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After
visiting Thomas, I had a chance to visit my parents for a
few weeks. I flew from Ft. Meyers to Memphis, and then from
Memphis I flew on SeaPort Air to the city of Harrison, Arkansas,
which is close to where my parents live.
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We
were not the largest aircraft out there...but it was cool
to sit behind the pilot and look outside while we were taxing
and flying.
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It
was cold of course. Here is the mighty Mississippi river with
barges...and snow. Lots of cold white stuff....
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My
folks were waiting for me at Harrison. It was great to see
them again. It had been a few years.
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We
stopped off for dinner at a local eatery that they liked,
and then headed to their house.
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The
next day, I got to meet their RV travel friends, the Baldwins,
Ed and Connie.
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The
folks drove me around the country side, showing off the hills,
riversand lakes. Sadly, this time of year is the worst for
sight-seeing...but what I did see was very pretty.
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The
Baldwins have a houseboat on one of the large lakes...if I
can visit in the summer, the lakes are supposed to be awesome.
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The
lakes are huge, and are good fishing spots.
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We
did a tour of the Dam as well....built in the 30's as part
of the New Deal.
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Looking
down at the White Water Dam, from the Museum.
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A
shot of the dam as it was being built in the 1930's.
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Below
the dam, special boats go up and down the fast moving river
angling for fish.
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It
was very beautiful...cold, but beautiful.
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With
the rain and snow melt, the lake and rivers were running a
bit on the high side..
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When
we got back, Dad fired up one of his many grills and make
some great steaks!
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Another
lake on a different day.
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Looking
from the back yard to the house...
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One
of the things I've been wanting to do is to get my teeth whitened...by
a process called "Zooming". It takes about an hour.
Here is a before shot. My teeth are actually more yellow than
the photo shows.
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And
here is the "after" shot....about 7 shades whiter.
I'm very happy with the outcome. Laser eye surgery 5 years
earlier, and now the teeth. I'm on my way to becoming a Hollywood
look-a-like!
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The
folks also took me on a tour of the Ranger Boat Factory, a
few towns away. Reputedly one of the best fresh water boats
available, the Ranger Boat Factory has been in operation for
many years in Arkansas. The Boats are built from the outside
in, with the outer fiber glass surface being the first thing
laid down inside of "forms"
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Layers
are put on to show different colors and patterns, then the
harder hull is then sprayed on with a fiberglass epoxy and
fiberglass laminates. The top and bottom are made seperately.
The pieces move from statio to station via a converyor system,
more easily seen in the preceeding photo.
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Painting
is done in special rooms to help reduce the fumes and air
curernt.s There was alot of paint and fiberglass fumes in
the factory, of that I can assure you!
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Here
is a form curing....
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Our
tour guide was the younger brother of the founder. He was
very informative and a great tour guide.
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They
now use water cutting jets to remove the form pieces from
the main bodies.
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Here
is a main piece with the holes cut into it.
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Workers
then add the fastenings...
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Workmen
put pieces together....
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Pieces
are now together...
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A
finished bay or salt water boat...
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A
mechanic tunes a large engine for a bass boat...
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Do
you like that engine dad? Want one for your boat?
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Engine
Love..........
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A
shot looking south from the RV Barn to the house....
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Now
looking East on the 5 acres to the main road....
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My
parents house.....
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From
the main road looking towards the house.
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Mom
and Dad doing email and surfing the web....
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The
dining room. Birds coming to the bird feeder, squirrels and
deer are regular visitors.
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We
made a day trip to Branson, Missouri, and stopped at the famous
Lambert's Cafe.
They have appeared on a lot of cooking and eating TV shows.
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Here
we are with the start of our small lunch.....the portions
were HUGE! And very tasty! Watch out of the rolls that they
throw at you to eat! (Very delicious rolls!)
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One
of the main things we wanted to see in Branson were shows,
and the Titanic Musuem. With it being February, most of the
shows were not playing yet. But we did get a chance to tour
the Titanic
Museum!
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You
were not allowed to take pictures inside, but it was a lot
of fun to go and see.
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All
too soon it was time to leave....back to the airplane....
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I
was the only passenger. This is what it is like to have your
own private airplane and pilots I guess....but I wish they
would have let me fly it!
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