Hello From Branson

[RustyJC]

To the Texas Boomers -

We wish you were all here with us this gorgeous Sunday morning in the Ozarks!

A few of us arrived early and are anxiously awaiting arrival of the rest of the Texas Boomer bunch!

The Creekmores didn't even make it out of Texas without a big hitch in the get-a-long! We blew a tire on the rig just north of Buffalo which caused a five hour detour in our travel plans. A big THANK YOU to Ken Wilson (TxIceMan)for helping us locate a tire dealership so we could have the other tires checked out and bought a replacement tire! Thankfully the blow out did no major damage to the RV, just a hairline fracture of the fender covering. It could have been much worse!

I'll keep you posted throughout the week and ya'll keep in touch as well. We may be in Branson, but our hearts are in Texas!

Sandy

[RustyJC]

To the Texas Boomers -

We wish you were all here with us this gorgeous Sunday morning in the Ozarks!

A few of us arrived early and are anxiously awaiting arrival of the rest of the Texas Boomer bunch!

The Creekmores didn't even make it out of Texas without a big hitch in the get-a-long! We blew a tire on the rig just north of Buffalo which caused a five hour detour in our travel plans. A big THANK YOU to Ken Wilson (TxIceMan)for helping us locate a tire dealership so we could have the other tires checked out and bought a replacement tire! Thankfully the blow out did no major damage to the RV, just a hairline fracture of the fender covering. It could have been much worse!

I'll keep you posted throughout the week and ya'll keep in touch as well. We may be in Branson, but our hearts are in Texas!

Sandy

[TXiceman]

It was a pleasure to help...just wish we had been on the road like we planned...but a you know XXXX happens!

Have fun and tell them to let us know when they plan to have the Ham station on the air and what frequency.
Ken

[RustyJC]

Day ONE

We awoke this morning to a new bird in Madame Boomers flock! Overnight ...someone from Missouri deposited a HUGE bird in my sight with the promise that it will turn pink when it gets to Texas!

The day was spent getting the attendees into their sites as they drifted in from all over the country! It's a beautiful site to see IR2.COM stickers on all the rigs and realize they are "family" coming to the reunion!

Lest you think it's cooler in the Ozarks than in Texas...let me assure you... it's not! Today's high was somewhere in the mid 90's, but a nice shower came through in the afternoon that cooled things down for all.

All the Texas Boomers made it to the RV Park...save one! Wanna guess who got lost in Branson! Initials...DA! Thankfully they pulled in just as the lined thinned down at the Welcome Supper Buffet!

The RV Park fixed a fabulous meal for the attendees...awesome pork! Then a "Hillbilly" group who perform at Silver Dollar City came to entertain us for the evening! They were AWESOME! A lot of Ozark comedy as well as some mighty fine pickin' and grinnin'.

All the attendees came dressed in our best hillbilly outfits...oh my oh my what a site to see!

You know I did you proud, I wore my Trailer Trash t-shirt! I was voted 2nd place in the Costume Contest ...played the "spoons" as my instrument with the group! Adrienne Gregory took first place ..that 12 year old girl has some talent playing the washboard! Ray Fowler finished in 3rd place tootin' the jug. Adrienne, Ray and I are going to get together this week to map out our itinerary ...we're good enough to go on the road

Tomorrow will be ducks and donuts....will keep you posted.....YOU ARE MISSED!

Sandy
signed in on RustyJC's computer

[allendp]

What the Madame failed to mention was that just before we embarked on Missouri's uppy-downy-ziggy-zaggy highway (US 412 from Springdale to US 65) we lost our trailer brakes - wow whut a ride.

And can I help it ifn I left my printed map to the park on my puter at home and my dang GPS did not have the Park listed. Heck that's waht they make cell phones for and thank goodnees I had Sandy's number in it.

They had plenty of food left when Pat and parked in the site, threw Cricket into the trailer and made our way to the Rally Hall.

Our Madame also was too humble to mention that she was runner up in the hillbilly costume contest. She wa sright though the entertainment tonight was awesome.

[Barbara S.]

Those of us who are STUCK here at home WORKING really appreciate knowing what is going on there. It makes me wish I could be there but one of the guys I work for has a very pregnant wife and I could not leave now. Besides, I took off the first two weeks to go to New York so they would like it if I stayed around to work a little bit this month.

KEEP THE NEWS COMING! If we can't be there, at least we can share in your fun by reading the email messages.

[Madame Boomer]

DAY TWO

Greetings from HOT and HUMID Branson! Day two began with a coffee and donut hour in the rally building - as always too many good things to choose from!

Following eats and fellowship, the DUCKS arrived - I thought we were being invaded by a bunch of "quakers" - not Quakers! They are awesome vehicles built for use in WWII (1943-1945). Each holds about 37 people - they look like ducks too! For any who have never heard of them, they are amphibious vehicles that can be driven on land, but also float on water. Our guide told us they had been transported by bus to New Orleans right after Katrina and were used to rescue people from flooded areas.

The trip around Branson and out on Table Rock Lake was 1 1/2 hours - so much fun because we all received "duck quakers" that we blew to tourists, other duck riders and...each other!

The heat arrived in due force as soon as we departed from the ducks. Most everyone headed to their rigs to get cooled off!

At 4 pm, a good group of Texas Boomers met at our rig with Gwyn Roberts from England. I've shared with many of you that Gwyn contacted me about 6-7 months ago and wanted to meet the "infamous Texas Boomers" here in Branson. He is an award winning journalist on sabbatical from his newspaper editor position in London traveling across the US doing research on a book he is writing on "The American Fascination with the RV". He's a super guy and we all enjoyed our visit with him.

Sunset settled in over the Ozark Mountains as we gathered around our nightly fireside chat to visit with friends from all over who are here.

Tomorrow many of us are off to Silver Dollar City...another experience for the books, I'm sure!

To each a good night - you're in our thoughts and hope you are doing well. Goodnight from the
Creekmores, Allens, Simpsons, Nortons, Taubes, Normans, Smiths, Finlays, SWilsons, Willis'and Robertsons!

We're in Branson representing the Texas Boomers well, but our hearts haven't left the State!

more tomorrow!
Sandy

[Don (W5IT)]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">They are awesome vehicles built for use in WWII (1943-1945). </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sandy they are indeed interesting vehicles. We had one for years at the Sheriffs Office. (In original configuration) It could do some interesting things. But I can tell you from first hand experiance, DO NOT go anywhere with current (Flowing water) in one.......

Gald yall are havin a ball!

Yall will enjoy Silver Dollar City. It has something for everyone. Rides and such for the young. (Or young at heart and brave) LOTS of crafts and such. Lots of "Old time" ways of building stuff you can watch stuff being made.

How is the new addition to the flock doing?????

On edit: The best bang for the buck when yall get hungry it "Grannys Kitchen". (It's a buffet of "Country Cookin)

[rebelsbeach]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Adrienne Gregory took first place ..that 12 year old girl has some talent playing the washboard! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oh dear Lord!! Please don't make her any older than her 10 years....She's growing up so fast as it is!!

[Madame Boomer]

Sorry Rebelsbeach...she is mature for her age!

Sandy

[crudeman]

MB is right its some beautiful area around here.

I spent all day yesterday attending to one sick dog ( Maggie) missed the sixties show that we and a few others went to but Pat and her mom went. Today instead of silver dollar city we are heading over to the Fifties shows with the Platters for the 10:00am show. Hope all is well back home.

Okie Cat-- Doug and myself are going to run over to Beaver Friday morning to see how to get there before we break camp here Sat. morning. Cya then.

[RustyJC]

DAY THREE-TUESDAY

Please accept my apologies for not posting my "daily update" last night! This ole gal was pooped! I was up at 5am and never stopped until I literally fell into bed at 11:30 pm last night!

I'm bright eyed (but not so bushy tailed) this morning at 5:00, but I'm up!

Yesterday, many of the National Rally Attendees went to Silver Dollar City. It was my first time there, so I got a little bit aggravated at the traffic getting there! You just have to wait yer turn!

The park was REALLY NICE! I've been to a lot of theme/amusement parks, but this one was laid out
very well...albeit every attraction was UP one hill and DOWN another! Even though there were lots of people, it was laid out in such a way that you didn't feel crowded and cramped!

Rusty and I took in the variety shows mostly as we're not "ride riders" anymore (funny how age will do that to you!). The different shows were well done with some very talented people.

During the Saloon show, a barmaid was "siddlin'" up to my RustyJC! Not only was she "right purty" on the eyes, she could sing too! He asked me later IF she followed him home..... could he keep her?? Believe me...the rest of the day I kept looking over my shoulder to see if she was back there!!!

As the day wore on, the heat rose! The park was very shaded so we weren't out in the extreme bright sun, but it got mighty warm nontheless! We just ducked into a show every hour or so and got under the air conditioning which kept us...somewhat....cool.

Back at the campground....
A BIG THANK you to Mary Jane Finlay,Pat Allen and Brenda Taube who helped me chop all those onions and bell peppers for the zippy omelet breakfast and get everything ready ahead of time for the event.

There are a number of attendees that haven't done the zippy breakfast before...aren't they in for a treat!

I'll catch up with you later this evening with more news of the day. I'd give anything in the world to have YOU here with us in Branson.

Sandy

[Don (W5IT)]

Well Sandy, sounds like yall are havin a "Hum-dinger" of a good time. I would sure like to be hangin out and havin fun with yall. But this year it just was not in the cards........

I am sure those that have not had the "Breakfast in a bag" they are in for a new experience. Notice I made SURE my wording was not "A bag doin breakfast"??? I did word it like that. But then when I re-read it I laughed my hiney off. By the way THAT sounded I figured I had BETTER change it before I got in some REAL hot water if some ladies were involved with getin folks started loadin the bags..... But I almost left it anyway to see what kind of reaction I got. Then plead innocence if someone took it the wrong way.

Keep postin the updates! But I gotta go finish a little baseboard stuff and put down the last little bit of 1/4 round. I'll be finished with the "Return home from vacation surprise" project then.


I'll see you and Rusty when I come over to Rayfords in October for the "Ratfest". (Truck group gathering)

Catch Yall Later,

Don

[TXiceman]

Sounds like way too much fun for me.....

Ken