C: Road Trip Report

dixiestampede We’re back, after one night on the road.  MIL, Aunt E, my Mom and I took off for Branson, Mo. yesterday (Friday) to see The Dixie Stampede.  Aunt E (like me!) has a life-long love of horses.  We thought she’d enjoy seeing the Stampede, which is performed mostly on horseback.  We had a grand time, meandering up through North Arkansas and back.

Below is a not-so-good picture (sorry about my lack of photo skills) of Aunt E enjoying seeing some of the star performers up close—such beautiful horses!DSCN1139

Is it okay for me to say that I don’t particularly like Branson?  We had fun  taking Aunt E to the Stampede, alright, but I just find Branson, itself, a bit kitschy…well, more than a bit.  But we enjoyed zipping in and seeing the show and zipping out.

We came back down through Eureka Springs to drive around and see all the Victorian homes.  The hilly, cobbled walking is a bit much for my octogenarian travel mates, so we toured in the car but still had a grand time doing it.  Here is some of what we saw!

eurekatrip

Eureka Springs was the perfect place for Aunt E to find a couple little souvenirs for her friends back East.

chalkmonster We even drove up to view the area where the Passion Play is performed  and there are scaled-down recreations of the Jerusalem Old City wall, etc.  We drove by to see the Christ of the Ozarks Statue.  Let me ask again:  Is it okay for me to say that I loathe this particular piece of statuary?  Can one even call it that?   I think it may be one of the ugliest attempts at art I have ever seenarkansas barn..and, for something that really ought to be hidden away,  it’s so danged big!!  My brother-in-law calls it “The Chalk Monster,” and I’m with him…

We meanpeachesdered back yesterday, oohing and aaahing over the beautiful Arkansas landscape, spotting out scenic old barns and purusing  produce stands for fresh peaches (success!) and local watermelons (we’re too early).  We crossed back to our side of the Arkansas River at Toad Suck Dam, loving telling Aunt E the name of that place!toad suck

In all, we had a successful, fun trip.  I think it was uniquely female in character—mostly looking, little action, which was just fine with all of us!

Glad to have my own bed last night (what does that say?)…C

Comments

Vee said…
Yes, my friend, you get to say whatever you'd like about anything. This is your blog and your opinion holds sway. Is it okay if I disagree with you? :D

Eureka Springs has such fond memories for me. As a college gal, a friend and I took a trip there and oh the fun we had on our weekend away from campus. I remember thinking that the statue was not terribly well done, but it didn't matter much to me. Whenever something points to Christ, I call it good...very. If it makes anyone think about Him at all and how can it help not to? It really is big and out of scale...short arms and all the rest. I guess that I think more about a human's desire to express himself than about the actual statue. For me, it'd be like saying that Grandma Moses had no perspective. It's a "different" kind of art. And how, right?!

As for Branson, I've never been, but I've heard so many good things (until now) that I'd have to reserve judgment. Is it too much for the "older" crowd (I am one of that set now.) Or is it too clean? (I'd love clean.) Is it just cheesy and poorly done?

I think that you're a sweetheart to gather up your favorite gals and strike off for the show. I bet that they think so, too!
Okay, Vee has busted me--I am preferring form over substance and will say that the Christ of the Ozarks statue does convey a message, regardless of the aesthetics.

And Branson: It is clean, no doubt. I think it probably is good family fun. Just reminds me of the glitz of Las Vegas and getting around in the summer is a huge problem because of the over-crowding...I bet kids love the place, and then there's Silver Dollar City...

Sorry to be so negative.
Vee said…
"Busted" is such a strong word, C! Your post is perfectly valid and don't forget it. I do not consider you at all "negative."
mamahasspoken said…
We had a huge statue like that close to home in Ohio. Some called it butter Jesus, others called it touch-down Jesus. I called it "we're and hour from home Jesus." Whatever you called it, it was hit by lightening and now it is a Huge pile of ash and metal and causing an uproar as to weither they should build it again.
Jody Blue said…
My Mom used to "cart Granny and Thelma" as she put it, my Grma and Great Aunt. They never went far just to visit some of Moms siblings or a bit of shopping, it was fun for all 3 of them...and us kids if we were fortunate enough to get squeezed in.
Vee said…
"Touch-down Jesus" hahahaha...that's the funniest thing I've read all week.
Janean said…
it's perfectly fine to say you don't like branson. it's not our cup of tea either. it's kind of cheap-gaudy, hillbilly, stuck in teh 80's-outdated. and, so hilly you can't tell where you are....but it's family-friendly, which is great!!!! LOL.

Eureka Springs! everyone used to go there to elope!
It was a good day but as far as the show was concerned it wasn't as good as the first time I saw it. and as far as Branson was concerned we really didn't see any of the city so I can't comment. But I will say this when my daughter and the family visit on CHRISTMAS and want to go to Branson this gal will remain home - twice was enough. I.D.
Michelle said…
I think I would like to see the Dixie Stampede, but maybe not Branso itself. So, we can agree! I like the pics of the houses.
kath001 said…
My mother had a cousin who actually lived in Branson since before it became *B*R*A*N*S*O*N*. Can you imagine living through that change? On visits I ignored the glitz and just loved the drive through the Ozarks.
Vickie said…
Never been there, but I think I'd love looking at all the old houses.

And I do not like that statue even tho I like what it stands for. The head's too big. But like Vee said, if it points someone to Christ, then it's okay by me.

Doncha just love some of our landmarks' and towns' names? Toad Suck Dam, priceless!
LOL.. the chalk monster. That it is.

I took my kids to the Dixie Stampede in Myrtle Beach, SC.. it was so much fun, we loved it. The horses all looked like they were taken care of and well fed too, I can't enjoy a show if it looks like the animals aren't well taken care of. I hate zoos for that reason unless they are of the large free-roaming variety.

Fun post! I'm finally getting around to blog reading again, glad I got back to yours.
I hope you don't mind if I put you on my blogroll so I remember.
carla said…
Back in the 1970s when we lived in NE Oklahoma, we'd drive over to Eureka Springs for lunch at the Crescent hotel. It was an absolutely Grand experience. It's such a lovely town and I really enjoyed your pictures of it.

Joe and I have been talking about going back to Branson sometime, and if we do we'll go see the Dixie Stampede. We haven't been to Branson for years, but the last time we were there we were astonished at how much it had changed. I hear that the traffic has only gotten worse since then.

The first time I was ever there was in the 1960s when my dad had a small construction project there. That was way before all the shows and everything, but Silver Dollar City was there (and maybe fairly new). I think about the only places to eat in town were the Dairy Queen and a cafe downtown. How time changes things.

I do agree with Vee about the statue. It's not the type of art I care for, but if it points peope to Jesus, then I think it's good. We look on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. I'm thinking of the heart of the people who put it there. When someone sings a "special" at church and it's not very special to me, I have to remind myself that it's an offering to the Lord and He knows their heart.
I see both sides of the Christ of the Ozarks statue. It appears somewhat clownish to me, and not very reverant--but that's my personal taste and I'm fairly conservative as that goes...if it inspires others to honor Him, then I'm glad for that.
Eureka Springs is a unique town. Nowhere else have I seen such extremes of faith on one side and weirdness on the other that makes me uncomfortable!
jan said…
"we're an hour from home Jesus" made me laugh out loud! I am with you on Branson! We live in Vegas and it is the same sort of artificial "theme on a grand scale". Branson is the opposite end of the spectrum as far as the 'sin city' goes, though. Squeaky clean - but is that an image or real? Hard to tell...
Joy said…
Wow, such great comments and points of view. I did laugh at C's comments about Branson. I have never been there, but when I lived in St.Louis, MO, everyone would make fun of people going to Branson, in fact, it was something you kept quiet about. Now, living in NE, people are going by the droves to get there. One neighbor said "If you like country music, go. If not, don't go." That statue isn't very attractive, but like the others said, if it points one towards the Lord, that is good. Glad you had a good time 'getting out' nonetheless.
Sandra said…
We've been to the Dixie Stampede in Gatlinburg, and really enjoyed it. I found the way they served the food almost as interesting as the show -- what precision there was in both! :)
Anonymous said…
C, I definitely agree with you about Branson. The first time I went, I was very disappointed in the topography, expecting it to be more like Eureka Springs, I guess. ES baffled me. It's so hidden away in the mountains, and you wonder why in the world people would build such a quaint, wonderful, Victorian town in the middle of the Arkansas backwoods! It's one of my favorite places. But, I felt the same about the statue but never said it. Here, here!

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