On to Indiana

The photo is the monument to Jefferson Davis. We saw this absolutely HUGE thing rising above the flat Kentucky landscape and just had to investigate. It denotes his birthplace and has a small museum. And this is in the middle of nowhere.....

We left Kentucky today after spending three days in Hardin, Kentucky near the "Land Between the Lakes" We enjoyed a day of bird watching and viewing an Osprey atop a toll dead tree guarding it's baby. Osprey builld their huge nests at the very top of a dead tree or pole, usually near water. Where we were bird watching was a remote location where people normally don't go. I happened on the nest while the mama spoke very sharply To me....kew kew kew leave leave leave. It flew around the area trying to maneuver me away. I didn't want to disturb her so I took a few pictures and left. On Sunday we visited a very small country church and were so blessed with the country gospel hymms and simple, but precious message. It was so refreshing to be in church. Today we are in Oaktown Indiana for a few days heading toward Dale's brother and dad in Wisconsin. We should be there in another week or so. This is corn country with forever fields as far as the eye can see.

Stopping for a root beer Stanford Ky

Stanford, Ky

Tuesday 6/17 Just spent a lovely day in the historic town of Sanford, Kentucky. First we visited the L & N train depot built in 1866. It is now closed and transformed into a museum of the train era of the town. It had a women waiting section, a general section and a special section for baggage and black folk. I’m sure glad times have changed. The lady host delighted in showing us everything as we would probably be the only visitors for the day.

Next we strolled downtown and viewed the buildings built circa 1788 - 1866. We were the only folks on the entire main street. Everywhere we stopped the proprietor was every so glad to have someone to talk with. The barber with his one chair shop came out and asked us in. There was another one chair shop across the street and apparently they mostly sit in their shop’s all day doing nothing, just staring out the window. Men’s haircut’s cost $6 and a beard trim $2.

Next to the soda shop for a root beer and a talk with the young lady there. A nice fellow on the street noted we were strangers in town. Very obvious with almost empty streets. He stopped to chat, took us to the bank to meet the banker who owns most of the town and of whom absolutely everyone we spoke with just loves him and what he is doing to restore this small town. A wonderful town with the most friendly folks we have yet to meet. At least 6 folks were delighted to chat with us. We also visited the court house and perused the county records dating back to the 1700’s. Marriages, wills and court proceeding. Cost 50 Cents to get married.

Item of interest this part of Kentucky was once part of Buchanan Country, Virginia.

Kentucky

We did leave Friday afternoon, overpacked and raring to go. We stopped in Narrows, VA at the River's Edge campground where we spent 2 nights. The site was on the New River and we had a lovely view. We paddled upstream (Dale got out a pulled part of the way) past some small rapids then we enjoyed a nice float back down.

Sunday late morning we left for Kentucky. Since we only travel averaging 31 miles per hour it took us about 8 hours to go 275 miles. The trip through West Virginia was spectacular up and down, up and down the mountains on narrow roads. I used the brakes on the passenger side ALOT!!

We are in Kentucky (Mt Vernon) staying at the Country Music Center of Kentucky. The campground is fairly empty Sunday-Wednesday, but fills for the shows after that. We'll be leaving tomorrow for Mammouth Cave Area. I bought a lap harp in Berea. It has music that you insert under the strings and can be played almost instantly. What fun.

Today we are going bird watching and cemetery wandering...

One more day

Tomorrow we will be leaving for our very first RV journey in "Gramma's Camper Truck" so named by grandson Daniel (4 1/2). We are almost packed having spent the better part of a week sorting, resorting, figuring, packing, deciding and wondering just what are we doing. Last week we took Daniel camping for a couple of nights at Claytor Lake State Park which we highly recommend with beautiful campsites and a great beach. Susanne, Greg and children came for part of two days. We had a fantastic time. We started packing GCT directly upon getting back.
Tomorrow we leave and we still don't have a plan except that we'll eventually be heading t0 Wisconsin to visit with Dale's Dad, brother and sister-in-law. We'll decide which direction we'll take in the morning. I used to be so good at planning, as you can see I'm totally hopeless now. Traveling in GCT is a brand new adventure and takes me back almost 40 years ago when Dale and I traveled accross the country in a converted step van....that was also with no plan just easy traveling and great adventures.
Well we'll see which way the winds blows........