Branson Miss.

Tortoise in the woods
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Driving to Branson (We thought it was Branston....sob!!) The road cuts through some spectacular scenery and the town itself is a kind of vegas without casinos, rather they have god knows how mant theatres showing "Wholesome American family entertainment"  Sweet jesus you should see it!  It's so bloody awful it's entertaining.  Huge billboards of an exhumed looking Andy Williams and lord knows how many other neon teethed inbreds gurn down at us as we cruise the downtown.

Branson Miss
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Right at the end of town they've built a marina/shopping complex on the river.  Right at the water front there's an ampitheatre backed by a huge fountain/gas explosion/light show which goes off on the hour it's spectacular to say the least and forms a greta back drop for the free concert that takes place each evening.  Tonite it's a Shania twainalike and pretty grim.

However, we locate an Irish bar that has a magnifiscent band playing.  Real trad instuments, wash board trombone tea chest bass great slide guitar.  Playing everything from Tom Waites to Van the Man they're really great value.

In The Ozarks
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We decide to take 2 days to drive to St Louis through the stunning Ozark countryside (If you hear banjos, keep paddling!!) It really is glorious here.  We stop off at a couple of rivers and lakes over the 2 days, all impossibly picturesque and seriously deserted, it's wonderful.   There's been a lot of flooding in the area and we pass a few valleys with tree and roof tops just peeking above the water.

We pass tiny towns/villages.  All clapperboard houses and churches, we pass through Locust, Southfork, Sunny side and my personal favourite, Licking.  Course there is great fun to be had with the business names here as we pass Licking liquer, Licking Gravel and Oil and Licking Livestock.  All good hobbies free of malice.