Current Location: Branson KOA, Branson, Missouri

The truck made it to Branson pulling the trailer. There are some really steep hills on US 65 from Springfield, Missouri south to Branson. A few of them we dipped down to around 40 mph on the climb. This would have been regardless of the transmission woes. We’re just happy to have made it “close enough”.

Our site at the Branson KOA.

Malcolm heads over to Lead Hill, Arkansas (a little under an hour drive) tomorrow to have the transmission repaired. Val plans on doing laundry and a few other things around the trailer. At least the weather has been nice. It was in the 70’s today (and should be for the next couple of days). We actually ran the air conditioners for the first time in a while today.

While traveling down I-44 through Missouri, it is evident that it follows pretty much the same path as US Route 66 did. There are still parts and pieces of old US 66 through various towns along the way. We stopped at one rest area that was totally themed for Route 66. Even the picnic table shelters were made up to look like old Route 66 businesses.

Route 66 Welcome Rest Area

Route 66 themed picnic area

Part of the floor in the rest area.

After we pulled in to Branson and got the trailer set up, we ate lunch in the trailer. We then headed back to town to pick up some groceries. We found a shopping center with all the big box stores and settled for Super WalMart for grocery purposes. After putting away groceries, we took it easy for a while in the trailer before dinner. After dinner, we walked around the park to find the laundry and to pick up some post cards at the camp store. This is a really nice park.

We went out for a drive after dinner to check out the local scenery. We stopped at a scenic overlook along SR 165 and a couple that was already there took turns with us taking pictures of each other.

At the scenic overlook.

One quick catch-up picture. Here is the St. Louis arch taken as we drove across the Mississippi River.

St. Louis Arch