The ride: I kept it simple. After eating breakfast with my friends, I led Marilyn and Michael back (in the daylight this time) to the Chateau so they could see the view (gold square). They even took video of me on the ride there. You see me outside the Alpenrose Inn, going down Green Mountain Road in Branson, down Highway 165 (including a great view of the dam), and driving up 265 to the Chateau on the Lake. Click here to see the video. More bandwidth? Click here!
Lookout from
Chateau on the Lake
Me and Michael "ham it up"
Marilyn and Michael
Chateau on the Lake
I parted ways with Marilyn and Michael because they had to get back to the hotel to pick up Rolf so he and Michael could arrive on time for golf at Thousand Lakes. I took 165 all the way to highway 65 this time. The route east from the outlook was as nice as the part I had already ridden. Highway 65 south was the poorest road I drove on during my trip. Surprising!
I turned off at Top of the Rock Resort (yellow square) which houses a hotel and a Jack Nicklaus designed par 3 golf course. Pretty!
The Clubhouse and Restaurant
Top of the Rock
Restaurant Entrance
Top of the Rock
View from the Deck
Top of the Rock
View of 9th Hole
Top of the Rock
View toward Table Rock Lake
Top of the Rock
After leaving Top of the Rock via the 86 turnoff onto 65, I headed back down 265 toards the dam. I decided to take a peek at the Branson Belle, a riverboat in the old style (purple square).
The Branson Belle
After my brief stop at the Branson Belle dock, I headed towards the dam. I stopped at an outlook (red square) for the new section of the dam before heading down to the hatchery and the hydro side of the dam (pink square).
Table Rock Dam
The new arm of the dam.
Table Rock Dam
The Dam
Table Rock Dam
The hydro plant.
Table Rock Hatchery
Capturing the fish.
Table Rock Hatchery
Loading the fish to be relocated.
Route: Day Six
Table Rock Hatchery
These Canadians know where to go for a feast!
Dogwoods at Table Rock Dam
Hey! Just like my web pages' background!
I returned to highway 265 and went through West Branson again. This time I noticed the only "motorcyle" shop I had seen in the area... the Kawasaki Dealership (duh... green square)! I still find it weird that this was only one motorcyle shop I saw in the area considering this area of Missouri is a motorcyle ride heaven. Even in this dealership, the emphasis was entirely on ATVs and watercraft. i.e. there was ONE motorcycle in the showroom... period.
The Kawasaki Dealership
You can imagine why I missed it the other times I passed it!
The Kawasaki Dealership
For sale: the (one) motorcycle was inside.
I had a nice chat with the Kawasaki dealer. Although motorcycles were obviously not the bread and butter for the store, he did ride. He recommended a bunch of roads to travel on. Unfortunately, time was just about gone and he recommended a few roads I hadn't tried. Fortunately, I had already ridden several of the roads he called "awesome". Yeah... right word!
I continued north on 265 to Reeds Spring where there was a spectacular garden along the road. I wasn't sure whether it was a public or private garden since I couldn't see an entrance (light blue square). While I was snapping pictures, an old hound dog came across the road to greet me. This brought my attention to an old broken down house on the other side of the road, hidden behind a bunch of bushes. Since there still weren't many leaves on the bushes, I could see an old guy sitting on the porch with a shotgun across his lap! Whoo-eee! HILLBILLY!! I would have taken a picture but I didn't feel it was prudent to disturb or annoy this obviously watchful neighbour.
Reeds Spring
Garden
Reeds Spring
Garden
Once I got to Highway 248, I headed east (north of Branson). Along the way, I crossed the new highway (465) being built (dark blue square). It was awesome being able to pull off the road and go right onto the new (and unused) highway to see how they were literally slicing this new road out of the mountains.
New Highway 465
New Highway 465
New Highway 465
This gravel was no big deal at all.
Highway 248 brought me back into Branson on the north east side. This, evidently, is "Old Branson". I took a quick stop at Branson's North Beach Park (white square) where some Canada Geese were stopping traffic as they leisurely strolled across the road. I snapped a picture at the marina there.
Branson's North Beach Park
Where the geese and ducks rule!
Branson's North Beach Park
These geese know how to stop traffic!
I returned to the hotel where Marilyn was waiting. Once I arrived, I uploaded pictures to my laptop while she picked up Michael and Rolf from the golf course. Our day was not yet finished!