the lake cont....

after we visited the swinging bridge, we went to the lake of the ozarks state park to the marina. there were only a few people there fishing....it was so peaceful.

then we headed to bridal cave....all i can say is WOW! we went on the 1 hour tour through the cave and the onyx giant columns, delicate soda straws, and massive draperies were absolutely spectacular! the pictures just dont do these massive onyx formations justice...

the first giant column we see when we walk into the first "room" of the cave...

looking UP at the ceiling... all the little things hanging from the ceiling are called "soda straws"

i guess hunky husband wasnt ready for the picture:-)

yes, that is a

BAT!

hunky husband was ready for this picture!

ribbons

these things are MASSIVE

on our way back from the cave, we heard on the radio that there were going to be fire works at the horney toad, a 3 story club/restaurant/bar, on sat night, and since that was one of the places that a friend of mine suggested we go to, we decided to go check it out so we knew were it was for the next night. while on the way to the horney toad...we went to the begnell dam as well. that was pretty cool to see. i had never seen a dam, let alone DRIVE over it!

then, we heard the radio advertising a dueling piano bar and happy hour specials....that were going on RIGHT NOW! we proceeded to the horney toad and checked it out. it was a pretty awesome building...right on the water with a wall of HUGE windows! no specials at this bar tonight though...so on to the dueling piano bar...peckers! the pianos werent until later that evening, but we sat at the bar, talked to the cool bartenders, indulged in the happy hour specials (two for one! woo hoo! cant beat that!), and were entertained by a VERY "happy" man, named mike, who had been at the bar for a L O N G time!

after we sat there with our friendly bartender, dustin, for a few hours, "happy hours", i decided i better go take a nap before i started being an entertainer like our "happy" friend mike!;-) so we went back to the condo, i took a "nap" on the couch for a few hours and matt watched the cardinal game...

after a well needed nap, IM UP! ready for round two!

we got ready and headed back to peckers, the dueling pianos were great...and of course our friendly bartender, dustin, didnt disappoint either. we ended up closing the bar down (surprise, surprise) and sitting there after hours with the employees. then, invited some of them back to the condo for some after hours cocktails...because THAT was a good idea! we sat out on the patio until 530 AM!!!!