Meeting Lisa and Chance: Lake Cabin Adventures in Branson, MO – (Part II)

[See also "Branson Tales" Blog by PK TECH GURL]

Whenever I travel I look for opportunities to meet online friends and this time was no exception! When I knew I was going to be in Branson, MO for my Dad’s 80^th Birthday, I also hoped that I’d have a chance to meet online friend Lisa (PK TECH GURL) for the first time!  Lisa lives in the neighboring state of Kansas from Missouri.  She is a fellow fan of actor John Simm (circa Doctor Who) and who, fortunately for me, was willing to meet me as well!

Lisa had the great idea that she and her 5 year old son Chance, would travel to Branson, MO in the beautiful Ozarks region for their vacation and we would have a couple days to hang out before I flew back home.  A friend of Lisa’s recommended we check out getting a lakeside cabin where we could take her son fishing! Well, I’m totally game for that! Nice one!

So we meet at the Blue Haven Resort on Lake Taneycomo in Branson, MO and it was perfectly quaint! But the first thing I was anticipating to see was Lisa’s car with personalized plates that say “Led Zep”.  Well darn it, she drove a rental car down!!!  Hhmmpff 

OK fine, we’ll start with a pic of the cabin then! Here we go!

And this is how far we were from the Lake and boat dock.

The first afternoon we went to the pool that still had a fully functional old-fashioned slide!  Helloo!?! You don’t see one of those “liabilities begging for a lawsuit” anymore! (sorry no pic…the lawyers confiscated it )

Later back at the cabin, we were struggling with the cooling features (or lack thereof) of both the A/C and the Fridge.  How hard could that be?  Well here’s a Pop Quiz–

A/C POLL: Which # setting is “Colder”…No. 1 or No. 6?

Fridge POLL: If the dial is already set to the “Colder” setting but the ice cubes are turning to water, do you simply turn the dial 360 degrees, arriving back where you started at the “Colder” setting… Yes or No?

Lisa got the A/C going and I got the Fridge going… Yay, Girl POWER!!

Mornings on the lake were absolutely gorgeous!!  Here’s a few favs

On our first morning we rent a motor boat and go “fishing”.  This is in quotes because we had no pretensions of actually catching any fish between us on this lovely trout-stocked cold water lake.

Lisa’s son was all set with a nifty “SpongeBob SquarePants” fishing pole, plus we had another “adult” pole that Lisa brought.

The day started out gloriously hot and sunny,  sunscreen, shades and hats required (for our unbeknownst “~3 hour tour~”  )

Some pics of Lake Taneycomo

But later after trolling on the lake awhile, clouds start building and light rain began to fall…

but we were not concerned…yet.

Well then it quickly turned into buckets of rain 

and we high-tailed our way back to the Blue Haven Resort.  But before we got there, the thunder and lightening increased to the point where Lisa suggested we take refuge at a covered dock along the way.

It wasn’t long before we were joined by another rain-soaked couple docking for some shelter from the T-Storm. Of course I’d picked the worst place to dock the boat…right under the dock’s roof run-off, which sent double the amount of rain water into the open boat.  About an hour later and after bailing out the boat twice…

Post-bailing!  Note bailing tools – blue bucket and there’s also a red Spider Man box for the tight spots

…finally we made a break for it back to the Blue Haven Resort, dried off and went into downtown historic Branson for dinner!

In addition to our little T-Storm boat adventure we spent the two days relaxing, talking and little bit of shopping in town.

Oh, and of course how about the wildlife sightings!!

Ducks

Geese

Mink
(sighted in the evenings only – sorry no pic)

Great Blue Herons

Turtle (and another Great Blue Heron)

After a last morning visit to shop in historic downtown Branson, I said goodbye to my new wonderful personal friends, Lisa and Chance!

Ha-Ha!  But wait!  When Lisa got back home to Kansas she sent me a pic of her car’s license plate!!  Lisa, how many folks in Kansas know what a TARDIS is? 

And in closing, I would like to finish with this beautiful scene captured while fishing on Lake Taneycomo of my beautiful dear friends on a most MEMORABLE day I won’t soon forget!

P.S. Lisa, I’m terribly sorry I …um, steered us into that dock! DOH!!  Let me make it up to you, perhaps another fishing trip someday?

Dad’s 80th Birthday Bash Weekend! Branson, MO – (Part I)

My Dad turned 80 this year!!

My dad totally rocks! A career civil engineer and currently still only semi-retired. Also, my dad had a Real Estate Brokers License and in his 50’s attended and graduated from Law School. At about that same time he also began running marathons. He has finished the L.A. Marathon a number of times and also ran in Pittsburgh, London and a few other places I can’t think of right now! These days he still runs half marathons. I truly hope to aspire to be like my dad and continue to actively pursue new challenges regardless of age! ;-D

My parents divorced before I was 5 and while I’ve always been close to my dad growing up I was never in touch with his side of the family until these past few years. I still have one half-brother I’ve never met. So, it was absolutely fantastic to have my Dad’s older sister, her son and his wife plus my half-sister and her son all meet in Branson, MO to celebrate Dad’s 80^th Birthday. We traveled from Missouri, Pennsylvania, Nevada and California!

After a slight delay when my dad missed his connecting flight at DFW airport, we eventually all arrived in time for dinner together!

L to R – me, my cousin Bob, his wife Diane, Dad, Aunt Jane, half-sister Kim and her son Grant.

Next day, more family arrived (Dad’s niece Marna and her daughter Jody). I was 2 years old when Marna last saw me, whoa!

L to R – Dad, Diane and her husband Bob, Marna and her daughter Jody, Aunt Jane, half-sister Kim and my half-nephew Grant.

Over the next few days we all did what one mainly does in Branson and that is to go see some shows!

The Pierce Arrow Show

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Show

We also went to the Worlds Largest Titanic Museum Attraction

And even took a scenic train ride on the Branson Railway down into Arkansas

Besides “The Strip” in Branson there is a lovely new shopping and hotel convention center at the edge of Lake Taneycomo called Branson Landing.

Here’s some pics of Branson Landing

And of course at the Landing I had to visit the Branson Ridge Winery for a tasting.

They’ve only been open three weeks!! Don’t they look happy!

On Saturday our last show was also a lunch cruise on the Showboat Branson Belle on Table Rock Lake

L to R – Bob’s wife Diane, half-nephew Grant, aunt Jane, cousin Bob, Dad, me, half-sister Kim

Here’s some pics at the Port of the Showboat Branson Belle

Did I mention my dad has a sense of humor? This is a fake duck with its head already poised like this, really!

And in closing, here’s two last pics from the Lunch Cruise

On Sunday we all said goodbye and vowed to maintain a new annual family reunion. Looks like I may continue to meet more of my dad’s (my) family!

Next year we’ll possibly meet in Myrtle Beach, SC! Stay tuned!