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We spent the night after the blow out in the Cracker Barrow parking lot. John hurt his back when the tire blew out so we put hot packs on John's back, gave him tylenol and sent him to bed. The next day John was able to drive a short while to the campgounds in Southern IL. After resting another day in IL, John was much better. So on Feb 21st we made Wauwatosa and got unpacked. The insurance ajusted came to look at the damages on the 23rd and now the motor home is in for repair. When we took our bikes off we also noticed that they got damaged when the tire blew out so there are getting fixed now too.

Thanks for listening. The coach is due to be finished on the 17th of March and at this time Mary and John have no plans for the next trip.

I however, will be heading to door county as soon as I get some things taken care of in tosa. My next trip will probably be in my Rpod when it warms up and I can get it out of the snow.

 This is what our tire looked like when it was taken off. Unbelievable!

We are lucky to be alive.

Tire Blowout

Our tire or what is left of it.

Very scarry event. We had left the pro shop and were on our way to St. Louis when the front right tire blew. John was able to keep the vehicle on the road and stopped the coach on the left shoulder. I called 911 and we got the sheriff and a tow truck. The sheriff backed up and went to where there was a little hill to try to make sure traffic could see us and he could devert them out of the left lane.

The first tow truck that they sent even though I told operator that we had a 40 foot motor home they sent a poor guy who took one look at us and said this is a bus. I cannot help you but I will call someone that works with trucks that can help. Then the sharrif asked him to also help devert traffic. So he backed up and worked on the traffic too. Next a guy came with a tire and once John got the jacks to raise the right side of the coach he got his jack under it and was able to change the tire. We also had some other damage but nothing that would prevent us from driving it. The gasoline filler on the right side was ripped out by the tire and we now can only fill on the left side of the vehicle. John tied it up and we just don't fill the tank all the way.

Bass Pro Shop

Fireplace inside the store



Alligator inside the store and it was alive



This is one entrance. There were many. This store covers more than a city block. It is like a shopping mall but it is all one store. If you want sporting goods or camping supplies this is the place to go. It also has a wild animal park inside but it was closed during expansion. The new aquariums and waterfalls were pretty neat. This is in Springfield and it is the first and probably the biggest store. It also has a catalog warehouse with it.

Camping $10.00 a night

We found camping for $10.00 a night with full hook ups north of Branson. It is Misty Mountain Sheep Skin Campgrounds in Walnut Shade, MO. It is on the top of a mountain and there is no tax, just ten dollars. There are about 10 campsites and it has a beautiful view.

One problem it is only 40 degrees at 8 AM. We are definately too far north too soon.
The next morning the camp host knocked on our door and gave us two notepads with pens as a memento of our stay there. I think it was a good marketing idea for them because the name of the park, address and phone number are on it. Just don't know how they can make any money charging so little. I didn't have the heart to ask for the "Good Sam" discount.

Branson

Billy Bass - We went to a restaurant in Little Rock called Flying Fish.They had walls and walls of these fish.