some of the thousands of walking sticks guarding the scenic overlook.
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So many of these fascinating insects that one had to look out to avoid treading on them. Or vice versa.
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Just around the bend from a series of dire warnings about narrow, steep, winding roads, we see a point of interest. Yes, I have to stop.
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This rest area is a bit more rustic than the infestedprevious one
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There was a hopeful gift shop, but no charge to climb the tower.
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Karen takes a snapshot of me up at the top of the tower (next slide, please).
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There I am, taking Karen's picture.
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Let me see your face, she yells up to me. "What?" I cleverly reply.
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It's a little vertiginous.
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These roads may have unpredictable turns. But most of them are well marked.
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There are lots of forlorn, weathered signs, and boarded up roadside buildings, as we approach the Missouri border. This was a big tourist area in the heyday of Lil' Abner.
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We zipped past and then doubled back to visit Mystic Caverns. Quite run down was our first impression. Not worth the time or money, we decided before actually taking the cave tour. Even in its heyday it couldn't compare to our recent stop at Carlsbad.
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We must be getting close to some big money town. Branson lobbied well to get these little roads upgraded to Interstate standards.
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It was quite a climb up to Dick's 5&10 (pant). Now we are heading back down. Stupid EBV fatigue.
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Branson. We were sitting on the landing waiting for the Fire and Fountain show. I was considering the yardstick that I'd impulse bought at the fie and dime. I was looking at it and considering what I would measure. 3:-)Maybe not that, I suggested to Karen, who chuckled.
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Branson: FIre and water fountain show, just before sunset. So rainbows, and water both bright and dark against the sky
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We got a nice table at Famous Dave's Heavenly Ribs. Never heard of the place. But the food was good.
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Branson: FIre and water fountain show after dark.
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Branson: During the Fire and water fountain show, some kids just wanted to do their own dance.
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Google took us on a winding back roads route to the Super 8 Branson/Andy Williams Theater complex. The clerk wished us a blessed evening, the bible in the room was lying open to Psalm 89, But a nice motel, anyway.
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