Heading north once again - - but not to Alaska!

Following a month with our northwest family, and taking care of annual business, the big red and blue sky bird took us back to Tennessee to be reunited with Kodi and Kermit (the 'rig') and head north once again. 

Jerry took advantage of being back in the travel mode at our first stop in the state of Kentucky.  Oh, I meant the COMMONWEALTH of Kentucky, which is what they call themselves. 

Kentucky is quite lovely, and not what I expected!  I knew I had entered this Commonwealth when, in one town, I saw the 'Free Full Restoration Biker Church', a business named 'S*itkickin' Garage and Auto Repair', the 'Coon Dog Cafe' and 'Bubba's Fish House'.  However, this same town houses the National Quilt Museum, a national school of art, and the very unusual artist relocation incentive program where artists are offered a free historic home (in need of fixing up) if they come and open their doors/house to the public.

Kentucky is all about the horse. . .

'bout the horse . . .

'bout the horse . . . 

Oh, and a few other important attractions like Abe Lincoln's birthplace/monument . . . 

 Louisville Slugger bats . . . 

 

Stephen Foster and his music, distilleries, and oh, did I mention the horse???

On that same theme, we HAD to go to the famous Churchill Downs which we planned on the day they were parading American Pharoah for all to see upon returning from his triple crown win.  There was more security around him (now that he's worth over $100 million!) than around most human dignitaries, so photographing him was a bit challenging, to say the least . . .

They even had security helicopters hovering over head while he was on parade.  We enjoyed seeing the Downs, although I expected something a little more elaborate for the location of the Kentucky Derby.

  

Food in this neck of the woods is interesting!  Their standout, popular state dish is something called Kentucky Hot Brown.  When I inquired about it, the locals I spoke to referred to is as a 'heart attack on a plate'.  Obviously, I decided against that one!  🚫 I did try the Creamed Pull Candy though, as well as fried peanuts in the shell.  Really good, and not the woody shell I had expected.  Saw something on several menus that reminded me of my part-southern upbringing - - pimento cheese spread sandwiches - - on white bread, of course (urp!)  Oh, and they offer corncob jelly there as well!

We had some chuckles over a couple of signs; both posted at different locations near the Ohio River.  ("DUH" comes to mind!) . . . 

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the Indiana Amish country.  Once again, the horse plays such a major part of life there.

While I am not talented in any of the needle arts, anyone who loves to quilt should, by all means, visit this area.  Many quilters have a special block pattern painted on their barns.  It is really quite lovely!

Also saw lots of old tobacco barns from the days of the plantations.  

For all you history buffs out there, this is a place to visit!  Soooo much to see . . . 

Tried as I might, I couldn't get 'hold of my fortune in this area - - found out that it is still 'all locked up' here at Fort Knox.  It is so secure, that you can only photograph the Mint from the road as you  drive past!  I was hoping for a tour, but . . . 

And the corn - - sooo much corn!  It was not quite as high as an elephant's eye, but it is only the first of July!  😜  I guess Indiana provides much of the corn that Kentucky uses in all those distilleries!

One more childhood memory that came back while exploring these areas was the firefly!  I had not seen them since I was a very wee tot living, for a short time, in the south.  What a joy to see them every evening, although I couldn't talk them into stopping their flight long enough for a portrait!  Beautiful!  

We've just ventured into Michigan and will be blogging about this next time.  

Hope all is well.

And the journey continues . . . nearly eleven months now!

 
This part of our journey began in Natchez, MS.  Wow!  I learned so much about the area and the history of this region.  I think I must have been napping in school when we learned about the Civil War, because I had no idea that so much of the war took place in these states.  The Mississippi River had a huge impact on the history here . . . and what a river it is!  First time we ever saw it.  Now  I understand the term 'mighty Mississippi'!

Most of you probably know about the Civil War battle that took place in Vicksburg, MS.  The battlefields and national cemetery sites in this area tell the tale in great detail.

Being west coast kids, we also learned a great deal about the Native American history in this region.  I couldn't resist photographing the motion of the dancing feet at a Pow Wow we attended . . . somehow I could not get them to stop for my pictures, though!👣

Our history lessons continued as we explored more of Mississippi . . . somehow, I thought all of our major historical areas were situated in the east - - - I was WRONG!

We were fortunate enough to travel the entire 444 mile Natchez Trace Scenic Byway, and decided that this has to be among the most amazing and beautiful pieces of roadway in the country!  It began as a foot path for folks to walk back to their homes in Tennessee and Kentucky, after floating their products on rafts down the Mississippi to the Gulf in the 1700's.  Later it was used to move troops during the Civil War.  Finally, it was paved and is managed by the National Park Service, and for days, we traveled the Trace, (with no commercial vehicles), through a park-like setting with historic sites marked every few miles.  (Yes, we're old and travel slowly to take time to explore and photograph each area - - spent about 3 weeks traveling this byway when it could easily be done in a couple of days.)

Fields of buttercups, red clover and dogwood, all in bloom along the way, as well as lots of LBJ's.  (That is our generic word for blue flowers we can't identify due to our limited knowledge of horticulture stuff - - you know, 'little blue jobs' = LBJ's!)

No mountains here - - the highest point in Mississippi is 603 feet!!!  Very popular with the bicycling population though.🚴  When I say 'no' commercial vehicles, I mean it!

The Trace begins in Natches, covers Mississippi, a small part of Alabama and about half of central Tennessee, stopping on the approach to Nashville.

When we got to Nashville, we decided to proclaim that among the southern states we have visited, (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee), Tennessee wins the 'drawl' contest - - hands down!!!  Young and old, city folk or rural residents, all have "Tennessee-speak" down to a science!  Love listening to them, but if you're in a hurry when talking with the natives, you are out of luck!  HA!

Also observed that 99% of all homes in Tennessee, large or small, have porches with sitting furniture on them.  Many have swings, but lots just have chairs or couches of various sizes and designs.  Pretty comfy way to take on the heat and humidity of summer, I think.

For anyone old enough to remember 'The Dukes of Hazard", I just want you to rest easy and know that I FOUND THEM outside of Franklin, TN!!!!

As for recent things we've learned about RVing, (I say 'we', but I think Jerry got the 'learning' this time) - - it is possible to re-fiberglass your rig tub to fix multiple cracks/leaks!  It's not pretty, but it works; although, I doubt he is going into the fiberglass business anytime soon!  Maybe in another life . . . ?😜

After we finish with our travel respite visiting with family, we're heading to the bluegrass country of Kentucky where we'll connect with the world of Stephen Foster and Camp Town Races . . . do dah, do dah🎼

Until next time . . .

Greeting everyone!  Still hangin' in the south land . . .


Ferry boats in Texas?????  Who knew!  There are several in the gulf area, all FREE (my favorite word💰) to ride.  And they travel 24/7!  Noticed that this one had quite a following . . .

Bet you can guess where we were this day . . . enjoyed the Houston Space Center, and was amazed that the Mission Control Center looked exactly like it did in all the movies!

The trees all along the Gulf Coast have been really interesting to this NW gal used to seeing straight, tall evergreens!  They really tell a tale about the forces that formed their shapes.

This is our first visit to Louisiana, and the 'Cajun Country' in the southwest part of this state did not disappoint.  Kind of felt like I've was transformed to another world, though.

 
Had some camera fun on a cool, foggy morning . . .

Even the old, historic above-the-ground cemeteries have been a fascination . . .

The culture, history, food, music, language, plantations, swamps . . . and, oh, did I mention the food???? were all delightfully foreign to us, but all here to enjoy!  We have tried to get used to the unusual language down here, (a merging of French Canadian, Spanish, and Louisiana 'south talk'),but I must admit to a few embarrassing moments!  Like the time we were in a restaurant and the server asked if I wanted my entree 'bawled'?  Thought I should ask how that was prepared . . .  I caught a very slight eye roll on her part, then a little sigh, before explaining to me that you just put the meat in a pot, add water, and 'bawl' it!  Oooohhhh, now I got it!  We had quite a giggle over that one . . .

We've also tried to eat like the Cajun folks do . . . tried Craw fish Ettaufee, Boudin, a variety of Gumbos, 'bawled' craw fish and all sorts of shrimp, crab and catfish fixins'.  I didn't go for the turtle or frog, and really backed off when Alligator balls were on the menu!  Now, let me say that they probably just took the ground gator meat and made meatballs out of it, but just it case they meant something else, I decided to let that culinary pleasure pass me by😱  Not quite that courageous!!!  I am sure that if my big bro had been here, though, he would have enjoyed trying that dish.

We had the pleasure of having several conversations with a born-n'-raised Cajun fellow who runs a local coffee shop nearby, and he told me tales of how he and his buds free-dive into the bayous and place catfish traps on the bottom.  Then they dive back and retrieve them another day.  Now, after finding out about the poisonous water snakes, not to mention the gators, that hang out in those same bayous, I was a little amazed that he would do this!  Said his 'granny' taught him how!  He also showed me a photograph of a frog he caught - - probably over three feet long, all stretched out!  I'm sure each of those frog legs could have fed a family!

Speaking of bayous and swamps, we had a wonderful day touring with a young man who has lived here all his life, and had many interesting facts about the Cypress and Tupalo trees - - the only ones that can grow in standing water.  Really beautiful with the Spanish Moss hanging from their branches.

Also saw MANY Alligators - - this one really seemed to enjoy laughing at us when we were making his portrait, about six feet away from our boat!  Only saw one Cottonmouth (aka Water Moccasin) hanging on a branch  - - that was enough, thank you very much!

Under the heading of 'things I have learned' while on our RV adventure, this is a reminder to all our travelin' friends out there - - be sure when you are getting ready to turn on your shower that you face the shower head away from your entry area.  Showers in most rigs are very small, and if you don't make this a practice, you should at least make sure you store lots of 'mop up' towels in your rig!☔️  'Nuff said!!

Just about done with our 'Cajun' holiday - - tomorrow we'll be heading north to Mississippi and the Natchez Trace Parkway (scenic byway) that leads from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN.  Hope all is well with you and yours.  We can be pretty sure that spring has finally sprung, but, then, so have the tornados!!! Ugh!  We'll be dodging those at all cost when we're traveling . . .  more later from Jerry, Lynne, Kodi and Kermit!