Nomad Life - Day 51

After a wonderful week of exploring, tasting and visiting in the Blue Grass State, it was time for me to depart this morning.  I'd earlier made plans with my niece, Ella, to get together near her school in Nashville and had a big drive ahead of me.  I was awake (after another restful sleep) by 0600, got ready and was packing up my car before 0700.  Michael and Camille had suggested that we have breakfast together and I'd asked if I could treat them - they accepted my offer and we departed for a nearby (still Shelbyville) Cracker Barrel at 0730.  At the restaurant, I ordered a Hashbrown Casserole - it was delicious and filling.  I visited with Michael and Camille for just over an hour before I finally said goodbye (0850).  From there, I got on I-64 and headed west.  Traffic was pretty light but there was still some construction to contend with - I passed the time with some audiobooks.  Reaching I-265, I drove around the southeast side of Louisville until I was able to get on I-65.  During this part of the day, I saw a lot more signs for Distilleries on the Bourbon Trail and considered stopping (especially when I passed Bardstown).  Wanting to get to Nashville ASAP, I didn't tarry in the area.  Along the way, I was reminded of the few years I'd visited Louisville regularly (see 1989 to 1991): Bernheim Forest, Fort Knox, etc.  Apparently, I could have stayed in Kentucky for a lot more time than seven days...  Just before I crossed the KY/TN border, I realized that I was going to arrive much earlier in Nashville than I'd planned because I had finally reached the Central Time Zone!  This meant that I had time for a walk nearby and, since it wasn't too hot yet (low 80s), I stopped at the Tennessee Welcome Center to ask for directions to a rail trail.  At first, the ladies working there didn't know what I meant but they collaborated and sent me towards the town of White House, which had a paved trail.  When I arrived there (1030), I realized I had roughly 45 minutes for outdoor activities and started south from the Andrew Jackson Trailhead of the White House Greenway.  During my walk, I found several interesting birds with my Merlin app, explored some side trails near the James K. Polk Trailhead and ended up logging about two miles in the time I had allotted.  As I finished (1115), I noticed that there was a LOT of traffic and people in the immediate vicinity - there was some kind of festival happening in town.  I would have liked to have stayed but, by then, I had lunch reservations with Ella on the east side of Nashville.  Fortunately, I didn't have too long to drive and I arrived at the Nectar Urban Cantina by 1200.  Ella texted that she was running behind so I went inside the restaurant to get a drink of water.  When I first looked at the menu, I found it to be quite "granola", with all kinds of organic drinks with "superfood" additives.  Almost everything I saw was also related to breakfast or brunch.  When Ella arrived at 1215, though, she found a completely different menu that I'd missed - it was mostly Mexican and Latin American food that was much more to my liking.  I got the Burrito Bowl (with a cheesy ground beef as my protein) and Ella got a special salad with avocados and chicken.  While we ate, Ella and I talked about her life in Nashville and made preliminary plans for a potential 2026 Thanksgiving Celebration.  I also gave her details about my Nomad Life (she had lots of questions) and we made plans to go to The Hermitage later in the day and to meet up at Belmont University the following morning.  After wrapping up our meal, I left my car at the restaurant and rode with Ella (in her Subaru Outback) to the site of Andrew Jackson's home.  Since I was a little boy, I'd been interested in visiting this historic mansion and I was very happy that Ella was interested enough to go with me.  We arrived in time for us to join a tour of the home at 1345 - it was amazing to see all of the original items and learn about the history.  It was quite warm (high 80s) outside by this point but the interior of the house was air conditioned.  Once finished with our tour, we were able to use some recording devices (that seemed to be activated by RFID chips at each sign) to learn about the Jackson family and the enslaved people who worked for them.  We paid our respects to the President at his tomb and then toured the museum (including viewing a film).  After walking through the pleasant gift shop (done by 1545), we returned to Ella's car and she drove me back to the Nectar Urban Cantina.  After saying goodbye (1605), I drove a short distance to Church of the Holy Rosary so I could attend the Saturday Vigil Mass.  Once parked, I walked around nearby (to complete my 10K goal for the day) and then went inside the church to prepare for the 1700 service.  It was interesting to see yet another Parish in action and commune with my fellow Catholics in new and different places.  Afterwards (1755), I departed to the east (Lebanon Pike, back roads and a brief drive on I-40E) until I reached my hotel, the Super 8 Hermitage (1815).  Once I was checked into my room, I faced a big choice: stay in or go out for more exploring.  I was tired and knew that the time difference was going to affect my sleep patterns.  As a result, I spent the entire evening resting and blogging - I finally caught up on all the days of the trip!  By (the new) 2225, I was ready for bed and turned out the lights.  Another great day of Nomad Life!

Nomad Life - Day 50

My day began early again (0615) but I missed seeing Michael because he'd apparently left for work much earlier than usual.  Camille relayed that I was welcome to visit his classroom between 1000 and 1200 and I decided to keep my commitment to volunteering while living the Nomad Life.  First, though, I ate some breakfast (cereal) and got ready for my day - I actually donned some black dress pants and my NH KofC shirt, in anticipation of visiting a Catholic School later in the morning.  Between 0645 and 0945, though, I teleworked (no meetings but plenty of document review).  Before I realized how quickly time had flown, it was time for me to depart for Corpus Christi Classical Academy (in downtown Shelbyville).  It only took me about 15 minutes to reach the school, park and arrive at the front entrance.  Michael saw me coming through his classroom window and escorted me inside the building.  His classroom was named "Saint Gabriel" and he had seven eager young people (5th and 6th Grade students) waiting patiently there for me.  They were all dressed in green uniforms of varying design and were reciting a poem about the Crusades that was written by Hilaire Belloc ("The Kings come riding back from the Crusade / The purple Kings and all their mounted men / They fill the street with clamorous cavalcade" / etc.).  After that part of the class was finished, though, the kids all wanted to know more about me and why I'd come for a visit.  Michael and I had made plans for these questions and I started talking about my life and my time hiking the Appalachian Trail.  Of course, each of the children had plenty of questions to ask me that didn't exactly have to do with my talk but they were very eager, respectful and interested.  As I was nearing the end of my talk, the Academy's Principal interrupted the class to ask all the children (50+) in the entire school to sing happy birthday for the (Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish) Priest.  That was an interesting experience too.  Returning to the classroom, I wrapped up my story and then Michael led the children through a review of material they'd been covering about Orders of Insects and the History of Medicine.  I was quite impressed by the knowledge on display and all the kids seemed very engaged in their unique, classically inspired curriculum.  Before the lunch time break, I got to see some of the insects that the students had brought to be displayed under Michael's powerful microscope - what a treat!  By noon, I wrapped up my volunteering day (two hours) and the kids all said goodbye (reluctantly, since they hoped I'd stay for recess and lunch).  Returning to the west on US-60, I remembered that I'd seen some inexpensive gas in Simpsonville and that the station was located very near a Culvers.  With a fuel tank fill-up and butter-burgers in mind, I headed over to KY-1848.  After getting the gas and cleaning a LOT of bugs off of my windshield and car-top carrier (1230), I got lunch at the Culvers (1230) - I was soooo lucky to have ordered my food right before a huge busload of people...  Once I was finished eating the delicious meal, I returned to Michael and Camille's home and resumed my telework day (1300).  I ended up with an impromptu work call but managed to complete my (shorter than normal) work day by 1700.  Since I'd made dinner plans with my Antarctica Cruise friend, Jennifer M., so changed my clothes for the third time in the day and had barely enough time to talk with Michael (he'd just arrived home from work as I was leaving) about the success of my visit to his classroom (he thanked me for "making the kids' day").  At 1715, I departed Shelbyville and drove (via US-60, KY-55 and I-64) to Frankfort.  I'd coordinated with Jennifer to meet at 1800 but she texted while I was enroute to inform me that she'd gotten held up at work (at her job in Lexington).  It didn't matter by that point because I was almost to my destination: Cattleman's Roadhouse.  When I arrived (1745), I found the parking lot almost completely full and a long queue outside the door.  Fortunately, I managed to get my name on the waiting list and the restaurant was using a text reservation service.  Since it was still light out (and the temps had dropped into the 70s), I decided to walk around near the restaurant while I waited for the 20-30 minutes the hosts had predicted.  While making a short lap of the parking lot, I spotted a Buffalo Wild Wings and wondered if there was still time for me to get a drink during their normal afternoon happy hour.  By the time I got to the bar, there were only three minutes remaining for the special but the bartender poured me a Goose Island Wild Herd (20 oz).  This was a new beer for my Untapped app and it turned out to be pretty good.  I took my time and was wrapping up the drink just as I received a text from the Cattleman's that my table was ready.  After being seated inside (1810), I heard from Jennifer that she was still a few minutes away.  When she finally arrived (1830), we started catching up on all the things that had happened in our lives since we'd last encountered each other onboard Viking Polaris (see FEB 2024).  We ordered old fashioned drinks that were made with Knob Creek Single Barrel (a new bourbon for me) and then I got the Country Fried Steak (mmmmm) and the house macaroni and cheese (also good).  Jennifer let me try some of her Dusty Trail Alfredo (with grilled chicken).  We continued our conversation until 1945 and Jennifer asked if we could adjourn to another venue to keep talking.  She was familiar with a few of the bars in Frankfort but hadn't tried the Howser Tavern - since I'd given that place a good review, she agreed to try it.  Jennifer drove us into the downtown (it only took about 10 minutes) and we found some street parking very close to St. Clair Street.  Unlike the nights I'd spent in Kentucky's Capital, the eating and drinking establishments were much busier and there were a lot of people walking along the streets.  However, we entered the Howser and found it almost empty!  It was only at that point that I thought of playing a sympathy card - when I'd tried to visit the hotel's speakeasy earlier in the week, I'd been told there wasn't enough staff.  With two or three bartenders visible, I used the password that I'd been given by the hotel (and explained the whole situation).  Minutes later, Jennifer and I were whisked inside the "back bar" and found a much larger crowd of revelers.  I ordered "The St. Clair" cocktail, which I'd been eyeing a few nights earlier and Jennifer got a martini made with Buffalo Trace Sazerac Rye.  Our conversation continued and we stayed engaged with the nice bartender lady (a different person from my earlier visits) and the other guests.  Before I knew it, my watch showed 2115 (much later than I'd planned to stay out for the night, due to the drive and being courteous for my friends).  Reluctantly, I suggested that I needed to get back to my car and head to Shelbyville - Jennifer was very nice about wrapping things up early.  After she got me back to the Cattleman's, we said goodbye and I made the 30ish minute drive back to Michael and Camille's.  My friends were asleep when I arrived (2215) so I skipped the walk I'd hoped to do - this ended up being the first time in years where I had two less than 10K days of walking in a row...  Instead, I packed up my bags (to make the morning go more quickly) and headed to bed as early as I could (2240).  Very glad that I got to do some volunteering and to try a few more drinks in Bourbon Country!

Nomad Life - Day 49

Thankfully, I slept well again and was teleworking from Michael and Camille's home by 0600.  During an early break, I got some breakfast downstairs (with both Camille and Michael).  Once I'd resumed teleworking, I continued online (meetings), with only minor breaks, until 1245.  I ate lunch (chicken soup and home-made bread) with Camille (she was working from home too) and then got back to work - the rest of the day was filled with lots of meetings and pop up technical discussions.  At a few intervals in the afternoon, I had a chance to confirm plans (for Thursday evening and Friday) with Michael, Steve/Donna and Jennifer M. (who I'd met on my Antarctica Cruise (see FEB 2024). After finishing my longest work day of the week, I started getting ready for the evening and departed Shelbyville (1630). My destination was the nearby town of Fisherville, where some Notre Dame alumni I'd met on my Danube River Cruise (see AUG 2024) lived.  To reach my friends' home, I used US-60, KY-1848, KY-1399, KY-148 and some back roads.  The temperatures were already dropping by the time I arrived at Steve and Donna's (1700).  I was amazed to see their beautiful home nestled among farm fields and tree lined pastures.  Steve later told me he that he had added the biggest feature - a large fishing pond - himself.  During our planning, he'd hinted that he wanted us to go fishing but after I got inside, he said he thought it was too hot to sit outside.  Instead, he showed me how to make is "famous" old fashioned; it included four kinds of bitters, some special sugar and various other ingredients that (even while he was mixing) I could tell would make the drink taste very good.  When he wrapped up with two fingers of Elijah Craig Small Batch and some huge ice cubes, I was very eager to taste the concoction.  It was everything I expected - and more!  As we were drinking, Steve and Donna showed me around their spacious home, which they'd constructed on eight acres almost 20 years before.  They had at least four bedrooms, a wonderfully large deck, a three car garage and a huge family/living area.  Everything was custom made, beautifully decorated and very functional.  This last fact got me and Steve talking about our engineering backgrounds - we figured out we'd worked on similar projects over the years and that kept our conversation going.  Meanwhile, Donna was putting together the basis for our upcoming meal.  At about 1830, Steve got the grill going and put about three pounds of seasoned salmon (along with some buttered asparagus) on to cook.  We continued visiting until the food was ready and then sat down to eat in one of Steve and Donna's dining areas (they had several).  Our wonderful conversation (about the cruise, mutual friends, Notre Dame and my Nomad Life) continued while we ate the delicious dinner and I got to sample some good Pinot Noir with the food.  Before we knew it, the clock was striking 2100 and I reluctantly excused myself from the company of my gracious hosts.  It was completely dark by that time so I took my time during the drive (reverse directions from earlier in the day).  Steve had warned me about the numerous deer, narrow and winding roads and other potential hazards to safe driving.  I was very careful and thought I was home free as I approached KY-1848.  Sadly, that's when I encountered one of the longest trains I've seen in many years - it seemed like it was crossing forever!  By the time it finally cleared the crossing, I'd lost about 10 minutes on the (normally) relatively shot drive.  As a result, I didn't get to Michael and Camille's home until they had already gone to bed (2155).  For my part, I was quite tired and decided to forgo reading for the evening - instead, I had the lights turned off by 2215 (the earliest evening I've had in a while).  What a great visit with wonderful friends!

Nomad Life - Day 48

I slept so well that I was surprised (because it was still dark) to check my clock and find it was 0600!  Camille and Michael had showed me an office across the hall from my bedroom and I immediately started teleworking there.  For the next 90 minutes, I kept at my normal tasks and then decided to check downstairs to see if anyone else was awake.  I found Camille getting ready for her own telework day and she pointed me towards some breakfast items - I ended up having cereal and a bagel and then resumed my telework.  As my Wednesdays typically go, I had meetings scheduled all morning, with a break after lunch and then more meetings.  With the little window (roughly two hours) I had, it seemed like a good idea to try to squeeze in another Distillery tour.  I was able to make one at the Woodford Reserve property and, after getting some more work (and laundry) done, I left Shelbyville (1140) and drove (via I-64) the towards Frankfort suburbs (I exited the Interstate at US-60, south of the Capital).  Unfortunately, this wasn't enough time for me to make it on time to Versailles and the Distillery - I arrived about five minutes late for my 1215 tour and no one at the check-in desk was able to escort me to join my scheduled group.  Since I was in the wrong for arriving late, I figured I'd just be sucking up the cost of the missed tour.  Instead, though, the staff apologized to me and gave me a voucher for tasting in the gift shop.  I later learned that this credit was a good bargain because the tasting alone (full price) cost $30 and I hadn't even spent half of that for the tour.  Also, I only had to walk a short distance to reach the tasting area and was treated to a flight of the Woodford Reserve family of brands: Bourbon, Rye, Malt, Wheat and Double Oaked.  I'd had a few of them before but it was interesting to try them all in a series.  The gift shop building had lots of walls with glass cases for the many Woodford Reserve varieties and it reminded me of my friend's (Danny's) collection in Virginia Beach... While I was tasting (1230), I struck up a conversation with an older couple who I later learned were from Wales.  They were recovering from the extreme heat and weren't in the mood to try the different whiskeys.  Still, they were very interested in what I thought and then introduced me to their extended family: daughter (from Wales), son-in-law (from Galway, Ireland), daughter (from the US) and her boyfriend (US Army Veteran from the US).  The entire group was very friendly and offered a lot of suggestions for places I should go in the area and activities I shouldn't miss.  For my part, I was very intrigued to learn that they were "horse racing people" who had just taken a tour of the stables where "American Pharaoh" (triple crown winner) was kept.  With the horse "family" life they lived - and a bar with off-track betting facilities they owned - they definitely had the connections to get such a tour.  In addition, they told me I should attend a local horse auction that was connected with Churchill Downs - it sounded very swanky.  By the time we all departed (1300), I had a feeling that I really hadn't "missed" the tour but, instead, had a better time tasting on my own.  From the Distillery, I returned (via the same route I'd used earlier) to Shelbyville and had a nice phone call with my friend, Ramesh B.  At 1345, I arrived at Camille and Michael's home again and, after she made me a ham & cheese sandwich (accompanied by veggie chips and cantaloupe), I resumed my telework day.  At 1530, I took another break and drove Camille to a nearby auto repair shop (she needed to pick up her car there).  The weather was still pleasant but it was very warm (high 80s).  After a quick car swap back at Camille and Michael's home in Shelbyville, I rode with Camille into downtown Louisville (US-60, KY-1848, I-64 and I-264) so we could visit the Zoo.  There was plenty of westbound traffic for some reason...  We arrived at about 1645 and (thanks to Camille's annual membership) spent the next 75 minutes walking around (about two miles total) and admiring the many interesting exhibits.  The shade in the zoo was very conducive to being outdoors (not so hot without the direct sunlight).  Everyone in the area has been so friendly and respectful.  Before we were done with our visit, we saw some amazing animals and I had only one regret: I was sad that I didn't get to see the Snow Leopard.  Unfortunately, the Zoo closed at 1800 and we had to return to our car.  Using I-264, I-64, KY-1848 and US-60, we returned to Shelbyville.  We made a stop so that Camille could shop at the Walmart (I waited in the car) but, by 1845, we were home again.  Once inside, I immediately returned to teleworking and kept at while Camille cooked dinner.  By 1930, I was able to join her and Michael for another delicious meal (organic burgers and baked potatoes) - even after we were finished eating, we continued talking until well after 2030.  After that, though, Michael excused himself and headed to bed.  Camille and I still had conversation left to share and weren't finished until almost 2130.  After she went to bed, I took a short (1 mile) walk (to get the rest of my 10K steps) in the neighborhood.  By then, the weather was much nicer (temp-wise) and I was glad I'd thought of going outside again.  Once I was finished (2200), I got ready for bed and then read until about 2300.  Along the way today, I figured out that I might not have done any activities or exploring in the Louisville city limits since mid 1991 (!) - it was good to be back! 

Nomad Life - Day 47

Woke up at about 0400 at one point (train noise) but was able to get back to sleep eventually - as a result, I didn't start teleworking until almost 0700.  I ended up skipping breakfast and working straight through until it was almost time to check out of my room at The St. Clair.  Overall, the boutique hotel provided a wonderful stay and I was actually sorry to leave!  After cleaning up and re-packing, I walked from my room (fourth floor in the hotel), down to St. Clair Street, over to the parking garage and up the stairs to Level 3.  Since I was parked in a reserved parking spot, I stayed there from about 0930 until 1215, participating in a series of meetings for work.  Realizing that I was only about a mile from the Buffalo Trace Distillery, I decided to drive down there (on US-421) as my lunch break was scheduled to begin.  As a result, I was parked in the lot for the distillery when the Microsoft Teams meeting ended.  Between 1230 and 1300, I managed to complete the tasting option in the gift shop (two floors, six different drinks) - a Traveler & ginger ale drink called a "Kentucky Mule", Buffalo Trace (90 proof), Colonel Tayler (100 proof), Stagg (126 proof), Sazerac Rye Whiskey and a mix of Buffalo Trace Bourbon Creme & Freddie's root beer.  Oh, and a chocolate from Rebecca Ruth Candy Company (local)!  Along the way, I learned about the history of the distillery, the methods for making different whiskeys and bourbons (prime ingredient is corn) and other drink pairings.  Everything was really good and I was reluctant to leave.  Fortunately, I got back outside after the last taste in time for my next meeting.  At first, I stayed in the parking lot at Buffalo Trace but the heat of the day (mid to high 80s) was pretty brutal.  Trying to get away from that discomfort, I drove through Frankfort (and out on US-60) towards the east.  Just past the Frankfort Cemetery, I turned down Glenns Creek Road and made my way to Capitol View Park - I parked under a huge tree and relaxed in the shade there.  When my meeting ended (1350), I started a walk through the park on paved, gravel and dirt trails.  This was about as close tot he Kentucky River as I was able to get during my entire visit to Frankfort - the trees in the park were nice and shady.  Meanwhile, I used my Merlin App again and identified a lot of birds.  It took a lot of walking (nearly 2.4 miles) but I eventually (after walking past countless ball fields of all kinds) found a place where I could actually view the Capitol building - I didn't find this vista nearly as nice as the one from the cemetery...  Plus, the dome was under construction and didn't provide any "ooh ahh" opportunities.  By 1445, I got back in my car and then headed out of town for good.  I used the East-West Connector bridge across the Kentucky River and followed that road until I reached US-127.  I got lunch at Bojangles (1455) and ate inside the restaurant.  At 1510, I left town on I-64 (towards the west) - the traffic conditions were OK (some speed demons and construction to handle, though) and I listened to audiobooks.  After arriving in Shelbyville, which was going to be my destination for the next few days, I made my way to the home of my friends (formerly from Lebanon, NH), Camille and Michael.  They were eagerly waiting for me (1540) and we had a nice time talking before they had a realtor meeting (they are building a home).  At that same time, I resumed teleworking and managed to finish up at about 1800.  When I came downstairs from my room, I found that Camille had prepared a delicious meal consisting of grilled chicken, roasted veggies and mac & cheese.  Michael joined us at the dinner table and we had a very nice conversation.  At about 1900, Michael asked if I wanted to take a drive into the historic section of Shelbyville and I agreed.  Arriving about in the center of town about 10 minutes later, we walked and window-shopped, all along the street, until we arrived at Michael's school (where he's a teacher).  Meanwhile, the sun started setting in a brilliant crimson sky to the west and the temperatures really began to drop.  Before getting back in the car, we stopped for scoops of ice cream at Serendipity Kandy Kitchen (1955).  The little shop looked like a fun place for a little girls' birthday party (lots of dolls and toys and confections) but also had some good food (bourbon themed) for grown-ups.  After returning to Camille and Michael's home (arrived at 2030), we worked on a puzzle and continued our wonderful conversations.  Michael went to bed at about 2100 but Camille and I talked for nearly another hour.  By then, I was very tired and said good night.  I did a little reading before settling down for the night but had the lights out by 2230.  Overall, another great day in "Bourbon Country"!

Nomad Life - Day 46

I slept very well in my comfortable bed at The St. Clair and awoke, refreshed, at 0600.  I started teleworking immediately but then remembered that I had wanted to walk up to the Frankfort Cemetery to visit the Daniel Boone grave site before the heat of the day.  So, I left my hotel room and walked (via Main Street) up the hill to the east of town.  It was clear and pleasant (low 60s) and I enjoyed watching the developing dawn.  Strangely, I encountered a few other early-morning walkers and waved to a young lady working in her drafting shop.  When I reached the entrance to the cemetery, I found it locked (no hours on the gate, either).  Thinking I might find another way inside, I walked the length of the seemingly impregnable fence - sadly, I never found another gate.  By this point (0710), the sun had risen above the eastern horizon and I decided I should head back into the Downtown area.  As I passed several State Offices that were located on the crest of the hill, I noticed a possible location where I might be able to scale the fence - a few minutes later, I was inside and made my way towards the southern end of the property.  Almost immediately, I encountered a groundskeeper and his dog.  I waited for the inevitable "why are you inside the cemetery?" and sheepishly stooped down to pet on the friendly dog.  However, the only reaction I got was "isn't it a beautiful morning, sir?"  Relieved, I continued on my way until I reached the high bluff above the Kentucky River - what a view!  I found the Boone family plot, along with several other interesting monuments and then walked back towards Main Street (0725).  The gate was wide open at that point (sign said cemetery opened at 0730) and I then decided to cross the Kentucky River on US-60 (Capital Avenue Bridge).  By this time, the commuter traffic had really kicked into gear and I had more trouble crossing the streets.  Making my way back towards my hotel, I tried to get some breakfast at the Main Street Diner but found they weren't open yet.  Instead, I walked around nearby, reading all the interesting historical signs (there were a LOT).  At 0800, the diner was open and I went inside (first customer) for some breakfast (Monte Cristo with hash browns).  By 0825, I was finished with my meal and returned to work in my hotel room.  It felt good to resume teleworking after about three miles of early-morning walking!  Since I'd already gotten a lion's share of exercise for the day, I ended up working straight through the middle of the day (skipped lunch) and enjoyed my comfy/swanky room.  I eventually stopped teleworking (mostly due to hunger) at 1545 and decided to walk over to the Goodwood Brewing Company (on Main Street).  Compared to the freezing cold AC in my room, the outdoor temps (80s) were harsh - fortunately, I found more AC when I went inside the tap room.  After sitting down at the bar (1555), I tasted multiple beers (flight of four, extra samples, full pour of one beer) and ate lunch (parmesan peppercorn chicken, broccoli and macaroni & cheese).  While there, I met two brothers from Michigan who were on a Distillery Tour.  It was a great conversation and I later became Untapped friends with one of them.  Finished with my meal/tasting at 1715, I went walking through the neighborhoods to the north and west of the Downtown Area.  On the way, I saw lots of old, historic homes with interesting historical markers in front of them - Frankfort sure loves their signs!  Eventually, I found Kentucky River View Park, which was the apparent site of Frank's Ford (the namesake of the town).  The green area was definitely located in the flood plain for the Kentucky River - they'd built the park in the lower lying areas below huge levees.  At one point, I crossed the river on the West Frankfort Connector Bridge but then returned to the "city side" again.  Just as I was planning to depart the park, I encountered a large group of volunteers who had been conducting an event planning meeting for the upcoming "Bourbon on the Bank".  When we got to talking, they almost insisted that I join them in volunteering.  Were I completely at liberty to remain nearby, it seemed like it would have been a wonderful event...  At 1830, I headed back towards my hotel, stopping in at the Howser Tavern before going upstairs to my room.  The same bartender lady, Cheri, was there (and was glad to see me and hear about my walk to the Cemetery in the morning).  I got a flight of three of the Goodwood bourbons - they tasted good but then I wished I'd paired the beer and bourbon together.  During this time, I learned that the businesses (Howser and Goodwood) are both owned by the same people who own The St. Clair - seems like they are doing pretty well.  I was finished with my bourbon tasting and socializing at 1905 and went back in my room.  For the rest of the evening, I read and relaxed - it felt good to be still and not have a big agenda for adventure for a little while.  I'd actually wanted to go to bed early but my neighbors (and people in the patio bar area downstairs) made it very difficult.  As a result, I wasn't able to actually get to bed until about 2330.  Very glad to have been able to explore so much today and for the chance to sample a lot of good local beer and spirits!

Nomad Life - Day 45

My day began at about 0630 (somehow, I'd gotten some sleep...) and I was able to get breakfast at the Ramada Inn in Wytheville about 30 minutes later.  During my meal, I kept trying to figure out how to juggle three different goals: attending Mass, getting in a walk/hike and making it to (at least) Eastern Kentucky by bed time.  It turned out to be very difficult to match all of these conflicting plans and, as a result, I decided to target the lodging element first.  Coordinating with friends I planned to see in the Louisville area, I worked out a schedule for the week that required a hotel for Sunday and Monday nights.  Armed with these details, I chose Frankfort (capital of the state) as my HQ and began researching hotels on Booking.com.  Surprisingly, I found a swanky boutique hotel called "The St. Clair" available for a relatively reasonable amount - the best rate was nonrefundable but I ended up choosing the location.  Next, I checked on Catholic Churches along my route and realized I was missing the 0900 service at the closest available parish and would have to wait until (at least) 1100 for another service within 100 miles.  Unsure of what to do, I ended up just packing up my car and starting my drive north on I-77.  The weather was spectacularly nice again (70s, sunny, very little wind) and the drive from Virginia into West Virginia went well.  I stopped in Princeton (WV) to check out a church and, while waiting for Mass to start, got gas at Sheetz (1010).  Checking the distance and ETA for Frankfort, I realized I couldn't get there any earlier than about 1730 with no stops.  This sealed the deal: if I wanted to get outdoor exercise, I needed to do it ASAP and then get back on the road towards my hotel.  Coincidentally, one of the elusive National Park units, Bluestone National Scenic River, was nearby.  While it doesn't have much in the way of official infrastructure, there are two West Virginia State Parks that can be used to access it.  I headed towards one of them, Pipestem Resort State Park, on WV-20.  When I arrived at the entrance (1040), I was surprised to find they weren't collecting fees!  I parked at the first roadside trailhead I found and took a hike (about one mile, round trip) on the Pipestem Knob Trail so I could climb the Bolar Observation Tower (3K feet elevation).  What a view!  I could see lots of rolling hills and a big valley below - very nice.  After returning to my car, I continued deeper into the park.  There were all kinds of recreational activities: archery, horseback riding, golf, disk golf, swimming, etc.  Without a map, I needed to use the road signage but it turned out to be very easy to find the Aerial Tramway I'd read about online.  By 1115, I was standing on the rim of a spectacular gorge - the Bluestone River wasn't actually visible from there and it was going to take a ride to the bottom of the gorge to access it.  Getting onboard the tram was free (they only charge for the return trip) and I learned that this was only the second weekend the (completely new) machinery had been in use.  Apparently, this was the 55th Anniversary of Pipestem Resort and the tram itself and everything was themed (with "55") accordingly.  I really enjoyed my ride into the gorge and especially liked that it crossed the Bluestone River before we reached the bottom.  When I got off the lift, started talking to an older couple who were in an adjacent car.  They told me they'd actually ridden the older version of the tram in 1970 (when it first opened) and had come back just to ride the updated equipment.  They were clearly prepared for a hike and they gave me some suggestions about walking along the western edge of the river (River Trail) - apparently, it is possible to walk from there to Bluestone State Park!  I thanked them for the suggestion and then explored the area near the Aerial Tramway.  The park had a hotel and (closed for now) restaurant, playgrounds and lots of fishing and zipline opportunities - it looked like a wonderful place to get away from everything.  During the next 90 minutes, I explored along the river and used my Merlin app (lots of interesting birds!).  Before I was done, I again encountered the new friends I'd made - they passed me on the River Trail with plans to stay out much longer.  In each direction of my (roughly) two mile hike, I encountered fearless deer who barely strayed from the trail when I passed.  There were also a LOT of leaves falling in the forest - Fall is almost here!  Back at the gift shop next to the tramway building, I bought a return ticket ($5.50) and rode back to the top of the gorge (arrived at 1300).  Noticing a nearby shop with $0.55 scoops for sale, I got myself some ice cream and did some people watching on the rim.  Like I'd noticed in Wytheville, the Southern accent was pronounced and there was a whole different (though once familiar, during my 20+ years living below the Mason-Dixon) attitude among my fellow humans.  Primarily, friendliness and respect was very evident.  After about 15 minutes in the sun, I headed back to my car and (reluctantly) departed the State Park through the "back gate".  On WV-20 again, I drove north to Hinton, with short stops at the lake where the Bluestone State Park and National Scenic River HQs were.  I took some photos but decided not to tarry - my Google Maps had already updated my arrival in Frankfort to 1845 and I didn't want to get into town too late.  Using a series of back roads, I made my way to I-64, passing through the southern end of the New River Gorge National Park.  This park, which my kids and I loved to visit when they were younger, was upgraded to NP status during the last few years and the signage showed the local pride.  Before I was done on the "Blue Highways" for the day, I got to see people paddling duckies (see AUG 2007 and AUG 2016) in the New River - what fun!  Once on the Interstate, I made my way west at good speeds until I reached Beckley.  Due to my map settings (no toll roads), I got to take three different detours on VERY rural country roads.  Despite the slower speeds, though, I saw some of the same cars each time I got back on the highway and I soon learned (when I was approaching Charleston) that traffic kept getting snarled up whenever the road got too narrow or curvy.  As a result, my ETA for Frankford didn't change very much, despite my exit and reentry to avoid the tolls.  In any case, I reached the Kanawha River and the speeds picked up tremendously after I-64 split off from I-77.  Things looked good for me as I approached the Kentucky border and I thought it would be smooth sailing to my hotel.  However, the St. Clair then started emailing me about special check-in and identity verification requirements.  This required me to stop (to complete the online forms and make some phone calls) - I felt like I was applying to rent an apartment!  During the time when I was stopped, I got dinner at McDonalds in Huntington (WV).  Finally feeling ready to continue my drive, I got back on the Interstate, crossed the Big Sandy River and entered the Blue Grass State.  From there, my drive felt so much easier - the roads were wide (even with construction), the speeds were higher (70 mph) and the countryside was beautiful.  I wasn't able to make up any time (and had lost some with the stop for food) but still managed to exit I-64 at Midway by about 1900.  The farmland, pretty fences, rolling hills and ubiquitous horses brought back happy memories - once, long ago, I'd traveled through Kentucky more regularly and always loved the countryside.  Using US-62, US-421 and US-60, I made my way into Downtown Frankfurt (arrived at 1920).  Locating the parking garage (on Catfish Alley), my Subaru and Thule cartop carrier passed the first test of my Nomad Life when I was able to cross under the 6' 9" barrier - this was a relief because I'd measured the height before (as 6' 8") but was never certain.  I was then able to park in one of the reserved spots for the St. Clair and, after repacking bags to make sure I brought "appropriate attire" for the accommodations, walked across the street to enter my hotel.  The instructions, like the "application process" for gaining a reservation, were extensive - fortunately, all the automated processes and entry codes worked exactly as it should and I soon found myself entering my Queen Studio/Loft.  It appeared that the building was quite old - it had exposed brickwork and old wooden planking on the floors that decried industrial or commercial use.  The interior renovations were spectacular - all I can say is WOW!!!  In many years of traveling, I've rarely ended up in the kind of place that makes me afraid to touch anything (for fear of damaging).  I got my computers set up, took photos to share with my daughters and then got changed so I could walk around in the neighborhood.  Before I was able to leave my room, though, the all-knowing staff (tipped off by my use of the codes, I guess), had invited me to visit the Bourbon bar downstairs: Howser Tavern.  They gave me a secret code word to use with the staff that was supposed to give me access to a special speakeasy on premises - I tried the code and was informed that there wasn't enough bar staff to allow it to open except for special occasions.  The bartender lady (Cheri) was very apologetic and actually let me look inside (sort of a mini tour).  Everything was even fancier than the hotel and I learned that politicians, lawyers, doctors, etc. use the place as a quiet rest stop - and to store their expensive bottles of Kentucky Bourbon!  So that's how the "other half" live...  Returning to Howser's, I ordered a genuine Kentucky Old Fashioned ("Barrel & Bourbon", with cherry and chocolate added).  The only other bar patrons were three friends from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who were in town for a week long Bourbon Trail excursion.  They'd already had two days to try three or four distilleries but weren't even close to being finished.  It was fun to talk to them about their plans and they were interested in why I'd be in Frankfort if it wasn't for the bourbon (haha).  I also learned that the St. Clair had only opened as a hotel during the previous year or two - a lucky break for me to find it before everyone else did... Before closing time (2100), I ordered a drink called the "Sweet Mollie" (made it Maker's Mark and other tasty ingredients) in honor of my daughter.  Afterwards, I still wasn't ready to be finished with my day so spent about 45 minutes walking in the neighborhood.  I checked out the St. Clair Street Bridge (closed for demolition, which was unfortunate because I heard it was called the "Singing Bridge"), the Frankfort Boat Club, some old churches, the Old State Capitol (Broadway Street) and the general layout of "my" part of the Downtown.  Once I was satisfied that I had a good sense of what there was nearby, I returned to my room at the St. Clair (2200).  Unlike other evenings recently, I was ready for sleep by 2230 and didn't prolong things with late-night reading or games.  Instead, I drifted easily off to sleep in my wonderful hotel room.  What a busy day!

Smokies Hiking Trip - Day 7

My noisy neighbors woke me up at around 0500 and I couldn't go back to sleep.  Felt very sore this morning!  Spent about an hour going through my backpack and reorganizing (so I could do laundry later).  It was very rainy so I stayed in the hotel longer.  At 0700, I started some small projects for my job (end-of-month wrap-ups).  By 1000, I finished working, checked out of my room and headed out of town.  I stopped for lunch at Arby's on the way (1005).  Initially, I drove south on US-11 until I was able to get on I-81 and used it to reach Chilhowie.  Then, I used VA-107 to drive north to the town of Saltville.  Resisting the urge to stop (it looked very historic), I took VA-613 (paved) across a small mountain range and then got on VA-80, which crossed another.  It was intermittently rainy but I think I avoided the worst of the weather that was forecast for the area.  Since I had no cell signal for most of the drive, it was nice to have audiobooks...  Lots of trucks kept me from going very fast and, other places, farm vehicles were actually blocking road to allow cattle to cross!  Eventually, I reached US-19 at Elk Garden and then continued north to Rosedale so I could get on VA-80 again.  There were more construction delays and more slow trucks in several places but the drive was pretty.  My ultimate target was a new (to me) Virginia State unit: The Breaks Interstate Park.  This unique natural landmark area straddles the Virginia/Kentucky border and includes some spectacular views of a large canyon.  The place had all kinds of adventure sports (ziplining, etc.), water sports, camping, hiking, history (log cabins, stills, saltworks) and engineering marvels (two massive railroad tunnels).  Overall, I was impressed with all the things to see and do - definitely a great unit to visit!  Temps were in the high 40s, so I took several walks on short trails I encountered in along the scenic drive.  I could have done more walking but I didn't want to miss out on time with Mollie later in the day.  So, after getting done with the park (1300), I got back on VA-80 and drove northwest to the town of Breaks.  There, I changed to VA-693, which took me to where I found a newer looking four lane highway (Google Maps said it was US-460 but there was another one of those on the map several miles north; maybe a reroute?) and continued into Kentucky, where I saw lots of evidence of mountain blasting to build the newer highway).  Crossed the border there (to say that I did!) and then turned around and headed east.  Next used VA-693 to reach VA-609, which took me (via windy roads) to US-460 at Harman Junction.  From there, I continued east (listening to audiobooks on the way).  The road had lots of curves but was pretty good overall (very few lights).  Saw signs for West Virginia border in a few places but didn't cross until I reached Bluefield.  After that, I switched to US-52 and it took me to I-77, which I followed to the north.  Got off on US-460 and went back into Virginia at Glen Lyn.  Drove the rest of the way to Blacksburg, arriving just after 1600.  Checked into my hotel (Holiday Inn Express) and then drove over to the Virginia Tech Campus to pick up Mollie.  We then went to dinner at El Rodeo (1710), where we visited and talked for about an hour.  We then went to campus again so that Mollie could show me around (we used ParkMobile to purchase a spot right next to the Bookstore).  Mollie took me on an informal tour of the College of Natural Resources Building (Cheatham Hall) and the West End Dining Hall (where she works).  We also got to see a lot of pretty, flowering trees; Mollie proudly demonstrated her Dendrology skills in identifying them.  As it started to show signs of getting dark (1845), I said goodbye to Mollie and went back to the hotel.  Spent the evening doing laundry and listening to more audiobooks.  Erin texted about tornados in the DC area at one point - it sounded scary!  I went to bed at 2230 after an adventure filled day.

Summer Vacation Trip - Day 16

We got up in Vincennes at 0730 and ate breakfast (eggs, sausage, yogurt, waffles, cereal).  We visited the George Rogers Clark National Memorial (in town) and 0900 and watched a movie at the Visitors Center.  After exploring the grounds, we got on US-41 and drove [(via I-64 and back roads)] to the Lincoln Boyhood Home National Memorial in the southern part of Indiana.  We took a long walk there and watched a movie at the Visitors Center.  At 1130, we got on I-64 (headed into Kentucky) and headed home.  We ate lunch in the car.  The AC was working and this made the drive very pleasant.  We got gas in Simpsonville, KY (1415) and used I-64 all the way to Charleston, WV, when we got on I-79.  Then we used US-33 to cross the mountains towards Virginia.  We ate dinner (Taco Bell) and got gas in Buckhannon, WV (1930).  We stopped at the Seneca Rocks as the sun was setting and then drove east on WV-55, which turned into VA-55.  We made it to I-81 by 2200 and used I-66 and I-495 to get home, arriving at 2330.  Unpacked part of the car and went to bed at around 0030.  What a great trip: 6500 miles, 48 license plates spotted and 27 National Park stamps!

Spring Break Trip - Day 7

We got up at 0800 and had breakfast (toast, juice) at the hotel.  We then drove north and fillup up our gas tank at Pioneer, TN (1015).  Our first destination was the Big South Fork River NRA, where we did some hiking near the Columbia River gorge ridges in Tennessee and Kentucky (until 1330).  We ate lunch (Taco Bell) in Williamsburg (KY) at 1415 and then drove to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and did some more hiking on the Wilderness Road (in Virginia and Kentucky), following the pioneers over the "saddle" of the Gap into the wild frontier.  We later explored the pinnacle overlook and, after traveling through the tunnel, the town below (in Tennessee).  We were treated to views of bison just after entering Virginia.  Mollie got two new stamps for her NPS Passport book and we made some good memories while exploring.  We also stopped briefly at the nearby Wilderness Road State Park.  As the day was ending, we drove east to Bristol and ate dinner (Bojangles) at 1900; Mollie told me she didn't want to go home yet, so we found a hotel (America's Best Value Inn) in Marion (2025).  We watched TV and read before bed (2345).

Jacksonville, FL (USA)

The briefing time for our mission was at 0600 and I was glad that my room at the NAS JRB Willow Grove Navy Lodge was immediately across the street from the squadron.  Despite the easy commute, I had to walk through the snow - it hadn't thawed here at all - and there was ice everywhere. After we picked up some lunch-to-go at Wawa, Tim and I flew down to [Fort Campbell ?] Kentucky with clear skies. I thought it would be warmer when we arrived but it was actually colder (-8 C) than Philadelphia! Only on the ground a short time, took off for Jacksonville, Florida. During this leg, we saw snow and frozen rivers all the way to Georgia. Even more surprising, the temperature was only 1 degree C in Jax! After a long delay on the ground (they are always slow and the cold weather didn't help), took off for Willow Grove again. As before, we started to see lots of snow (inland) near the SC-NC border. Flew over Norfolk (no snow), over Wallops Island and Chincoteague and then over the Jersey Shore. Our arrival to Willow Grove brought us in from the south of Philly - it was a great view. We landed without incident. After finishing up the paperwork, I headed back to my room. Realized I had a little time to explore Philadelphia - it was still relatively early - so I drove into the city on PA-611. Fortunately, I had no problem finding my way around (traffic OK) or parking. Spent time walking around downtown for a little bit (brrr...). After backtracking to Willow Grove again, I  made a gas stop in Horsham (2100).  I was in my room by 2130 and then messed around on the internet for awhile before going to bed late.  It's a great day when there is flight time and local exploring!

Mayport, FL (USA)

Woke early at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Lexington - hoping for another great day!  Flight over to Jacksonville, North Carolina, was OK until we got there and it was raining... Still made it through OK. Flew north to Norfolk and found there were no clouds at all. Quick flight after that down to Jacksonville - landed at Mayport. Birds everywhere! I'm really amazed that we never hit any on landing or the takeoff. Back in Virginia Beach by 1500. Weather is great - hope we have time this weekend to visit the beach...

Lexington, KY (USA)

I'm getting tired from all this travelling. I think I would give anything for just a few days of doing nothing... Woke up early again and left from Hampton Roads before 0930. Stopped into Jacksonville, NC, to pick up a group and flew them over to Lexington, KY. The good news was that the flying was over around 1300. After checking into the Radisson Plaza Hotel (downtown), I found that my room was located on the 13th floor!  I didn't think they had 13th floors anywhere but now I wonder if they have a room 1308 like the recent movie... Yikes!  After meeting up with everyone again, we drove through the University of Kentucky campus. We hoped to find a restaurant nearby, but it wasn't until we drove around on KY-4 (a circle around the city) that we stumbled across "Harry's" bar and grill. We tried some of the local beer - Kentucky Ale and its cousin, Kentucky Ale cured in Bourbon (good!). Sat with a new guy who told us stories about his tours in Iraq, including a helicopter crash that he nearly didn't survive. After a few more hours, we drove over to a liquor store on US-68 to pick up some of the the good beer... By the time we were back at the hotel (1700), I was feeling tired. We watched some movies in the room (it started raining about this point). Went to bed early.

Las Vegas, NV (USA)

Overnight trip from NAS Oceana to Las Vegas (flying with Tracy M.). Flight out West was mostly uneventful. Had to stop in Louisville (Standiford), KY, and Omaha, NE on the way to Vegas. When we finally arrived at McCarron, it was sunny, but really cold and windy. I was kind of surprised, since it was always nice - or really hot - when I have been here before. Got a taxi ride for the crew (from Desert Cab) to the Excalibur Hotel & Casino - a great place to stay!  The early arrival gave me a chance to walk around inside for most of the afternoon. I realized while I was in the Luxor that I had never walked down to Mandalay Bay before - so I headed to the end of the three hotel complex. I now wish I had brought the kids down to the Shark Reef when we were here in November... After I had explored this end of the Strip, I ended the night in New York New York - something else I had never done. I must admit that the simulated streets in there are kind of cool. The only thing different about this place from the real NYC was that there were fewer people. Plenty of visitors were wearing NY Giants outfits and hats - I guess we missed a madhouse here yesterday...  [Bed just after 2100.]

Richmond, VA (USA)

[flying with Jeff B. - Norfolk to Covington (Cincinnati), Kentucky to Richmond (VA) to Norfolk]

Bemidji Trip - Day 1

Left early in the morning - kids in a good mood. Played the license plate game and looked for signs. Took [I-75] to I-24. Ate an early lunch (or late breakfast) at Burger King in Manchester, Tennessee (1030L). Continued north to Murfreesboro and visited the Stones River National Battlefield. It was kind of quiet and very green. The kids had lots of questions about the "Unknown" cemetery stones in the battlefield cemetery. Later drove through the "Land Between the Lakes." I have seen this from the air a few times and wanted to see it. There were live buffalo - a big herd - and lots of other wildlife. The lakes looked very inviting and there were several places where we could have stopped to have a "picnic buffet" on the side of the road. After being tempted for miles, we stopped at the Kenlake State Resort Park (near Hardin, Kentucky) for a dinner - we wanted to try some of their Southern cooking! The kids checked out the buffet and brought back some skinny looking legs of what looked like chicken. After devouring a few of them, the kids went back for more - and I saw that they had been eating frog legs! Despite this revelation, they seemed pretty proud of themselves (I was glad they weren't upset...). Before dark, we visited Fort Donaldson, site of one of US Grant's first victories on his way south to Vicksburg and immortality. Drove until dark. Luckily, we found a cheap hotel (Best Inns of Mount Vernon) in southern Illinois.

Huntsville, AL (USA)

[ITAC training flight with Scott E - Atlanta to Norfolk to Camp Springs to Huntsville (Redstone Arsenal) to Camp Springs to Louisville (Standiford) to Atlanta]

Cape Cod Trip - Day 2

[visited Kentucky Horse Park all morning - bought souvenirs (1240L) and ate lunch there (1245L) before departing Lexington - drove east on I-64 and into West Virginia - got gas just west of Huntington, in Kenova (1505L) - then switched to I-79 - dinner at Pizzaria Uno near Clarksburg - after that, got on I-68 and continued east all the way to I-81 - beautiful mountains! - when we arrived in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, we got a free hotel night at Fairfield Inn]

Cape Cod Trip - Day 1

[Family Trip! - left Atlanta and drove north on I-75 into Tennessee - through Knoxville - after getting gas in Carryville (1500L), we got off the Interstate and used US-25W and TN-63 to get to US-25E - drove into the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park - placed our feet in three states! - used the gap to get into Kentucky (like Daniel Boone!) - ate dinner at the First Kentucky Fried Chicken in Corbin (1815L) - stayed at the Residence Inn in North Lexington - went swimming outside with the kids in the dark]

Cape Cod Trip - Day 2

Got up kind of early so we could visit Mammoth Cave. Nicky and I had been there before, but this time we had the kids. Spent several hours there - in the cave and on the walking trails. Had a good lunch at the park (finished 1255L) before heading north again. Since it was a Sunday, there wasn't much traffic (easy trip through Louisville and Indianapolis). Got gas in Columbus, Indiana, at 1505L. Stopped near Bunker Hill (to see the Grisson Air Force Base airplane display ?) and picked up dinner at Subway (1836L). Arrived in South Bend - and the Notre Dame campus - around 2200L. There was room at the Morris Inn again, luckily, and we actually had a view of the Golden Dome! When I told the girls that Saint Mary was on top, they thought it was really special (and asked me about it many, many, many times). It took a while to get them to sleep...