October 11, 2011 Day 21 Lebanon, MO
We went up to the Bennett Spring Visitor & Nature Center at 10:00, and we found it closed. Painters were painting the outside, and they said they had expected the lady with the key to come because they were supposed to paint the inside also. They have a wonderful fish hatchery, and the fisherpeople were having a good time.
We moved over to Happy Trails because it is so much closer to our friends? home. It is also a nice, scenic park, and it has a lake.
We agreed to meet our friends in Springfield to see the Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium. I had looked it up on the computer and learned that this was funded and founded by the owner of Pro Bass Shops. When we got there, we saw an enormous Pro Bass Shop, a Tracker store (sells boats), and a gigantic construction site. They are ?remodeling?, but if you choose to come, call ahead and make sure it?s completed.
So we made lemonade. We went into the Pro Bass store and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Dean bought comfortable sandals ($40), I got a disaster radio that I?ve been wanting, and a new, better birdfeeder. We had a really good time just shopping, and all 6 of us bought enough that we all needed shopping carts. We had fun.
All this shopping made us hungry, so we headed to Lambert?s, a true Southern restaurant. They are famous for their ?throwed rolls?, and the thrower is a great pitcher. He can hit your hand from 3 rows of booths away. I consider that a kind of gimmick, but the food was no joke. The rolls were the best I?ve ever tasted! I am not a bread lover, and I ate two halves. They also have a girl coming around with a sorghum syrup that is wonderful. We ate fried apples, Chicken fried steak, pork chops (4 different preparations), barbecued ribs, catfish, and pulled pork. You choose 2 side dishes from a list of 15-20 choices. Our friend asked if the green beans were canned. The waitress said, ?No,? and they were canned. I think that is the only thing that wasn?t fresh. The yams were super sugary. There are waiters circulating through the room constantly bringing you rolls, macaroni and tomatoes (too sweet), fried potatoes and onions, black-eyed peas, and good fried okra. Portions were huge?we all left with enough for another meal. I left with my whole rack of ribs. Prices were very reasonable. The total bill for 6 people was $104 + tip. We were there early (a little before 5), and when we left at 6:00, the line was along two very long benches, and out the door?and this was a weeknight.
Tomorrow we go to a Jeep-drawn tram tour of Majestic Cave.
We got home early enough to do trip planning, and we have decided to head to Arkansas, Louisiana, and if time, Texas. We have a pretty extensive file on Texas, but could use input on Arkansas and Louisiana. Any favorites, most hated spots?? We always gather a lot of info before we leave, but we had expected to spend a lot of time in Iowa, which didn?t happen. We go to Branson tomorrow, and we?ll look for a AAA club.
Weather: Low 50?s to low 70?s, with some sun, but intermittent showers, and the evening storm included big downpours and lightning and thunder
Staying at Happy Trails Campground, FHU, 50 amps, beautiful trees, great Direct TV and Internet reception, wonderful owners, eager to please $30