April 18, 2012

Today we visited the Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History.

Hey Drew, guess what Grammie found?

I took this one for my friend who collects business cards. However before the business actually developed in Washington, it actually started in...you guessed it... ABQ.

I know 2 of our grandchildren now have 10 new chicks, but guess what we saw.

As part of the revitalization project, the city, rather than having buildings torn down, either buys the property or sells it to developers. This building, about 35 years ago used to be the high school. The building was empty for that many years but today now has apartments. Imaging living in the old Principal's office, or the girls locker room!

Nowadays you can make your own Coke product flavored to your desire. This machine will mix your choice of up to 100 different flavors.

April 17, 2012 con't

As the story went, a former Governor of NM didn't want to miss out on money from tourism so he created an alternate Route 66 that went to Santa Fe, so in ABQ, there are 2 streets known as Route 66, hence the sign located at the crossroads.

In ABQ there are a lot of murals on buildings that were done as part of the city revitalization. This one titled Floating Man

A hot day in ABQ, you know the routine.

Bart Prince, well known architect actually lives here.

ABQ, a city with over a half million people, the 35th largest city in the US
has no major league professional team in any sport, however they have the minor league Isotopes. U of NM however has a large following in their sports.

The El Vado motel on Route 66 had served the public for 6 decades but was bought by a Condo developer. Because it was listed on the National Historic Register, the developer realized he couldn't tear it down so the city bought it back and plan to have a New Mexico Route 66 Museum in the future. Picture from theroadwanderer.net

April 17, 2012

Today was a great day to be in Albuquerque. We took a trolley tour while in town (500,000 plus). ABQ trolley tours did a great job. We learned that the city is a pretty common location for shooting movies. Johnny Depp was in town today. There is one part of the city that has many different styles of homes to pick from, and the weather is great 300+ days of the year.

Jesse and Mike run the only trolley tour in the city. They are both grads from the U of NM which has a campus spread over 700 acres.

April 16, 2012

Another road travelled (I-40) but not as long as yesterday. Amarillo, TX to Albuquerque about 320 miles that included an up and down hill side trip.
We are now in the Mountain time zone (2 hours later) after we crossed into New Mexico. We stopped in the visitors center to a nice welcome, a cup of coffee and plenty of good advice on things to see in the state. Definitely a warmer welcome than the "Open for Business" sign in Kittery.

The first side trip was to Sandia Peak just before Albuquerque. It is 10,678 feet and included a few turns as our Garmin shows. I just wanted to do a test run with the van for Pike's Peak.

The picture really doesn't do justice to the view behind the pretty lady in the picture. By the time we got to the top, we needed our fleeces.

From this height, every view is great.

Two days ago, Tom got a call from Kirtland AFB informing us that the room rates were going up by $2.50. Little did we realize that we were getting the whole house, in a gated community too. Shortly after we checked in, Tom made sure he got in his 18 holes of golf.

April 15, 2012

After an early wakeup and continental breakfast, we were on the road and crossed the Arkansas River before 7. The city of Fort Smith was covered by darkened skies but no rain yet. On our way towards Oklahoma City, we met a thunderstorm for about 10 minutes. We spent about 5 of that under a bridge to make sure the van didn't get the "chickenpox". Once on the other side of OK City, the sky was clear and the roads not heavily traveled. We did stop shortly before noon to Skype Caroline and Garrett and Dana and Becky were there so we were treated to seeing 5 of the grandkids.

Along the way there were many windmills to supplement the cheaper natural gas that many homes use. I do wonder if their fire insurance is more expensive. I did stop to refuel the van and 100% gas was available so I gave the van a treat. I didn't think you could still buy it. What's up with that.

We also stopped to visit a Route 66 museum but Sunday isn't a good day to do anything but visit your favorite house of worship. No closed doors there. After 460 miles of van time (Alice drove 105) we pulled up in Amarillo TX.

April 14, 2012

Waking up, planning for an early start to Clinton Oklahoma, the choices were...go northwest towards Wichita, Kansas, go south towards Fort Smith Arkansas or, head towards Oklahoma City while humming "Eye of the Tiger".

April 13, 2012

Before we left Branson Friday, we took in 2 shows. The first was a John Denver Tribute by James Garrett, a friend of John Denver. James did a great job singing any song the audience wanted. In the afternoon we went to a Yakov dinner show. It was a great show using the perspective of a artistically talented and humerous Russian immigrant who came to the US and was naturalized on Ellis Island. It also featured a family who came to America...the Land of the Free.

Not wanting to miss anything, we stopped into the RFD-TV building just for kicks. Many might remember the famous horse and dog.

Tom thought that by touching the General Lee it would help his golf game like Bubba Watson.

The tornado that hit Branson in March early in the morning could have been more serious but luckily, no one was killed. Since then, the people here have rebounded well and have only been held up by the material shortage and manpower. Many businesses have already located to vacant storefronts.


The remainder of the evening was spent watching the Weather Channel to see what is happening with the tornado warnings along our intended travel route.

April 12, 2012

Tom got off to an early start to play golf at the Payne Stewart Golf Club in Branson. Let's just say that without anyone laying a hand on him he got beat up badly. GOLFWEEK ranked Payne Stewart Golf Club as #1 Course in Missouri for 2012!


This afternoon we went to an IMAX show that was a documentary on the Titanic. A lot of the underwater filming was done in 2001. Great footage of the inside of the RMS Titanic.

April 11, 2012

After finding the Post Office and looking around Dick's Old time 5 an dime store, we went to the College of the Ozarks in Dobyns Hall for lunch. The meals were done by culinary arts students and the wait staff were students that are required to work 15 hours a week to pay tuition. The picture is of the Old Dobyns Hall that was the Maine building at the 1904 Worlds Fair.

Later we drove to a lake where there a Paddle Wheel boat, the Branson Belle that included a meal on board. Since we already ate, we skipped the ride.

We finished the evening listening to a group call SIX. They were six of 10 brothers that did the show acapella. Great voices and a great show.

April 10 2012 continued

This morning we went to the Titanic Museum, coincidentally the 100th anniversary year of the launch and sinking of the ship. The Museum was a 2 story half scale building of the ship. It contained many artifacts that came from the Titanic

In the evening we went to the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede dinner show. There were no eating utensils. It was a really upbeat and positive family show.

April 10 2012

Now why would anybody want to watch a station like this?

April 9, 2012

The tourist season isn't at its peak yet so it is easy to get tickets to the places that are open, however there are attractions that are, and will be closed for a while. Tom played golf again at one of the several courses in the area. After enduring Tom's driving over curvy and hilly roads, Alice's fingernails are doing very well so Tom bought her a Krispy Kreme donut. Alice and I are both glad to see Bubba Watson win the Masters. He was one of the players that we saw practicing on Wednesday. We had dinner at Mel's Hard Luck Diner that was done in a 50's style where the wait staff took turns singing. They were all greatly talented singers.

April 8, 2012

Crossed the Mississippi mid-morning and continued to Branson, MO where we will be for the week. Evidence of the March tornado was everywhere. It seemed to do a dance along the tops of hills in the town and tore the roofs off many places while leveling others.

Happy Easter

A Happy and Holy Easter to everyone.

Day 12 April 7 2012

Another busy day in Memphis. After a pleasant drive into the city we had enough time to see the old Stax Museum, home of the Stax recording studio that went bust after MLK was assasinated. It did recordings for Isaac Hayes and Ike and Tina Turner. It is now home to a charter school for middle level and high school kids, and a School of music.
Next we visited the National Civil Rights Museum that has incorporated the Lorraine Hotel.
We then drove a little bit to the home of the Memphis Recording Service and soon after became Sun Studios.

The scene on a fateful day on April 4th, 1968

The very first guitar belonging to Elvis is at Sun Studios.

Million Dollar Quartet" is the name given to recordings made on Tuesday December 4, 1956 in the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The recordings were of an impromptu jam session among Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.

Rockabilly Tom trying to get his first recording using the very first michrophone Elvis used in 1954.

On the other side of the barricades, in the middle of the street, in the Middle of Beale Street in Memphis, is where Alice and I shared a bit of the first dance we have had since my hip surgery in November. You know that saying, sing like nobody is listening, dance like nobody is watching...tomorrow we say goodbye to Memphis and on to Branson, MO

Day 11, April 6 2012

Another great day this time visiting Memphis. Spent until 1:30 at Graceland, then drove back into the city where we went to the Rock and Soul Museum, The Gibson Guitar Factory and the famous Beale Street. A great all around day.

Graceland front entrance. Didn't realize how generous a person he was.

Ahhh, the Pink Cadillac. It was originally bought for Elvis' mother, Gladys, as well as Graceland, to be her home, but she died before living there a year.

This JD model 4010 was retired, but later restored after 50 years of service.

BB King's "Lucille"

Wooly Bully to you.

And the "Night Life" hasn't even arrived yet

A great meal to finish the day.

Day 10 April 5 2012

Today was a travel day. We left Dobbins Reserve Base near Atlanta about 9:30 into a traffic backup on 75 South, turned around to North and headed for Scottsboro, AL at the Unclaimed Baggage Center. Great buys! Alice purchased a suitcase and a leather carry-on bag. Continued traveling through northern Alabama and Mississippi to Memphis. Staying at Navy Lodge at the Mid-South Naval Support Activity in Millington TN. Alice drove for the first time today for 107 miles.

More day 9 at the Masters practice day

In the afternoon, the par 3 tournament began.

Phil

The # 8 and 9 holes where we spent a lot of the afternoon watching great shots.

Watched the ball roll slowly back into the cup for an Ace. Thomas Bjorn hole #9

Time for interviews during the par 3 tournament.

For those that remember "Fuzzy", he got cheers everywhere.

Just a few of the masses around the 7th.

Day 9, April 4 2012

After a restless night thinking about the next day, we finally arrived in Augusta. We both enjoyed mingling with the masses watching some of the worlds greatest golfers get in some practice time before the annual par 3 tournament. As would have been expected, the course was in great shape except for some overnight winds and heavy downpours. Rae's creek ran over and flooded the low area around the 12th. A tree came crashing down on one of the service buildings but by opening time, the fairways and greens looked great. We walked around the course starting with 18.

Taking a break in the walk around the back 9

A spectator's view of Phil's shot heard around the course 2 years ago. White flag shows position of the ball and the trees he went through

The 12th hole with the aftermath of the flooding. It won't be there tomorrow.

Jim Furyk and mainah, "Fluff Cowan"