By the time we left West Virginia, we have only 4 states in the middle of the country left to visit in the lower 48. We have been to Kentucky already a couple of times and spent almost 3 weeks here cumulatively but it is still very exciting to be back. Kentucky has really grown on us and especially since we have some great friends that live in this state which makes coming here all that much sweeter.
Our first stop was in Frankfurt. We have only been here briefly in the past as a stop over to tour one of the many distilleries in the area. This time we are actually here to meet some new Airstreamers who invited us over for pizza and beer.
This is Kate and Ellen’s Airstream. They bought it to completely redo it from the ground up and plan to live in it full time once it is done with their little family of 3.
This is where they were in the renovation when we met them. Hardly a place to stand on the inside but with all of its simplicity, it’s also kinda tempting to just keep it as is.
This is me trying to get a little creative with Kate and Ellen peeping through the back window. We’ve loved watching them transform this aluminum house into their home on Instagram.
Next stop is Louisville to visit our good friend Carrie who moved here a few years ago. You might remember that we came here to see her back in 2012 when Luka was just a baby.
He is now a flip-flop wearing big boy.
One of Carrie’s two pups Darla going in for a kiss.
Walking around Louisville we came upon one of these ‘Before I Die…” art project walls. The girls stopped and asked a million questions and laughed at some of the responses filled in by others. Apparently “Before I die I want to… not die” was the most hysterical thing ever.
Of course while we are here, we need to take a couple more distillery tours. We made it back to Frankfurt for a day trip to check out Buffalo Trace. If you ever find yourself in a barrel house, take a deep breath. That’s what they call ‘the angel’s share’.
Buffalo Trace is also the home of the world famous Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. They are known for the award winning 18-year-old Pappy Van Winkle which is practically impossible to find out on the open market.
When they put these barrels away 18 years ago, Pappy Van Winkle was not the ‘IT’ whiskey is has become. That means there was no foresight into knowing how popular it is today.
While we are here, we also managed to meet up with even more Airstreamers in the area. First are the Trouts who drove down from Dayton, Ohio to hangout with us. They are always fun to be with and this was no different.
We also met up with the Swan family of Swanstreaming. They are on their annual trip and our paths crossed here in Kentucky.
During outr time in Louisville, I took advantage of Carrie’s company to take a flight out for an office visit. That of course means I get to hit up the old In-N-Out Burger a few months before the rest of the family gets to.
While I was gone, Marlene spent some quality time with Carrie and the kids by hitting up a few Louisville favorites like Cave Hill Cemetery. Back in 1848, the folks of Louisville and other cities did not have large public parks for recreation. Garden cemeteries, like Cave Hill, were promoted as a green oasis and destination for all to enjoy until the era of central parks became the norm.
The brilliant turquoise color of the lake in Cave Hill is absolutely breathtaking. I was halfway expecting the geese to waddle out of it with turquoise dyed bottoms.
Ava has been keeping a strong grip on Luka whenever he is near the water. I don’t think that time he fell into the waters of Wisconsin will ever leave her. I think swim lessons for all 3 will be in order when we get back to California.
We usually avoid visiting zoos but we couldn’t turn down a free visit. Getting to watch a massive polar bear lunge into the water after toys and wrestle a huge tree stump was hands down the most amazing experience we have ever had at a zoo.
Mila put her hood on to avoid birds landing on her head. It backfired, big time.
The bird handler at the zoo has never seen a 2 year old stay so calm around the parrots, let alone have a parrot willingly land on one. Go Luka!
Oh, did I mention that we stayed at the Elks Lodge while we were in Louisville?
We had an awesome stay here and when I returned from my work trip, it was time to head out.
We will be back to Kentucky soon. For now, we have to make our way to see a couple of the middle states that are still new to us.
On our way to Missouri, we stopped at Abraham Lincoln’s Boyhood Home in Southern Indiana.
Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois all claim Abraham Lincoln as their own. Right here in these Indiana woods is where Lincoln grew from a 7-year-old boy into a 21-year-old young man while losing his mother to the treacherous life on the frontier.
The original log cabin of Lincoln’s boyhood home is long gone but in its place is a bronze cast of its foundation and hearth stones. A few feet away sits a replica of the house he grew up in. There’s an etching above the door showing us that Abe was taller than the doorway. Makes me wonder how many times he bumped his poor head at this farm.
Our quick midday stop here in Indiana was short but very satisfying. Of the 3 Lincoln home sites run by the NPS, there is only one left in Illinois and we will be there in just a few days.
One of the interpretive rangers gave us a little demonstration on how to spin wool into yarn. This little boy is a homesteader in training.
Next stop, state number 45, Missouri.
over and out,
dan
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