Trip 2013: Trip 2013 Omaha,St Joseph,and Branson,MO

We left Pender, NE on the way to Offutt Air Force Base, Bellevue, NE on the way to the base we drove through miles of corn and soy bean fields, this was the most corn that I have ever seen. Here is some information about Offutt Air Force Base it is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), the Air Force Weather Agency, and the 55th Wing (55 WG) of the Air Combat Command (ACC), the latter serving as the host unit.

Aviation use at Offutt began in September 1918 during World War I as an Army Air Service balloon field. It was renamed in honor of World War I pilot and Omaha native 1st Lt. Jarvis Offutt in 1924.

Offutt AFB's legacy includes the construction of the first two bombers to drop atomic bombs and over 40 years as the headquarters for the former Strategic Air Command (SAC) and home for its associated ground and aerial command centers for the U.S. in case of nuclear war during the Cold War.

Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft.

Space Shuttle Atlantis being shuttled through Offutt following a mission on 1 July 2007.

After leaving Offutt we headed to St. Joseph, MO, but we had to cross the Missouri River and had to pay $ 4.00 for the pleasure of crossing this old bridge, a picture to follow, where we went to see Jesse James Home and Museum it is the house in St. Joseph, Missouri where outlaw Jesse James was living and was gunned down on April 3, 1882, by Robert Ford.

At the time, the house was located at 1318 Lafayette Street in St. Joseph. In 1939, it was moved to a busier Belt Highway location. In 1977, it was moved to a location directly behind Patee House at 12th and Mitchell in St. Joseph, only two blocks away from its original location, which restored more of its historic context. The house has a large bullet hole on the north interior wall. The hole was actually much smaller but over the years, souvenir hunters carved shavings from the hole and enlarged it. After that we also went to the the Pony Express Museum which was a transport museum in Saint Joseph, Missouri, documenting the history of the Pony Express, the first fast mail line across the North American continent from the Missouri River to the Pacific coast. The museum is housed in a surviving portion of the Pikes Peak Stables, from which westward-bound Pony Express riders set out on their journey.

The Pony Express Museum is one of the most historically educational museums in the country in respect to the legendary mail service that ran from April, 3, 1860 to October 26, 1861. Between exhibits, a 7-part diorama, maps, an archeological dig and artifacts, the museum has entertained and educated visitors from all over the world. the museum just celebrated the 150th Sesquicentennial of the Pony Express on April 1–3, 2010 which drew over 10,000 people. After leaving St Joseph we are on the way to Branson, MO. While driving to Branson we had noticed a cafe named Lambert's Cafe in the town of Ozark, just a little info Lambert's Cafe, also known as Home of the Throwed Rolls is a restaurant known for its homestyle cooking, "pass arounds", and its "throwed" [sic] dinner rolls. It is distinguished from other restaurants by its policy of providing large 32oz. drinks, a list of side items that are passed around to all customers, free refills on nearly all entrées, and, most famously, for throwing their homemade dinner rolls to the customers. Many restaurants have mimicked the "throwed roll" concept, but Lambert's Cafe holds that they are the first restaurant to practice it. The restaurant has three locations: the original in Sikeston, Missouri, and two others in Ozark, Missouri and Foley, Alabama. We had the fried chicken with sides and lots of pass around sides, like fried okra, fried potatoes and onions, black eyed peas, macaroni and tomatoes, and hot rolls and sorghum, and this was all included in the price of the meal.

After a great meal we headed back to the campground for a good nights sleep. The next day we drove into Branson to see the city, not too much to see except a lot of shows, this is more of a evening town with all the shows. So we had to go to one this evening called the Sons of the Pioneers which is a legendary group is the oldest, continuously preforming music group. It was 1934 when Leonard Sly ( Roy Rogers), Tim Spencer and Bob Nolan formed the Pioneer Trio, which soon became Sons Of the Pioneers. Before the show, dinner is served from an authentic 1800's chuck wagon. The menu includes roasted chicken,beef, corn on the cob, potato, beans dinner roll and apple cobbler for dessert.