2. Kentucky and Tennessee
Day 3: Tuesday, May 15
It rained a bit during the night, but I slept well anyway. Allergies are still a major bother. Woke up at 6 AM, dozed some more, and got up at 7 AM to a cloudy sky and a temperature of 57F.
Went to the bathhouse for the morning shower and was pleased that a rich stream of hot water poured down on me. Soaped up and poured shampoo on -- and then the water turned rather cold. I hate cold showers!
After breakfast spent some time on the internet and got under way by 10 AM, taking SR 52 west along the Ohio river. A pleasant road, little traffic, and occasionally enjoyable vistas. Crossed the river at Aberdeen to get to Maysville, KY.
Some time ago I had received an e-mail from a reader of my journals and the subsequent correspondence had led to an invitation to visit her and her husband in Maysville. Joanne has been an avid camper since childhood and her husband, Ken, had "come around" once the pop-up had been replaced by a comfortable trailer. Over an excellent lunch we talked about traveling and all the magnificent natural beauty that is waiting to be discovered. I really do hope that this year's planned trip to South Dakota will make Ken want to go on many more extended trips in the future. I know from my own experience that it is great fun to run a successful enterprise and a more leisurely activity such as camping doesn't sound challenging at all. But as a good friend and partner once said to me "better take time to smell the roses before you're pushing daisies," and once the travel bug bites -- well, it can become addictive.
A great visit, thanks again, Joanne and Ken. I hope you'll hit the road soon, that your travels will be safe and pleasant, and that our paths will cross again. And a special "thank you" for the goodies you made me take! Delicious transparent tarts (a local pastry delight,) the rich Bourbon Balls, and the sample bottle of Maker's Mark Whisky introduced me to the very best bourbon I have ever tasted.
Continued south on US 68, enjoying the views of horse farms and rolling hills. Next took scenic SR 1972 to the Kentucky Horse Park Camground. $15.50 got me a level and paved site, with water and electric hook-ups. Went to the Kentucky Horse Park for a couple of hours and enjoyed the museum displays at least as much as looking at the horses. From now on I'll know the difference between a carriage and a draft horse.
The sun had come out around noon and it got quite hot. The 110 V air conditioner in the van worked well to make the evening more comfortable. Because of Joanne's rich lunch, dinner consisted of strawberries and a banana only.
Drove all of 140 miles today.
Day 4: Wednesday, May 16
This was the kind of day that I enjoy. It started out with a great shower in the comfortable bathhouse at the Kentucky Horse Park Campground, then it led me to travel on some beautiful byways, and it concluded with a pleasant first face-to-face get-together with long-time internet friends.
Woke up at 6 AM, still bothered by a stuffed-up nose and a bad cough -- no wonder, it seemed that every lawnmower in the area was hard at work. Night time temperature was a comfortable 65F and the sun was out in full force when I hit the road at 9:15 AM.
Drove around downtown Lexington a bit -- the only city I have visited where the main streets are named after famous race horses.
Headed for Harrodsburg on scenic US 68. Along the way is the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, a well-preserved former Shaker commune. This was once home to some 500 devout Shakers. The commune was founded in 1805 and disbanded by 1910. Since Shakers insisted on celibacy, the continuation of the commune over 105 years meant that a good number of people had to convert -- and that they did should indicate that the Shakers' simple lifestyle and seclusion from the world had appeal.
Continued on to Danville on the similarly scenic US 127, Lancaster on mostly scenic SR 52, and Somerset on mostly scenic SR 39. Took the very scenic SR 90 into the Kentucky foothills of the Appalachian mountain range, and then US 127 (also quite beautiful) into Tennessee.
Once across the state line, enjoyed the drive on SR 52 to Rugby and Elgin, and on US 27 and SR 63 to I-75.
I-75 and I-40 brought me to Hunter's cabin near Knoxville. I had first "met" Hunter at the newsgroup rec.outdoors.rv-travel and had enjoyed her travel reports and witty posts. When she invited me to stop by her place near Knoxville, I was delighted to accept (or was it the other way around -- did I invite myself first?) Anyway, another respected regular on rec.outdoors.rv-travel -- GBinNC -- traveled down from his NC mountain home to join us.
This was my fifth experience of meeting face-to-face with people I had met via the web -- and like the first four, it was great. We shared information about travels and places to see, compared our evaluations of other regulars on the NG, enjoyed a pleasant dinner at a really neat nearby rustic restaurant where we could sit outdoors on the balcony, and ended the evening by watching a very interesting video that GB had brought along about Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountain range.
For all the rec.outdoors.rv-travel regulars who (like me) have wondered what Hunter, Brady, Tucker and Bruiser look like, here are a few photos
and here's a photo that Hunter took
Tried to get GBinNC into the pictures, but he didn't want his ruggedly-handsome North Carolina mountain-man appearance to overshadow Bruiser (the absolute-macho truck.) Suffice it to say that his real life appearance definitely does not support the image of the professorial and pedantic (i.e. slightly anal) grammarian and stickler for accuracy) that one might infer from most of his posts to the NG.
Spent 7 3/4 hours in transit today and traveled 300 miles. Bought gasoline near Somerset, KY for $1.549 per gallon. Averaged 17.6 mpg on the last tank.
Day 5: Thursday, May 17 (Part 1)
Slept comfortably until 7 AM. Took a few more photos before enjoying the delicious breakfast of pancakes and eggs that Hunter prepared for us.
Hunter riding 20 horses (don't mess with this lady, she'll bruise you with Bruiser or mow you down!)
GB's class B
The RV park: Hunter's Airstream in the back, GB's van upfront (does the tire look under-inflated???) and my Westy on the left.
Really enjoyed my visit, but the open road called. Thanks, Hunter, for your hospitality. I'll be back!
Got underway by 10:15 AM to sunshine and 75F. Headed for US 321 and SR 95 and then picked up US 129 to cross the Tennessee river and to travel along Fort Loudoun Lake and the river through the beautiful Cherokee National Forest to North Carolina.
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