Quack! Quack!

I've finally done it!

Ridden a duck.

Many cities have The Ducks.

I've passed them in Baltimore and read about them 

here and there.

I even watched an episode of Undercover Boss

featuring this particular company.

But, until yesterday, I had not experienced

The Ducks.

Can't say that anymore.

It was fun.

The morning was a bit nippy because it was 

overcast and so riding down the highway at 

40 - 45 mph was a bit chilly.

Not so much for me

as I am perpetually HOT these days.

Some of you understand.

But poor Chelsea was a little frozen popsicle

all snuggled up with her Papa Bear.

I think her pet name fits him pretty well.

It is official, you know, because that is how 

he is listed in her phone.

Anyway, back to the Duckie ride.

A retired Duckling.  Much smaller than our Duck.

In case you have no idea of what I speak, 

The Ducks are vehicles that can go on land or water

equally as easily.

So we hit the road and then tackled a mountain

to see spectacular views of Table Rock Lake

which was our feature destination.

Since The Ducks own the mountain...

yes, I know how strange that sounds...

they have decorated it in a rather

patriotic fashion.

They retire military vehicles up there.

I would not have thought of that one.

But they did.

And it works.

See the limestone wall?  That is what is left after a conveyor system took a large part of the mountain down to the dam building project.

This was used on the set of MASH.  Captain Gramps was pretty sure that "Hot Lips Hoolihan" had ridden in it.

Then upon coming down from the mountain 

the propeller was deployed and into the water 

we went.

Splash!

The Branson Belle.  We are not going to get to experience this during our trip this time.

We enjoyed very smooth conditions and 

were entertained by fellow travelers who took turns

at the wheel. 

We sang Happy Birthday to a man turning

a young 75 on that very day

while his wife, the stool pigeon, 

took a turn at the wheel.

Our Captain...Gramps....was awesome.

We enjoyed his banter as he drove.

What a wonderful world when a man of his 

years can share his knowledge and experience

while providing a wonderful service to those

who wish to learn more about an area.

He was full of information about the lake system

and the dams that control them.

I'm so glad we got him as our driver

and tour guide.

One special thing I will mention is that
we passed the community that Andy Williams
had called home for many years.
It was there that he passed away this week.
Captain Gramps made mention of it and I'm
pretty sure he was a bit touched as he did so.
I hope to get some photos of the signs going up around
here paying respect to Mr. Williams and his family.

Later Mom, Warren and Jonathan went to see 

Yakov while Chelsea and I explored the local 

Tanger Outlets.

We escaped without any purchases.

Whew!!

We did come close but decided that if we still wanted 

anything we would get it before we left.

Nothing seemed that important as the 

time came for us to head out.

A very good plan for saving money if you ask me.

I wouldn't have felt too badly about purchasing something

if I went to the extra effort of going back for it.

Chelsea and I went to "our favorite" grocery store here

and got supplies for dinner.

We made Spaghetti.

Yum.

Thanks for those who are so sweet as to care

to read our vacation posts. 

I know that there are many, many jokes

about being tortured with someone

else's vacation pictures....

but you don't have to look.

It's o.k.

I think we sat by Alf's Dad at a show 

the other night.

Not sure but I think since there is now 

no way to confirm or deny

I'm just going to claim it.

He looked just like he should look by now.

AND he was a wonderful man who 

sounded like him too.

Yep!

I was that close to 

stardom!

Last night we made it part of the way through

The Pearce Arrow Show.

We didn't mind it

but we were seated in the very middle of a LONG row

and the man and woman directly to my left had very 

bad colds.

I just couldn't concentrate on enjoying the show

with fears of getting that nasty cold.

Horrible, aren't I?
So we snuck out at intermission.
I really enjoyed seeing Luke Menard
from American Idol.
He is now singing tenor for
Pearce Arrow.

Well, it was all good in the end.

We went to Dairy Queen and got Blizzards

instead.  Since it was just Warren, Chelsea and I 

we hatched a story to tell Mom and Jonathan when we got 

back that involved Warren getting thrown out of the theatre.

Would you believe Mom and Jonathan had already gone to 

bed and were sleeping soundly.

Our acting debut was sunk 

just like that!

Oh well.

Probably for the best.