94th Birthday Trip.

For my 94th birthday (July 20) I took a trip. I visited Branson, Missouri; Nowata (no water?), Oklahoma; and Wichita, Kansas.

Jackie and I RVeed to Branson the first time in 1987. The first of several visits. On my drive to Branson from the South last Wednesday I was lost in nostalgia. It is a beautiful ride up in the hills. There was a 7 percent grade that had a runaway truck escape ramp. A 7 percent grade is nothing to a car but when Jackie and I were pulling a 35 foot trailer it got our attention. I probably will never see the ride again. Jackie and I saw it many happy times!

I had a chicken dinner at the Dolly Parton Stampede. Delicious dinner and a great horse show.

I visited nephew Michael Monson and his wife Tabitha in Nowata, Oklahoma. I really enjoyed the visit and getting acquainted with them. It was a thrill.

These are Scottish Highlander cattle.

I heard that there is no water in Nowata because Stillwater, Oklahoma stole it!

Then on to Wichita, Kansas fo the biennial meeting of the Thomas Munson Foundation. I was told that I am the 14th oldest member of the foundation. They were always using the word monson. I thought  "why are they talking about me". Then I realized that a lot of them were named Munson. Nice meeting. Lots of meals together with a last night banquet.

The Drury Hotel on the Arkansas River,

A walk on the river.

The Keeper of the Plains. A 44 foot steel statue placed where two rivers come together. It has become the symbol of Wichita.

A lovely fountain at the Wichita Museum. They were observing the 147th birthday of Wichita. They served birthday cake and ice cream.

Sunday I left the hotel at 5:30 am and pulled into home at 5:20 pm.  Almost a 12 hour drive.