Dakota Ridge RV Park

We have arrived back in the Denver area and are at Dakota Ridge RV Park in Golden, Colorado. We have started our part time job as workampers, and so far we enjoy the work. Osaka and Kyota have adjusted to living in the 5th wheel trailer. The RV Park is adjacent to trails that access the northern section of Dakota Ridge (hogback) that is north of Interstate Highway 70.

Our work schedule is currently 3 day on and 3 days off. This may change as the busy season this summer. Sandi is working inside the office and checking in guests and taking reservations. I am outside and start the day with a site check, and collect trash set out by the guests. The rest of my day is pumping propane, escorting guests, and maintance.

So far I love the job and will enjoy the work here.

Branson, Missouri

We stayed at a wonderful campground called Branson Shenanigans RV Park in the heart of Branson. It was within walking distance of several shows and the main strip. The campground was in a forest setting and you could not see any of the city that surrounded the campground. There was a tree blooming just outside our door.

We went to see Tony Roi and the Elvis Experience and yes he was an Elvis impersonator with the looks, the moves and the voice. It was one of the best performances that Joe and I have seen. There were so many different shows that it was really hard to pick.

We also went to Table Rock Lake which is very near Branson. We took the dogs on a walk along the Table Rock Lakeshore trail and had a picnic lunch there too.

Next stop will be Colorado Springs.

GRAND OLE OPRY

We attended the Grand Ole Opry on Friday night. The Opry is the longest running live radio show in America. The Opry was originally held in the Tom Ryman Auditorium, and moved to the current building in 1976. One circular section of the original wood floor was moved from the Ryman Auditorium and inlayed in the current stage floor. As Vince Gill explained during the preshow, this was to insure the circle of great performances would not be broken. The live radio show included the commercials just as they were aired on 650 AM and can be heard in 38 states and parts of Canada. The show is a four half hour segments with a host for each segment. The host preforms during the segment and introduces the other performers.

John Conlee was host for: Bobby Osborn & Rocky Top X-Press, and Lee Brice.
Riders In The Sky were hosts for: Jean Shepard, and Del McCoury Band.
Mike Snider was host for: Jan Howard, Jack Greene, and Holly Williams.
Vince Gill was host for the final segment: The Whites, and The Time Jumpers.





YES, Holly Williams is the granddaughter of Hank Williams, daughter of Hank Williams Jr. and brother of Hank Williams III. She is a great singer and is pictured on stage.



Vince Gill played the guitar with the The Time Jumpers to close the evening show.

You can get additioanl information on the Grand Ole Opry at the web site: www.opry.com

What are the Odds?

FCRV stands for Family Campers & RVer's. Their motto is "Where strangers become friends and friends become family". Please understand that at no time was plans of any kind discussed. We met 3 families at the first dinner of the rally. They had a marble game and Joe & I decided to learn how to play it. After the second dinner we decided to play the game again. At that time George & Betty asked us if we knew Don & Kay McDermed out of Colorado Springs that we met at New Braunfels? Now the world is getting a little smaller.

After the rally we went to Alanta, GA for the night then on to Nashville, TN. We were headed for a KOA, but came across a campground called Two Rivers and decided to stop there instead. Two days later guess who stopped at the same campground and parked 1 rig away from us? The other 2 couples from the rally. They are Chris & Warren and Brenda & Wayne and they had just come from spending a couple of nights in Savannah, GA. They had one of the games that we just learned, so of course we sat out one evening and played it. What are the odds?

We had gotten tickets to go to the Grand Ole Opry for Friday night with shuttle service when we got here. They asked if we were going to the Grand Ole Opry and we said yes. They had gotten their tickets for Friday night when they got here including the shuttle service. What are the odds?

We were outside of the Grand Ole Opry and we starting asking where everyone were seated. If you guessed we were seated together, you would be correct. Again what are the odds?? Unbelieveable!!

Nashville Tour

On our first full day in Nashville we took a local tour buss through downtown and the subdivisions where some of the stars live. Downtown we had a stop at the Tom Ryman Auditorium.

Thomas Green Ryman a prominent riverboat captain and Nashville businessman, Tom Ryman was known for his generous contributions of time and money to the construction of the Union Gospel Tabernacle. In 1904 the Tabernacle was renamed the Ryman Auditorium in his honor. The Ryman Auditorium is used form many shows and concerts. Sandi is standing by the statue and monument in front of the Auditorium. The sculptor was Steve Shields.




This is a picture of the Auditorium Lobby.










The tour also took us through some of the homes of the stars, some of these make Cherry Hills in the Denver area look like starter homes.




Friday night we have tickets to the "Grand Ole Opry".