Well, actually 3 and a half years. This one is near the end of October 2005. The first day, we hopped on I80 to the quad cities and got on 61 south out of Davenport. 61 is a pretty nice strectch, at least south of the quad cities. There are a few times you're right on Ole Miss. We stopped in Quincy IL for the night. We stayed right downtown about 3 blocks east of the river and two blocks south of 24. Now Quincy is a town worthy of spending several nights in. I actually did head back there in 2007 for a week. Both times I was at the Holiday Inn on like 2nd Ave. It is no longer a Holiday Inn, but there are several hotels within a block or two. If you're only there one or two nights, make sure you do two things: 1. Eat at The Patio. It is on 3rd Ave right across from where the HI used to be. 2. Get there early enough to wander around downtown for a while. It's like 4 blocks north to south and 13 to 14 blocks east to west. It's a very beautiful area.
And again, we end up in Branson. I should have mentioned in the last post we had stayed at a HI Express. Not a bad hotel, but a basic one as in not full service. This time, we did it right. The Radisson there is phenomenally gorgeous. Marble floors in the lobby, better than average rooms, great atmosphere. And the bar/restaurant area. Unbelievable. Not sure it's still set up like this, but when we were there it went like this: You go to the lower floor, get off the elevator, and follow the signs. You go down this hall that is littered with memorabilia from virtually every war America has been in, newpapers, uniforms, medals, etc. A good tribute to those who served. You hang a right a bit down this hall and the bar is on the left, the restaurant on the right. Bar opens a 4, we were there at 4, and beat the bartender. This means something, lol, this is important. And we come to why I like hanging in the bar. We get talking at 2 couples from Arkansas, around Little Rock. 3 drinks and two HOURS of conversation later, we (the uncle and the shotgun) went for food. LOL Long walk, 40 feet from where we were sitting in the bar. Personally I think hotel food is pretty underrated. Yes, it may be a smidge pricy, but I don't think it's too far out there. So, yeah, the food was pretty good. We nursed dinner for the better part of an hour, then yours truly had the wonderful idea "Hey let's go for an after dinner drink or two, my treat." So, back to the bar we went. Now hotel bars to my mind can be a bit overpriced. I've been in some where the prices are real close or the same to what I pay locally and some are like 2-4 bucks higher. This place was of like the 4-5 dollar a drink variety. So, I bought 2 rounds for me and the uncle. $20. Ok, so back in the bar, enjoying Kahlua and creams. We walk in at 7pm and are sitting at the elbow of the bar, got a youngish couple (guessing late 30s early 40s) sitting to the right of us at the wall and an older couple (guessing mid 70s) on the left. The older guy was in the bar with us earlier alone and was now back with the wife. Between the 6 of us, cutting jokes, trading stories, talking news, having an all around great time. I still laugh every time I think about it. So, the uncle and I are halfway through drink number two (and planning on going back to the room after we finish) when the bartender drops a drink in front of each of us. Points to the older couple "From them." Okay. Get halfway through that on and the other couples are getting dry, so the uncle goes for money to buy a round. "No No" the younger couple says, "Your moneys no good here." And THEY buy a round. Okaay, so up to 4 drinks now. Mind you, I only wanted one maybe two drinks and we're up to 4. Now, I'm no lightweight with the liquor, I just wasn't looking to get a little discombobulated that night. Heh, fate had other ideas. Needless to say, three and a half hours after walking in and 6 to 8 drinks, we were excusing ourselves and slightly sverved our way back to the room. LOL My uncle plops down on the bed giggling. "You got me drunk" he says. Eh, you'll have that.
So, next morning we head back out on the trail. We traveled south on 65 into Arkansas and traveled east on the first highway we came to, 62. Travelled that for the better part of the day. And swung back into Missouri stopping in Cape Girardeau. Now, that stretch we were on in Arkansas, you end up going through like the Ozarks. Absolutely beautiful scenery. You do need to be a bit careful. Some of the roads switchback almost out of mowhere, and there isn't much for guardrails, or at least there weren't when we were there, so if you are too lost in the scenery you may go for a dive. But it is so worth the drive. And we headed home the next day.
All in all, a bit short, but well worth getting out of the house for.
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