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| HOME NEWSLETTERS HUNTER EDUCATION OLD MISSOURI HILLBILLY SITE |
VOLUMES 243 & 244 -------- SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
SHOOTIN', HUNTIN', AND RELOADIN' WITH THE OL' MISSOURI HILLBILLY |
| Uploaded: January 10, 2023 September and October marked some milestones for us this year. Little Heifer and I both turned 80 years young. We both claim to feel just like we did 40 years ago! Well, except for the arthritis, some artificial body parts, and the pills we take for this, that, and the other. I guess we both have to admit that the mind tells us we can do whatever we want but the body sometimes balks a little! As did much of the populous, we have stayed pretty close to home for the past couple of years because of the COVID situation. Now with two Moderna vaccinations and the two boosters that followed, we, like the rest of the country have begun circulating a bit more. First a little preview of how we decided on a long road trip this fall. We had planned a visit to the Alumni Banquet at our old High School in Eagleville, MO for the 60th reunion of our graduating class in May of 2020. That was a COVID cancellation, as was the Banquet in 2021. So, we were determined to attend the 2022 Banquet. We did manage the 3200 mile round trip to attend, but were on a short leash because of commitments back home. Thus, while we did have an opportunity to visit with some old friends at the banquet, and drive around the area and note the changes, the only relatives we were able to see were my brother Ed and wife Nancy. Ann has no living relatives in the old stomping grounds anymore, so the relatives missed were my other two siblings and several nieces and nephews clustered around the Kansas City area. So, my Sister, Carol, planned a family reunion for later in the fall, and we promised to try and be there. One thing led to another and the trip back to the family reunion expanded somewhat. After watching rodeos on the Cowboy Channel for the better part of two years, and seeing many of the attractions of the Fort Worth Stockyards District advertised, we decided to make the swing to Texas and see those sites after the family reunion. (The Cowboy Channel promises 100 rodeos in 100 days at the beginning of each year, and by golly they do it too!) Both the Cowboy Channel and RFD Channel are headquartered there. So we set off on our adventure! As we often do on our trips that take us East, we began with a leisurely mid morning departure and shack up at the Best Western Grant Creek Inn in Missoula. The old facility is becoming a bit dated but they are in the process of remodeling a floor at a time and the Breakfast Buffet is one of the better ones we've experienced in our travels. We arrived early enough to have time to visit Southgate Mall. Ann visited the Kitchen Store while I hit the Dillard's Men's Department to re-stock my underwear supply. Since the JC Penney store in Southgate was replaced by a Scheel's sporting goods store a couple of years ago, that is always a mandatory stop as well. An interesting side note; after opening my suitcase in preparation for the night, I discovered I had forgotten to pack any pajamas. A quick trip to Walmart in the middle of a rainstorm netted two sets of PJ's that would do the trick for the rest of the trip. The next day's travel took us to West Yellowstone, MT where we checked in to the Three Bears Lodge. The drive from Missoula to West Yellowstone takes one through the area of the big August 17, 1959 earthquake that completely changed the landscape, made a new large lake, and unfortunately took several lives. A very interesting book about the event in our home library is "The Night The Mountain Fell" by Edmund Christopherson. 
Imagine 3 bears at the Three Bears Lodge
Next morning was my Birthday! Shortly after arising, Ann presented me with some birthday cards and a lap or table pillow that is designed to hold a tablet such as an iPad in an upright position for hands free reading. Also works very well for my Kindle Reader. After breakfast in the Hotel Restaurant, which was complementary and ordered off an abbreviated menu, we packed up to head for Cody, WY. The drive from West Yellowstone to Cody is about 150 miles directly through Yellowstone National Park. We have been to and through the Park numerous times over the years, but were disappointed in two respects: The over crowded roads and relative lack of wildlife. We only saw a few Bison and none of the Elk or other animals we have observed in the past. Why Cody, WY? Here's the story: In September 2019 we spent a couple of days in Cody as we returned home from a visit to Missouri and several spots in between. (You can see the story of that trip in the September/October 2019 Newsletter HERE) The Cody stop was part of the itinerary primarily because of the Buffalo Bill Center and it's Firearms Museum. Our two day stay also happened to coincide with my 77th Birthday. As a place to celebrate my birthday, we discovered a highly touted Supper Club called Cassie's. Great meal, band playing vintage country music, historic decor, and former brothel in the 1920's. We liked the place so much that when Brother Ed called in the summer of 2021 to suggest we meet somewhere midway between us to visit and celebrate my birthday, my response was, "Let's meet in Cody!" The deal was agreed upon and the planning began for the trip. Here's the irony of the situation. Due to the lingering effects of the Pandemic, Cassie's was operating on an abbreviated schedule and during the two days we were in town together with Ed and Nancy, they were closed! So no celebration on the actual birthday. Ann and I arrived a day before Ed and Nancy, so we did have dinner at Cassie's and danced a few numbers on September 18th. Cassie's was then closed on The 19th and 20th. So much for that! Now let's move forward to 2022. Weeks before our scheduled departure, I began trying to contact Cassie's to determine the status of the restaurant as many such enterprises were permanently closed in the aftermath of the pandemic. I was beginning to think that was the case as several voice mails went unanswered and contact via their website was just as silent. Finally, a call was answered by a real person! After inquiring about the restaurant status, the woman told me her name is Courtney and she had just purchased Cassie's. She also indicated the schedule was being developed and she was trying to arrange for live music on most nights. After explaining that we had celebrated my birthday there in 2019 and 2021, and wanted to do so again, to make the swing through Cody would require an extra few hundred miles and not worth it if they were closed or had no entertainment. Courtney said, "Here's my cell number. Call or text before you leave and I'll know what's going on by then." Exactly what we did! A text a couple of days before we left home confirmed that the restaurant would be open and they would have live music on September 20th. Yes, I know I'm getting bogged down in this story, but bear with me and I'll finish with a couple of things that stood out. One good and one not so much. When we checked in to the Holiday Inn Express, a gentleman was handling the check-in details and a lady was also behind the desk fumbling with paperwork or some such. She appeared to be the Manager. As with many such check-ins over years of traveling, the question, "So what brings you to town?" was asked. "Drove many miles to celebrate my 80th birthday at Cassie's this evening," I replied. "This will be the 3rd time in the last 4 years that we've done that." "When one of our staff has a birthday, we throw confetti and sing Happy Birthday," the nice lady said! "Sounds like a fun tradition," I said. She immediately turned around, disappeared into an office behind the desk, quickly returned with a double handful of confetti, threw it on me, and she and the fellow checking us in sang Happy Birthday! They were right on key too! After check-in rituals at hundreds, if not thousands of hotels all over North America during my working career, that was a new experience for me! So much for the good! I'm sure I've mentioned in these pages that Ann keeps a daily journal. For our evening at Cassie's I'll quote her description: "To Cassie's @ 5:30. Courtney, new owner - into it 7 weeks now. Menu changed, food sucked - steaks tough - new band sucked. We did dance a few times and left early." 
Current Band at Cassie's Supper Club
The really sad news though, we were told that the previous owner and leader of his House Band sold out because he has terminal cancer. So sorry to hear that! Next morning we decided to take US Highway 14 - 16 east out of Cody, drop down to Worland, and follow 16 over the Big Horn Mountains to Buffalo and thus hit Interstate 90. This gets us back on the regular route we usually take back to Missouri. We think the Big Horn Mountain drive might have been pretty if we could have seen anything! Except for a brief period of sunshine as we crested the pass, we were socked in by fog! Going up the west side was bad enough, but when we started down the east side the fog shut down to near zero visibility. As we started down, signs warned that we could expect five sections of 8% grades with sharp curves. Very encouraging when one can see barely 30 feet! Slow going with white knuckles for several miles, but we made it without incident and ran out of the fog on the outskirts of Buffalo, WY. Next planned stop, Rapid City, SD. 
A bit more relaxed than coming off the Big Horns
On I-90 just east of Moorcroft, WY, there is a pull-off where one can see Devil's Tower National Monument about 20 miles to the north on a clear day. 
Devils Tower at max telephoto - 10X
Tower looks pretty small at over 20 miles away
Overnights in Rapid City, then Sioux Falls, SD brought us to into Lamoni, IA on September 23rd. Lamoni is just across the Iowa border from Eagleville, MO where Ann and I graduated from High School and attended the Alumni Banquet in May as described earlier. With the family reunion scheduled for Sunday September 25th, we decided to spend a couple of nights in Lamoni at the Cobblestone Inn, catch up on some laundry, wash the car, and rest up a bit. If you read Detective/Mystery novels as I do, you have undoubtedly heard the expression, "I don't believe in coincidences!" when the hero/heroine is investigating crime clues. Well Ann and I have one for you! After checking in to the hotel I went outside to move the car, and noticed a black pickup truck with Idaho license plates in the lot. There was a young fellow standing nearby who looked to be waiting on someone. Out of curiosity, I asked, "Do you belong to that truck?" "Naw," he said, "Belongs to my boss, we're here on a job." Later that evening a crew of 4 men were coming into the lobby, one of whom was the young man I had spoken with. Of course I had to strike up another conversation. So call me nosy. Turns out the Boss is Keith Coultrap, owner of 'EVERGREEN PUF LLC' of Hayden, ID. He and his crew are in Lamoni to put a new roof on a building at Graceland University's Jenner Athletic Complex. Bruce Jenner graduated from Graceland in1973 and went on to win Gold in the Olympic Decathlon in 1976. That, of course, was BC. (Before Caitlin) If you know that Hayden, ID is only about 10 or 15 miles from our house, you might think that's the end of the coincidence, but you'd be wrong. Coultrap was a previous owner of Prairie Falls Golf Course in Post Falls, ID where we've played a number of times. The Pro there at the time was Darrell Hull. Darrell Hull has moved on to the The Links Golf Club, also near Post Falls. I have played league golf at The Links for a number of years, so that is finally the end of the coincidences! The building that Evergreen was roofing deserves a mention here as it is very unusual. Coultrap told us that it is one of only about 8 like it in the world. 
Sign pointing to the Jenner Sports Complex
This building contains the basketball court and other athletic facilities
A new spray on coating being applied
A trip to Walmart and Dairy Queen in nearby Bethany, MO rounded out our stay at the Cobblestone. Jennifer had advised Ann that ordering a Peanut Buster Parfait without the peanuts would net her a lot more chocolate goop, so she did that and texted Jennifer a picture. 
Peanut Buster Parfait without peanuts
The next leg of the trip was to Belton, MO, just next door to Raymore and Sister Carol's place. We joined the reunion group in the community center at Don and Carol's retirement complex, for excellent food and conversation with the 26 relatives in attendance. A couple of nephews and their family's were unable to attend, but all in all a good turnout. 
The girls perusing photo albums and visiting
While the guys watch the Kansas City Chiefs suffer a rare loss this year
Me and my siblings: Me, Ed, Cheri, and Carol
After the festivities we overnighted at the Fairfield Inn in Belton and headed south the next morning. Uneventful trip to a Hampton Inn in Oklahoma City. Did have a pee break in Lamar, MO, the birthplace of Harry Truman! September 27th was our planned arrival in Fort Worth, TX. We did have a short stop in Ardmore, OK for a quick oil change in the Yukon, and crossed the Texas border about 1:00 PM. 
At the Welcome Center at the Texas border
Headquarters hotel for the Fort Worth Stockyards District was a Springhill Suites, within walking distance of about everything we wanted to see in the area. In fact, we never moved the car during the 4 days and nights of our stay. We had what they called a suite with a city view balcony, on the second floor, but the so called 'city view' left much to be desired! 
The sitting area of our suite
The Bedroom end
After settling in to our hotel, the first order of business was to visit the Cowboy Channel Bar on Exchange Street in the heart of the Stockyards District. 
Cowboy Channel Bar - Rodeo on every television screen
As you can see, I don't really do selfies
Relaxing and enjoying my diet coke
On the 28th we walked into the heart of the Stockyards District in time to catch the 11:30 AM session of the twice daily 'longhorn cattle drive' down Exchange Street. 
11:30 AM Cattle Drive
Right out of history. Riders and cattle alike
We next stopped at the headquarters and studios of the RFD and Cowboy Channels, hoping for a tour. Only one person in the Lobby who informed us they weren't doing tours right now, and really wasn't too pleasant about it. Looked to be playing games on her laptop and didn't want to be interrupted! 
RFD and Cowboy Channel Headquarters
If you ain't watching 'em, you should be Probably the highlight of the day was the tour of the John Wayne museum. The tour was self guided with plenty of signs explaining the various exhibits. One display in the main lobby was not John Wayne related. We had seen this display on TV in numerous advertisements on the Cowboy Channel, but it was more impressive in person. Taxidermy of Roy Roger's Trigger and Bullet. 
Trigger and Bullet
Here are some random pictures of a few of the hundreds of displays:      The car on display, a vintage Pontiac station wagon, was typical of the modifications John had done to his new cars. The roof over the seating areas was raised a few inches to accommodate his height. After walking and standing for a couple of hours, it was deemed appropriate for beverages in the Cowboy Channel Bar again. 
See the little sign next to the beer bottle
Time for supper! We had eyed the menu in the window at Risky's Steakhouse a few doors down from the Cowboy Channel Bar, and decided we'd give it a try.   Quite
an extensive menu. We did not try the calf fries, although we
have eaten them and they are delicious when prepared correctly.
Probably the best restaurant meal we had on the entire trip! A bit spendy, but well worth it. The Fillet Mignon was superb! The interior decor was also very interesting, turning back the clock on some of the businesses in the old Stockyards. 
Interior decor of Risky's Steakhouse
Thursday and Friday was just walking around, with typical tourist gawking. and seeing some things of interest. We visited 'Mule Alley' and walked around the lobby and grounds of the Hotel Drover. This building was originally part of the mule and livestock barns, but has devolved into what appears to be a first class facility. We both said that was where we'd stay if we are ever in Fort Worth again. 
Hotel Drover
Another stop was Billy Bob's Texas. Deliberately chose a mid day visit to avoid the crowds. Place is huge! Covers about 3 acres. Several bars, big dance floor, actual bull riding arena. Canned music playing to which we danced a bit. Can't imagine the chaos when they have a big crowd in there. 
On the dance floor at Billy Bob's
We also visited Lil' Red's Longhorn Saloon where The Penny Gilley Show, a regular on the RFD Channel is taped. Also did a little 'two step' on their dance floor. 
Saw this lady in Lil' Red's Saloon. Just had to ask her to dance
Lil' Red's Place
What's tourism without a little shopping? Over the course of our stay we visited several western stores and picked up a few items. Ann bought a belt, scarf, and decorative neck scarf slide, along with a couple packages of rattlesnake eggs, while I couldn't resist 3 new shirts. I did eyeball some cowboy boots with a $3,000 price tag. Passed those up! On Saturday October 1st we left Fort Worth feeling that the Stockyards District focus of our trip was well worth the time and money. Overnight in Lubbock, TX, then on to Albuquerque, NM. We did notice on some secondary roads that rest areas often consist of a picnic table and a garbage can. No Toilets! Plus, some of the gas stations and convenience stores along the way have prominent signs saying, "No Public Restrooms." Rather inconvenient for old folks sometimes! Our next stop was Farmington, NM, then on to Green River, UT. On that leg we drove through Shiprock, NM. If you have read any of Tony Hillerman's novels, or his daughter Anne's, you've read about the Navajo Nation and city of Shiprock. The 'rock' that gave the town its name, doesn't look much like a ship to me, but was an interesting sight with the big cloud formation behind it. 
Shiprock, just southwest of the city of the same name
While on the Navajo Reservation we saw the one and only COVID masking mandate of the entire trip. I'll again quote Ann's Journal about it: "We stopped at a gas station on the Navajo Rez - to get a cup of coffee & pee - sign on the door "Mask Required." Only place we ran into that. Many places on this trip had signs, "masks welcome but not required." Guess the Navajos were hit really hard w/ COVID. Place was super clean inside. After crossing into Utah, we drove into Arches National Park, a few miles in and back out. Due to some road closures, we didn't get to see any of the actual Arches the park is named for, but the scenery was spectacular all the same.    The rest of the trip was pretty much uneventful. Green River to Pocatello, ID on October 5th and home by end of day on the 6th. Great trip, but ready for some non-windshield time for a few days! Jennifer had been taking care of the place and watering flowers while we were gone, while neighbor Larry did some nice landscaping along the road where I had excavated stumps. Things look good around here. Understand Jennifer had to sweep a lot of turkey poop off the deck and patio as they thought they could take over while no one was home. Next on our agenda was Ann's Birthday. Started on October 27th when I picked up 3 dozen roses. Made two nice bouquets, one for the Living Room and one for the Bedroom. 
Roses on the hearth in the living room
Roses for the dresser in the bedroom
Then on the 28th her golf foursome had lunch at Olive Garden in Spokane Valley. 
Ann, Karen, Nancy, and Eleanore
On the 29th we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse in Coeur d'Alene, ID where she had Steak and I had their special Roadkill. 
Ann at Texas Roadhouse
On the 30th, actual Birthday day, I made Bloody Marys and Scrambled Eggs for Breakfast. 
Ready for the Scrambled Eggs
Later Rick and Sara joined us and we had carrot cake. I couldn't find a Zero in our number candle stash, so had to make one out of card stock. Even stuck a flame on it! 
Homemade carrot cake right out of the Safeway bakery
Good thing there weren't really 80 candles. Could have been a helluva fire
This month's hillbilly wisdom comes from The Cobblers Cowboy Stuff Ann found on the internet: "Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from any direction." Well, it's time to shut down here, so. . . . . 'Til next time, Keep 'em shootin' straight, shoot 'em often, and above all, BE SAFE!!! THE OL' HILLBILLY Copyright 2022-23 - All Rights Reserved |