On the way up we had a motorcyle behind us, we both pulled into an overlook/cafe/bed and breakfast and they looked shook up and were asking if each other were alright and looking at a broken taillight that was hanging.
Not wanting to be nosey we just stood by getting some things out of our car, as they walked by they offered the story. They has just been hit by a bear. It was an adolescent black bear and ran right into them, damaging the motorcycle and hitting the woman in the ankle with it's head. The bear and people were OK, just shook up. He said he lost the leather saddle bag and some other things.
Then on the way home we had another one run out in front of us. We also saw a baby fox, some deer and, the most disturbing, someones Pug smushed in the road. It was very out of place in the Ozarks in the middle of nowhere.
Despite that little incident, we had nary a problem, setback or bad experience. We had a great hotel, though we were shocked to see an Olympic sized pool that was 3 ft deep all the way across, I can see the benefits for children but it was a little disappointing, the hot tub, however, was not! WOOOHOO! I gotta get me one of those.
We finally got around to seeing the Titanic Exhibit/Museum. It did not disappoint either, you could easily spend several hours in there. First they give you a boarding pass replica like those passengers had nearly 100 yrs ago. You are given a name of a real passenger with a back story when you board. They will also let you know if there is a relic or information from that passenger and where to look for it on the self guided tour. A knowledgeable employee (all dressed in full character uniforms/outfits using Liverpool accents), takes your pass and tells you a little more about your passenger you are re-living. Mine was Sara Roth and she was there to get married. Drew had a French Black fellow who traveled with his wife and 2 daughters, they were pretty wealthy and were 2nd class (mine was 3rd). He was lucky enough to have actual pictures in one area of this man and his family. They were beautiful and exotic looking people. Sadly, he wasn't even reported on the ship or his ethnicity until the year 2000.
You get to touch an "iceberg". You also get to see 2 actual life jackets, made of cork this is why they failed and many threw them into the sea. We got to stand on the promenade and feel exactly the temperature they had the night they hit. You also got to stand at a life size wheel and look out just as the captain did that night with stars and the iceberg in the distance.
Towards the end they even had the deck in the 3 positions as it sank. I could walk up the first stage, the 2nd was very very hard, the 3rd impossible. Then they show you how 28 degrees feels by sticking your hand in the 28 degree salt water and setting a timer. Most do not make it but seconds. I made it 45 seconds and I ached so badly I almost cried. I cannot imagine those poor souls being immersed full body and hair wet. There was only 25 minutes from the sinking to rescue but I cannot imagine how that felt to the survivors.
My passenger happily, survived, Drew's did not. You leave the place with a new understanding, or at least a better one of how tragic this all was. If you didn't know before you will definitely know now. Walking on the exact replica of the Grand Staircase was an amazing feeling. I won't spoil anymore of it for you for there are lots of things to be discovered here. I got to shovel "coal" and even experience what hell that would of been. It's unfathomable.
If you are ever in Pigeon Forge TN or Branson MO and are a history or Titanic buff or both, I urge you to take the time to go. You won't regret it.
We met up with some dear friends we hadn't seen in 2 yrs. They too are Marine parents and that is how we met over 2 yrs ago. We had so much fun we are doing it again soon.
Got some Chicago style deep dish at Old Chicago. I want some right now!! Pizza you gotta eat with a fork and knife like a casserole? No contest, the best. Well the best I had was actually IN Chicago at Pizza Due'. But this was almost as good.
We dined at fine restaurants, walked until my calves were sore, bought some local things like Jalapeno Pepper Jelly, Chow Chow and Dried Pineapples, from an Orchard that shares our last name. I got to finally get a Peace, Love and Crabs shirt from Joe's Crab shack (and got a buzz too, Strawberry Comfort, YUM!)
We hated to have to come home, but all vacations must end. We are talking of taking the boys to the Science Museum this next weekend for the new Dinosaur exhibit. For some reason now I want to just go, do, have fun, learn and live.
Vacations are good for that.
Oh and next time, Crystle and I are SO going here.
It's right across the street from this:
Is it me or is there some kind of sexual innuendo/private jokes going on amongst these attraction owners? I mean come on!! Beaver? Woody? Wild? Rowdy?
I don't know but I am sure gonna find out.
Stay tuned.
PS Almost forgot my new hair pics.
Here is the cut. Your basic inverted bob per the Jenny McCarthy pic on last post.
Here it is when I pull it up when I don't wanna mess with it.
I like it just fine but have trouble with the back being stacked, my hair has a mind of it's own so what should of been an easier hairstyle is actually more high maintanence. Go me. HA!
Before:
After:
