Day 27 June 9 Tues

Some surprises today. We left early because everyone had cautioned us about how frantic the traffic is in Branson. But no such thing. Don't know if it is because of new roads or because business is so bad.

Started at $4.99 breakfast buffets. Lots of buffets in Branson. Then just rode around to see what was what. Lots of new development and lots of places cleared for development with nothing happening. Essentially they lop off the top of a mountain and build a shopping center or condos. The lake along Branson is gorgeous. There are churches here bigger than some of the theatres. A Christian presence everywhere it seems and it is very, very, very white. Stopped at Roy Rogers Theatre. Thought I would visit the museum for old times sake but it was $12 for a very small museum. I wasn't that big of a fan. You would think they would at least have a Happy Trails to You bumper sticker.

Went to the 3:00 show of The 12 Irish Tenors. Fabulous. Each of them alone could carry a show. From opera to Broadway to Irish folk song voices. Really enjoyed it. They started the show by having vets from each service stand up. Of course that was every man in the audience or so it seemed -and 2 women. Nice gesture that seemed to be appreciated. Jack estimates the hall was about 1/4 or less full. Again sign of the times or just because its Tuesday???

Some time before the 8PM show so we drove towards it and stopped at little mall devoted to crafts. I swear me and 3 other people were only people there. Lots of stuff, primarily Christian and Christmas booths. Had a nice surprise dinner next door at Bandana BBQ. It's a chain and was very good. I asked the waiter when the season started and he said they were in the middle of it and things are really bad. The restaurant was closing as we were leaving at 7 when the hours on the door said 9.

Went to see Magician Kirby Van Burch whose wife Bambi is in the show and has a show of her own on the strip for the summer. She is leading female magician. Tigers, etc in the show and some things I have never seen before. Gets the audience engaged and lots of kids. Theatre was very shabby however. He said it is the 9th theatre he has been in. Must be more to that story.

Made a wrong turn so took much longer to get back to rv park and missed a major downpour by less than a minute. We got heavily discounted tickets at the 12 Tenors to see another show tomorrow at 3. So will do that and work on the text proofs the rest of the time.