"My dad says it's like Vegas, if it were run by Ned Flanders."---Bart Simpson
Day Eight,
Margo and I discussed it last night before we went to bed and decide to vote 
After yesterday’s oxygen fiasco I called ahead to our Branson hotel and was pleasantly surprised. They not only knew all about our oxygen delivery, but it had already arrived. This was another Motel 6, and my resolve to abandon this chain was tested. We’ll see after we actually stay there.
With the undesirables in the area there was no way we were eating around here. The neighborhood didn’t look a lot better in the morning. So we got on the highway and headed west. We crossed into 
It is about a five hour drive from 
Next up was lunch, we chose Denny’s. None our group was known to be terrible adventurous when it comes to food, hence our uninspired decision. That and it was right there. We had a pleasant lunch and now decided we could enjoy the town some. Margo, Jessi, and I had been to Branson two prior times. Each of those times we rode the ducks. “The Ducks” are old World War II amphibious vehicles (known as DUKWs) that have been converted to carry tourists instead of troops. The company that operates them, “Ride the Ducks”, takes you on a land tour of Branson, and then a water tour of 
Once our Duck ride was over we went back to the hotel. I had done most of the driving today, and even if I hadn’t, just riding in a car for hour after hour is tiring. So we decided to get in a short nap. We had tickets for two different shows during our stay in Branson. Tonight would be Moe Bandy and tomorrow Paul Harris. Moe was at 8 PM. By 
I think the others had a good time. They aren’t nearly as critical as I am, plus the comedian that Moe had, Mike Nichols, was hilarious. When the show was done we picked up souvenirs. Having some new music to listen to was not going to harm the speakers any. And Moe always signs autographs and takes pictures at the end of his show. We did that too.
Our day was about done. The girls and I made a late night McDonalds run. A body has got to have health food on a trip of this magnitude. I had also been looking for Sharps (non-alcoholic beer) for Dad for about two days now. In Branson I was finally able to find it for him. Dad had finally given in to the doctors and had quit drinking. I like beer myself, but to be honest, I don’t like it enough to drink it without the alcohol. Dad either likes the taste, is able to convince himself it is the good stuff, or he takes a kind of perverse satisfaction in doing a pseudo nose thumb at the doctors, by still drinking. I’m not sure which, and I didn’t ask. If he wanted Sharps, I was going to find it. After that it was bed time. Another successful day!
Ride the Ducks is a national company which operates in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Seattle, Stone Mt, GA, and obviously, Branson, MO.
In Branson, you board the Duck from a platform and you are given a duck call. These are popular with kids, but the adults get a charge out of them. Your guide/captain tells you the safety rules (hands and feet inside, ect) and warns those in certain areas that they may get wet. Your group picture is taken and then the tour begins. The guide, who interjects as much humor and history in the tour as he/she drives, takes you first around the town a bit. While touring you are encouraged to “quack” at other tour buses or at groups you might pass. Shortly the driver pulls up to the spot where they will enter Lake Taneycomo (you have already learned that Taneycomo comes from Taney County Missouri). The driver stops, engages the brake, and turns around to talk to group. He explains that there are two ways to enter the lake, fast or slow, and calls for a vote. Those, if any, who call for the gingerly entry are shouted down. The captain pushes and pulls levers and then guns the engine. There is a satisfying splash into the lake.
From that point the tour takes a pleasant but unexpected turn. There is some narration that can be done, but not a ton. So to keep the people interested, especially the kids, they are offered a chance to drive the DUK. Don’t be shy! Everyone is welcome to drive. Then back home you will be presented with your own DUK driver’s license. The kids always love it.
Ride the Ducks operates 7 days a week, but is not year round. They close during the winter. Cost is $19 for adults and $11 for kids. The tour lasts about 70 minutes.
Would I do it again? We have done it three times, so the short answer is Yes! Each time the tour covered the same area, so the third time was old hat. But, the big draw in to experience land and water from the same craft and to ride a historic, if altered, piece of American history.
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