QTE Hop 3: Oklahoma City, OK, to Branson, MO

1 day, 300 miles via I-44, US 412 and US 65.

This was a 1-day hop that compensated for the previous 3-day hop. Both I-44 from Oklahoma City to Tulsa and US 412 from Tulsa into Arkansas were very hilly – lots of up-and-downs, the result being very poor mileage. Most of the route was 4 lanes or better, but the section of US 412 from Springdale to the junction with US 65 was 2-lane road, with lots of curves. Jett hated it and I wasn’t a big fan, either. The last 2 miles to the Branson KOA were scary – narrow, winding roads with low-hanging trees. At one point was had to zig-zag a short stretch on what looked like a cart path. High anxiety.

We also encountered our first “ding” of the QTE. Shortly after leaving Oklahoma City, as we were entering the ramp to I-44 north, we heard a strange sound – like metal scraping. We pulled over a few miles later, at the first exit. I inspected the rig and all seemed well, but later we discovered that the trim edge of the truck bed cover had been ripped loose. My best guess is that the useless stabilizing legs that hang from the pin on the front of Patience somehow came into contact with that trim while turning onto the ramp. Anyway, it is mostly cosmetic and can probably be repaired.

A few miles after that, while rolling along on I-44, I looked in the side view mirror and saw one of the basement doors flapping in the breeze. I immediately pulled over onto the not-very-wide breakdown lane and closed and locked the door as 18-wheelers whizzed by. Had I forgotten to lock the door? Must have.

But we made it safely and got into our pull-through site in Branson. It was gravel and not very level. The park itself had a nice staff, but the amenities were mediocre: a smallish pool filled with smallish kids, a smallish dog park with no water and weak WiFi. Not one of our favorites, but we didn’t see any others that we liked better during our 6 nights in Branson. It worked. Having a neighbor with two pet pigs made it… special. There is just nothing to compare with the sound of of a squealing pig to get your day started right.

Jett really likes the Branson municipal logo – a stylized misical note – that appears on the numerous water towers around town. I spent the week working at the Westwood Inn. The WiFi here was also mediocre and the security was a joke: a simple twisst-to-lock knob lock and no security chain, but everything else was better than expected: a nice pool, a wonderful free breakfast, a comfortable bed (used only for napping), a spotlessly clean room and nice towels, soap and shampoo. It even had a mini-fridge, a microwave and a coffeemaker with free coffee. Not bad for $27.50 a night.