I got my kicks - again - on Route 66

Coming from Oklahoma City driving to West again, we stopped yesterday in Elk City on Route 66 to visit there the well known and great museum about the "Mother Road". It was worth to make this stop!

We spent more than two hours to see all those interesting things inside of the museum and outdoors too. I will show you tomorrow more photos in my next post about our journey on Route 66.

I was always - and I'm now more - a big fan of this old road and can imagine how much fun and real adventure it was back in time, to travel Route 66 from coast to coast - except maybe the quality of the road - that was yesterday and is still today - very bad! :)

Big collection of car tags from famous and infamous people who have traveled the road

It was big fashion to eat out in the 66-Diners on the road

Murals painted in vivid colors showing a red Pontiac and a green Ford, traveling the road

Nostalgia comes back to live: the good old days - the time, when waitresses were bringing the orders to your car windows :)

Show off your sports car: a white Thunderbird traveling on the "Mother Road"!

I love these bikes!
This "Indian" model is a special beautiful one and has its story! It was so fast, that the police could NOT stop the riders, until they decided to buy some machines for their forces too :)

...or this beautiful blue Harley! I can imagine how fantastic it was to be sitting on this bike riding along the good old Route 66!

The "Golden Queen"! "Easy Rider" would be probably very jealous of this perfect master piece, still today, I'm sure! :)

A close up of the golden bike

An authentic model of an old gasoline station and all the stuff around. Note, to have a "water bag"
(at the left upper corner at the wall - or click in the picture to see it bigger)
for rides trough the rough desert were a must to have
and they were sold for $1.50 per piece :)

The red barn, a mural showing farm life living

There was also a collection of old and pretty kid toys - some of them can even I remember.
Today they are expensive collector items.

Elk City is a Route 66 town
from the git-go. In 1931 the US Highway 66 Association held its annual convention here. More than 20,000 people attended too! That's a pretty sizable crowd for those days I'm thinking. Elk City is also the site of the Old Town Museum. In its many years of operation it has expanded to include a Route 66 museum.


The National Route 66 Museum celebrates Route 66, not only in Oklahoma, but all eight Route 66 states. The museum focuses on the people who lived, worked and traveled the Mother Road and offers the road wanderer a walk through all eight states. The realistic murals and exhibits feature vintage automobiles and antiques from the hey-day of
Route 66.

The National Route 66 Museum
is part of the Old Town Museum complex that includes the National Transportation Museum, Pioneer Museum and Beutler Brothers Rodeo Hall, the Farm and Ranch Museum, Livery Stable, Train Depot, Wagon Yard and other areas depicting Old Town Elk City. The National Route 66 Museum uses a road motif to allow visitors to travel through all eight states along Route 66 "The Mother Road". The trip begins in Chicago and ends in California. Murals and different vignettes depict the eras of the road and the interesting places that made Route 66 so famous. As you travel along, you can listen to recorded histories and personal accounts of the road from overhead audio kiosks.

Hi my friends,

we decided to go back West again and enjoying all the fun on Route 66. I'll post tomorrow more about that Museum in Elk City. My archive is full and it's waiting to be shared with you :) I hope I'll don't bore you with my enthusiasm about the "Mother Road"...LOL...

We are just now in Amarillo, Texas - again - and we went for dinner in a great (for food) and funky (in design) Restaurant with the reasonable name "The big Texan".

It was just delicious!!!

YES, that's the place where you can eat a 72 oz Steak for FREE - if you can eat it in one hour! Can you...? :) I made some photos of the place - of course - they will be online soon too!

After Amarillo we will be heading probably towards Santa Fe in New Mexico - up the hills and further North maybe to Utah or Colorado. I'll let you know - stay tuned with me! :)

Thanks for all the wonderful comments and have fun - enjoy life!
Susanne and David

What's the story behind...?

David wanted to buy a new bumper for the back of our RV. We drove to a shop where they were selling all kind of parts in Carthage,Missouri.

They promise on their website to find every single part you need for your vehicle, but we could not find a bumper for ours!

Colaw RV Parts & Salvage
is undisputedly the nation's leading provider for the RV part and salvage business. Our facility is conveniently located in Carthage, MO.

While David was talking with the guys and walking around in the mud to find something acceptable, I was snapping some pictures of these sad looking damaged vehicles.

Some were just out of service because of their age, but this one looks like it was in a big accident.

It's not visible in the picture, but in the hole in the upper right corner was even a little bird nesting. What a great and secure place for that new bird family...right? :)

Many of them were in a rack. I thought, they were all very sad looking buses and RV's - I would love to know some of the stories behind them!

Hi my friends,

Thank you again for all the nice comments and for all your visits to my blog, even you're not commenting (anymore?) :)

We are back in Oklahoma again and are gambling and hoping to win some money in the beautiful casinos here in the region. Last night we had a very heavy thunderstorm that was shaking our little RV like crazy. We don't know where to go just now, maybe more East if the weather is good over there. We have planned also to visit my only one cousin I never have met, living in Nashville.

Or it's better maybe to wait until it's warmer with all our plans going to the East coast and spend more time in the warmer Southwest of the States...? We really don't know...!

And reading about the outbreak of these new "swine flu" cases doesn't makes our travels easy anymore - scary stuff is going one, people!

Stay tuned with me!
Susanne and David


Oh....btw,

Our summer job in Branson's RV Park doesn't worked out for us in many reasons - we are now "free" again and open to new adventures. Two artists - that's we! - are not made for working on regulated places, I guess...LOL... :)

It's my wordless Sunday again

A little bit about Branson in Missouri

View of Main Street in Down Town Branson, MO

Downtown is where Branson got its start around 1888. It’s a shopping and entertainment destination with the flavor of an “old time” Main Street, preserved building facades, brick sidewalks and Victorian lamp posts. Historic downtown Branson is located just east of Hwy 65 along the shores of Lake Taneycomo.

The first Theater of Branson's Entertainment Industry

The Owen's Theater,
built in 1935, reflects Branson's roots in fine Ozark entertainment with shows like Hank and Patsy, Together Again and Take the Twain Ride. Owen's Theater, formerly known as The Owen, is the oldest theater in Branson, and has been entertaining Branson visitors since its opening. Because this theater was built in the same year Elvis Presley was born, one of the theater's main shows is Elvis and the Superstars.

The house of 1000 German clocks and a gift shop

Branson Landing

The Historic District's neighbor is Branson Landing, a new lifestyle center with over a mile of boardwalk area along Lake Taneycomo. Branson Landing includes many opportunities for shopping, dining, and entertainment centered around fountains and the Hilton Promenade Hotel. Also located in downtown is Branson's new Convention Center, open in September 2007. The Convention Center offers a variety of conference and meeting rooms and exhibit areas, adjoining the new Hilton Convention Center Hotel. To visit the Convention Center's website go to: www.bransonconvention.com

Scenic Railway Branson

Take a ride through time in a glass-topped railroad car. The tour is 105-minutes long and travels a 40-mile trail from downtown Branson to Galena and back. The trip winds across the Ozark Mountains, into verdant valleys, over narrow bridges, and through tunnels. The 5pm tour on Saturdays is a little shorter, but includes a four-course prime rib dinner. A snack car is available for refreshments on all other excursions.

Ride the Ducks

Everyone has fun aboard a Ride The Ducks sightseeing tour of Branson. It's the best way for families to enjoy Branson because we combine fun and music with history and sights. Adults and seniors will have just as much fun as kids. It's the best way for locals and visitors to see all that Branson has to offer. Ride The Ducks is the Branson attraction to experience when you visit just for the day, a weekend or a week.

Next time when you'll visiting Branson, take this fun ride with the Ducks!

Yesterday evening we had a dinner here in the "White River Fish House"
and it was delicious!

The restaurant sits on a dock out into Lake Taneycomo, in front of the bass pro shop, in the Branson landing. The outside is very attractive, with a rustic theme that goes along with the Bass pro shop design. Upon entering, we were shown our seat very quickly,
The hostess was very friendly, and made sure we were happy with the seating.
The decor is done in a decor that compliments the area, which is known for it's rich history of the finest trout fishing. There is a Huge fireplace against the back wall done in stone, with comfortable chairs to relax in front of the fire.

Pretty water fountain in action at the shopping street area by The Landing

THE attraction at the Branson Landing:
the water and fire spectacle - a must to see!

Branson Landing Fountains
Branson Landing features a scenic boardwalk along the 1.5-mile Taneycomo Lakefront. At the heart of the Landing is a vibrant town square terracing down to the $7.5 million spectacular water attraction that features the first-ever merging of water, fire, light and music. You will be amazed by the dazzling interplay of water Fountains shooting 120-foot geysers and fire cannons blasting, all choreographed to light and music.

The water and fire spectacle is a creation of internationally renowned Wet Design, the producers of world-class shows for Downtown Disney marketplace in Orlando, Universal City Walk in California and the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Fountain Schedule
Sunday - Thursday Shows: Top of the Hour beginning at NOON through 10PM
Friday and Saturday Shows: Top of the Hour beginning at NOON through 11PM

It's spring time at the White River shores

Lake Taneycomo's
clear cold waters provide some of the finest trout fishing available anywhere in the world - and this not only for humans, as you can see in the picture. Also the big white Heron bird is ready to get his catch!

And this is my famous Dave - or, he thinks...he is famous... :)

Thank you my friends,

for all your kind comments to my last posts in the last days, your words are very much appreciated!

Tomorrow we will be on the road again, actually we still don't know in which direction we should go: up to the North towards Iowa, but the weather is not that great up there or should we just go back to much warmer Arizona... ? Doe's anybody live in Iowa, maybe in Orange City or so... and can tell me how the weather really is up there? I don't trust to much all these online and TV weather predictors!!...LOL... :)

Thanks for your tips!
Susanne

The Story of a Little White Goat

The dream about being free and no more chained to the pol ended quick for this little white goat. His herder caught him back pretty quick after his escape and put him to the place where he wanted to have him: back to the long chain - poor little goat...! :)
(click in the picture to see it bigger!)



Hi my friends,

thank you so much for all your kind visits and lovely comments to my "sweet" post from yesterday, very much appreciated!
The next two days we will be working and I don't think I will have time to post anything. Please stay tuned with me anyway, o.k.? :) Thanks!

Susanne and David

Sweet so Sweet

If you wanted that star
That shines so brightly
To match the stardust in your eyes
Darling,
I would chase that bright star nightly
And try to steal it from the sky

I would give
Sweets for my sweet,
Sugar for my honey
Your tasty kiss thrills me so
Sweets for my sweet,
Sugar for my honey
I'll never ever let you go

If you needed the dream
To keep you smilin'
I'd tell the sandman you were blue
And I'd ask him
To keep that sand a-pilin'
Until your dreams had all come true

And I would give
Sweets for my sweet,
Sugar for my honey
Your tasty kiss thrills me so
Sweets for my sweet,
Sugar for my honey
I'll never ever let you go

If you wanted a love to last forever
Then I would send my love your way
And my love'd not only last forever
But forever and a day

'Cause I would give
Sweets for my sweet,
sugar for my honey
Your tasty kiss thrills me so
Sweets for my sweet,
Sugar for my honey
I'll never ever let you go

Sweets for my sweet,
Sugar for my honey
Your tasty kiss thrills me so
Sweets for my sweet,
Sugar for my honey
I'll never ever let you go

***

~ Neil Diamond Lyrics ~

Hi my friends,

I'm happy you liked my car photos from yesterday! Thanks for all the wonderful comments :)

It's cool and gray in Branson today and today is also my "lazy" day - I'm doing laundry and all that household stuff what I don't like to do, but it has to be done....LOL...

I wish you a more exciting Sunday!
Susanne and David

Sleek and Shiny Big-Boy-Toys

This weekend is the "Branson Collector Car Auction" in the Conventions Center in Branson, MO - and I was there with my camera!

If you've been having a problem finding any cars worthy of adding to your car collection, then the Branson Collector Car Auction is certainly an event you should check out. Held at the Branson Convention Center, this semi-annual auction showcases some of the most elusive and unique cars in all of the midwest area. Alfa Romeos, Cadillacs, Impalas, corvettes, Ford "T" Buckets, Mustangs and Shelby Mustang GTs are just a small sample of what has been offered at previous auctions. Trucks, motorcycles and even the occasional high end golf cart will all find their way into the auction every now and then as well!

I hope you'll enjoy "my version" of capturing all those beautiful old cars!

Pink Chevrolet

A Packard

Purple Chevrolet 1948 or 1949

my abstract version of the Chevy

"B" is for Bentley

The Swan

Steering wheel of a Silver Chevy 1957

Sparkling lights on a Packard

Close up of the Packard light and mirror

A blue Cadillac 1954

Front figure of the blue Cadillac

White Corvette 1955

Cadillac 12V

Front figure of the Cadillac 12V

The Cadillac had a sticker on the back side: Roosevelt for President!

Desoto in light blue

Il piccolo FIAT 600

It's not hard to guess what kind of car this one is...right?

Red Corvette

What a beauty, this red Chevrolet!

Red Thunderbird 1956

White Cadillac Eldorado with a silver top

The Yellow Bernardi

Green Jaguar 1961

The King of the "Kings of the road" was a Duesenberg, 1933

Wire wheels of the Duesenberg

Front view of the red "king" - beauty and perfection!
The car will go for $750'000 or even up to $1 Mio!

Hi my friends,

I LOVE to see old cars - and more I do love to photograph them! It was a joy and big pleasure to see them yesterday and today. We spent almost 3 hours there and watched the guys bringing them in and driving them out of the auction room.

Oh, by the way....thanks for all your nice comments to my last post. :)

Stay with me and see you later!
Susanne and David