Table Rock Landing Timeshare

Living room has fireplace, flat screen TV
and 2 easy chairs as well as the couch.

Yes, we are finally in a timeshare unit now for two weeks and will have some time to get organized.  "Living out of a suitcase" in motels or even just a couple of days in a Wyndham timeshare (using it as a hotel stop) has been more difficult...now we can finally unload the van completely.  Actually first time to since January in St Augustine! 



     We are in Table Rock Landing in Holiday Island AR, ... an RCI exchange... right near the great small town of Eureka Springs .  We have wanted to stay here for years but it is somewhat difficult to get into since it is small (30 units; two are wholly owned and can be rented out as vacation weeks.)    When we found last year that our Mustang Pony military reunion would be hosted in Eureka Springs, we immediately got on RCI and booked the week before – we like to arrive early to help set up, etc. -- and then another week became available when we found we had more time to spend in the Midwest between other date commitments, so we are here for two weeks!  It is so nice and relaxing.  Everyone we meet here feels the same way. 

Master Bedroom is in the open loft.
Second bedroom is downstairs with twin beds.

      We received several packages easily upon check in that we had had mailed to us since we would be here for two weeks.   Check-in was easy and we were allowed to check in early since our unit was ready. Immediately we felt at home and relaxed.

Master bath - HUGE!!!!!

   

 

 

The unit is very large and has a tall vaulted ceiling with the master bedroom above as the loft.  All units are 2 BD 2 BA.

     The swimming pool looks great and often not at all crowded now as the summer crowds had just left. 

Nice deck. 

   It is only 20 minutes to the town of Eureka Springs.  Hart’s is the main grocery store in town but there is Sun-Fest grocery only 10 minutes away on Holiday Island as well as a pharmacy and post office.





     





Lunch on the Way to Eureka Springs = Antiques!

We are in Green Forest, AR in the middle of the Ozarks and found a great  place to eat which is in an antique shop!!   What could be better?  Food AND antiques! 

 

Wyndham Fairfield Bay Fairways

We returned to Fairfield Bay for just two days using Wyndham points, waiting until our RCI exchange into Holiday Island north of Eureka Springs starts Saturday.

      (Yes, last week we were here with the RCI exchange... we couldn't get the weeks then with Wyndham discounted points so it was cheaper to go with RCI.)

Vaulted ceiling and fireplace. Sliding patio door looked out on the golf course.

     This time we are in a Fairways unit on the golf course... First time we've been in one in this area and we really like it!  It is a very large 2 bd and there are only a few stairs into the units, instead of so many last week in the pedestals.  We have a beautiful green view of the golf course and a large private deck.  We think we'll request these units again. 

     Swimming each day, of course, with the large pool and nice weather.

What a great lamp

Master

Arkansas Peaches

We stopped at a fruit stand on the way south on US 65 last week to Fairfield Bay and were those peaches delicious!   We noticed the street sign said “Fruit Stand Lane. “  So on the way north today we looked for his “Peaches” sign and stopped again.  And bought two baskets this time!

       Going north, we saw a truck with watermelons, so we pulled over and got one!  Talked to the man for a while.  He said next week he would have ____.    Joan couldn’t figure it out.  Later Ron told her he had said “Next week I‘ll have ‘maters.”  That is, tomatoes!  Too bad we won’t be on US 65 then!

      The peaches are delicious!

Morning at the COS Airport

        Although our plane was not until 7 a.m., our reunion shuttle left the hotel at 4 a.m. (20 min to airport) so here we are!!!  At least it's easier packing just two suitcases for flying rather than a vanload leaving a timeshare!!!  We go to ATL (flying over Little Rock!) and then fly back to AR.  We’ll arrive about 3 p.m., will visit with Ron’s brother Daryl's mother-in-law Mimi in Jacksonville, AR, before going on to Fairfield Bay again (a 2 hour drive).  Two nights there, and then 2 weeks at Eureka Springs!!!! Yay!

Memories

The Memorial Service was introduced with a motorcycle parade, and then the color guard brought out the colors!

More airplanes as flag toppers

  We made new friends and also visited with Ron’s cousin on Sunday and Joan’s nephew on Monday night.

We had a great time with Geoff and Amy

Garden of the Gods: “Unbelievable"

So fabulous! Can't believe these formations. So nice to be able to drive through, too, and still be able to see everything.  All of these pictures were taken through the front window of the bus, so we missed some, but the window sometimes gives another dimension!

 

Lunch at the Sahara Cafe: "Out of this World!"

Our reunion's tour stopped for lunch in Manitou Springs, an eclectic village or many restaurants and small shops.  We chose the Sahara Cafe, not even having read the Tripadvisor reviews.  Later we found out it was listed as #1 of 57 restaurants there.  It is so small and simple…but…..

      We can't believe how good it was!!! We chose it since we thought we would like a more vegetarian palate since so many restaurants listed were just sandwiches or burgers. Ron had the lamb kebob and it was so tender; and Joan had the vegetarian dish. The stuffed grape leaves were fabulous and the homemade hummus...wow!  Wish we could go more often.

“Take the COG RR and drink lots of water”

As tall as Mt Rainier

 We signed up for this trip (our reunion planned it) not knowing that it would get so cold or that we would get dizzy. Thank goodness some people warned us and someone loaned Joan a sweatshirt and we took lots of water. The Cog RR takes 1 1/2 hour to go to the top and then you have about 20 - 30 minutes to look around before your train goes back down. The water really helped! Every time we got dizzy or nauseous, we just sipped some water and we were fine. 
       Many warnings that there are no restrooms on train so a long line at the top... Takes care of most of your time there!

        The views are indeed great. We went in the morning, too, which is the best time. Apparently there is often a little rainfall and cloudy in the afternoons.

        Their doughnuts are supposed to be so famous.  Joan got the choc donut even though they said they were a day old in order to let the chocolate set. Quite dry, but too long a line in the food line for the fresh ones. Satisfactory for a snack, but next time, get the fresh ones!

We like rocks!

But this is a little large for the yard!

On the RR

At the top of the world

Yes, this was the angle we were at.
Triple brake system available, or so....

Showing the cogs

Beautiful views

Even a gold mine!  $1 million/day they said

AF Academy: Not to be missed!

Unusual use of stained glass pices

We had read that the chapel here was the most photographed structure, but we were very surprised to see how fabulous it is!  The way the builder put the stained glass was most beautiful and the pipe organ on different levels was very unusual.



Pipe organ

Love the airplane as the flag topper

So nice, also, to have different chapels for the different faiths.
We had a very nice talk at when we first arrived in the chapel which explained a lot about the chapel . 

Catholic chapel

Jewish chapel

A lot of special things are in the chapel

Ron wants to know which one he can have

We really also enjoyed the many airplane model sculptures in the outdoor forum.



Shroud of Turin information

The museum was also great. The walk between the chapel and Museum is not too hard. Lots of benches to rest if you need.







The Nike Hercules Missiles

These were ready to shoot down any attacks during the Cold War.   Batteries all over the world, they had to keep them maintained and ready to go (and were always short of men and materials, at least there in Germany) and they went to Crete to practice shooting them.

     We had had a wonderful time in Germany and so the get-together was so good for Ron.  

Crete missile shooting

Military Reunion! The Germany Battery

This year the 3^rd of the 71^st Battalion from Germany met in Colorado Springs for a reunion, for all four Batteries this time.  Ron was commander of the Delta Battery from 1970-1971 so he is happy to go;  the battery was active with Nike Hercules missiles from 1962-1985. They had gone to Crete annually during those years to practice shooting a Nike Missile. 

   We were going to drive out and maybe even take our time, but then decided that since we had a companion Delta ticket to use, it would be cheaper to fly.  So we “hung around” the Midwest from the wedding Aug 2 in Springfield, IL to the reunions… and Wyndham Fairfield Bay was a good place to be.  We then flew out of Little Rock (via Atlanta, of course) to Colorado Springs.

   We decided not to rent a car there since the reunion had several bus tours planned and activities each day, especially that on would enjoy staying and visiting at the hotel. 

We arrived a day early...good thing we did as Delta canceled the flight that would have allowed us to get here in time for registration tomorrow.. and a friend picked us up at the COS airport and brought us to the hotel – the Academy Hotel, right across from the AF Academy!

Beautiful waterfalls in the Academy Hotel lobby

The Fairfield Bay “Pedestals”

We’ll be here a week, staying in Unit 10 at Mountain Meadows area, the 2-Bedroom Plus units, with the lofts.  It turns out to be the exact unit we stayed in last year, No. 10  (for photos see http://ronandjoanjourney.blogspot.com/2013/10/fairfield-bay-is-great.html) , and we love it:  all the windows with tree views.  We reserved it as an RCI exchange since that was cheaper for August than using Wyndham points. 

     From here we will fly to Colorado Springs from Little Rock (about a 2 hour drive) for Ron’s military reunion and then return for a few days after that before going to Eureka Springs (for another military reunion!)

We’ve Gained Weight, We Think

These last two weeks, living out of suitcases and eating out all the time.. Eating  hamburgers .. Yum... And some desserts yummmmmm  (this from Joan, of course, since Ron can’t eat them!)   Ron's sugar goes up and down even though we are still careful with his carb intake, and it is never TOO high but still …. when we can't have the “normal” diet each day, it jumps around more.  And traveling, moving every one, two or three days changes it too.  Today Joan made “his” special soup this morning before swimming her laps because we’ll be here 3 days and then 6  days in Fairfield Bay (and not in hotels, Yay!)

A Short Branson Stay

Joan finished her laps... No one else in the pool, YAY!
      We are at the Wyndham Falls, the smallest of the 3 Wyndham timeshare resorts here, no elevators, we usually like the 3rd floor since there are vaulted ceilings and Palladium windows  but asked for a ground floor this time…Ron didn’t want to carry all our stuff up, and Joan is still having trouble with her left leg.  It was so easy and good too.  They have redecorated, guess they do every 5 years or so, and Joan doesn’t like it so well ( of course, haha, more modern) .
       When we’ve been here before, the pool was busy, but not this visit.  It is smaller than the pools at the other properties, but crystal clean! 
    We are here 3 nights, in between our Chicago stay with Myrna and the Fairfield Bay stay (until flying to Colorado Springs from Little Rock.)

Lewis and Clark Boathouse at St Charles

After we got in last night, it really poured again, so we hoped it would be clear today but the storm continued.  We watched the weather: the band of storms was directly along our path to Branson, but since it moves west to east, there was hope it would move on.  We decided to hang out in St Charles until the worst of the storm passed. The Lewis and Clark boathouse (with full sized replicas of the river craft  used!) was across the street so we visited it. 

     Those boats were actually sailed up the River during the Bicentennial celebration. A great museum!!   Of  course!  We love Lewis and Clark anyway (being from the Northwest and have visited Ft Clatsop).  So it was really nice to see these boats and the Missouri River beside them. 

Ft Clatsop - diorama

Ft Mandan

      You can tell that a lot of time and work has been put into making this museum.  The handmade dioramas, the camp example, the many photos of the Bicentennial celebration, and the well-planned prairie garden.  Inside the little museum, we watched the National Geographic DVD of their trip and then saw the many displays.   Of particular interest are the many dioramas of the trip, and the stream table which shows how rivers change over times.  They have a great educational program too, for kids.



Portage

Great Falls

     

Finally, we're on our way, it's still raining, but nothing like it was .  It is coming and going, harder and softer … like a Seattle rain!