Lets tie it up and put a bow on the Family Vacation

 So we have completed the family trip to Kentucky. It was everything a family vacation should be. Long, Tiring, Fun and a success.

Mom got to show the kids all her favorite places in Kentucky. The kids got to find a place they would like to visit again. Maybe even bring their own kids back as Emily said.



We headed out on Friday. Got a great start. Stopped in Macon. Had a great barbecue dinner in a place that played country music older than me.

 

Al and Paul Tennessee Valley RR

Saturday we drove into Chattanooga, TN. Drove through a tunnel. Rode a railroad through another tunnel twice and learned all about steam trains and the city of Chattanooga in the Civil War. Down by the river is an open area that has a small version of the Tennessee river for you to walk across the stepping stones and soak your feet. Sit in the shade. Enjoy the flowers and a view of the real river. We were going to go to the aquarium but it was getting late and expensive so we skipped it and moved on towards are goal of Nashville but getting confused and rain stopped us from stopping there. We again moved on and Al missed on the two things he wanted a night out and to see the aquarium. We will do that part again.



We stopped in White House, TN at a Days Inn. It had a wood over where the front door should be. The guy said search White House Days Inn on You Tube. There had been an accident and a man drove through the front of the building. Paul had to see the video. Just video of after the fact. No video of the actual accident.

Paul and Abe

Sunday morning we were in Kentucky before we knew it. First stop, Hodgenville, Kentucky. The birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. The center of town has two statues. Abe as a boy and another as President. The Presidential statue has been there since his 100th birthday. The boyhood statue is newer. Took some pictures of Paul with his hero's statue. We then drove down Hwy 31 E south towards Mammoth Cave. Drove through corn fields and soy bean fields. Saw old barns and new houses. Beautiful rolling hills and a deer in the middle of a field. We had to make a u-turn for our first deer. Went to the National Park at Knob Creek where Abe's boyhood home stood. Saw a tree that had been standing from the late 1700's through when the Lincoln's lived there and was taken down in the 1980's. Showed the rings inside the tree and and markers for important times in history. It was very cool. Paul filled out a Jr Ranger booklet and got a Jr Ranger badge. We all learned a lot about the area and the time he lived there. There is a spring in the park near where the Lincoln's house would have been. We walked down and it is amazing to stand in a place you know that Abraham Lincoln once stood and got his drinking water. It was also a place where people traveling west would have stopped for water in that time. Mom met up with a lady and sat and chatted she does not live far from the park and likes to hang out and visit with people. We could have left mom there to hang out all day.

We moved further south and stopped in Park City outside Mammoth Cave and had a late lunch and then got to Mammoth Cave National Park. Funny how you get off the exit even the things that have changed are somehow familiar. Big Mike's a place to buy you souvenir and tour a fun house for fifty cents. Paul had to do it twice. Once by himself then when Emily and Ashley got there he had to do it again with them.

The next day we went to Diamond Caverns. Al wanted to pan for gems. So he and the kids with the assistance of Beth and Billie paned for gems. Found some pretty rocks. Not sure if any are worth anything but they all had a good time. That afternoon the kids became little spluenkers and took a kid only tour through the cave. I think they all liked it. Ashley liked crawling through the cave on her belly. Cooked out on the grill and made s'mores. Yum.

Tuesday, Al, Mom and I started off for a drive but found one of the tires to be low. Went into town to have that taken care of first. Beth and Billie took the kids on a hike down to the river. The kids had a great story of how Beth went where she shouldn't but clawed her way out and was filthy dirty with the red clay. Good thing she had a spare pair of shoes. That afternoon we took the family cave trip. Everyone went. The kids saw cave crickets by the 100's and a single bat welcomed us from high on the ceiling. Stalactite's hold tight to the ceiling and stalagmites may grow up from the floor of the cave to become a column. We had a great guide Jamie. We had explained that the kids were the 5th generation to the cave and he said there is a guide that works there that is a 5th generation guide. His family started off as slaves giving tours. Wish we could have met him but we did run into a guide there that taught us about stalactites and stalagmites many years ago named Joe. Joe has been at the park himself for 53 years. Can't imagine the number of tours and expeditions he has been on in the park. It was drizzling when we got out but we were going to cook out again. Beth went over and started cooking with the aid of Emily and I helped Paul and Ashley with their Jr Ranger books for this park. Each age group had to do so many activities for bat points to get their badge. Since we had the whole evening. The over achievers completed almost every page and the next morning got a badge and certificate for their achievement. Quick trip through the exhibit and gift store then off to Louisville.

First stop Churchill Downs which was not open so we could not walk out to the track but we showed them the twin spires that you always see on tv and the names across the top of the building for all the past winners. We had lunch there and then headed past mom's old neighborhood. We had walkie talkies between cars and Beth had all the kids so we did a play by play driving tour through downtown. Here is where grandma went to school, here is where she lived. Here is where your great-great grandfather used to work and the L&N building (Louisville & Nashville Railroad). Around the block and to Louisville Slugger. Somethings have changed and some are the same. We did the factory tour. The last time we were there everything was hand done. Now machines. One guy that showed us how it used to be done and it would take 20 minutes to make a bat and now 2 machines spitting out bats in 30 seconds. Not quite the same. They are still hand dipped if they are stained and the logo is hand burned into the bats and everyone gets a little bat for taking the tour.

Next stop, Calvary Cemetery. I knew this was not the highlight for anyone but me and mom but we did it. Showed the kids where their relatives are. Saw some really cool old headstones. Tried to get by another but it was closed and getting late. Needed to get to the relatives for dinner. The kids had the best time there. Swam in the pool that had to be freezing because the air temp was only in the 70's. Dinner was great. Some of mom's 2nd cousins were there. We all visited then we hit the road towards Bardstown.



My Old Kentucky Home



Talbott Tavern
Bardstown, Kentucky



Jane and Jim Yearout
Mammoth Cave, Ky



Entance to Mammoth Cave

2013



This week sure did go by fast but I am exhausted. Stayed in Bardstown. The most beautiful small town in the country. Really. Stopped in at the Talbott Tavern. A Pony Express stop from 1779 or as the kids like to call it the haunted hotel. Yes. This is the one that Brian and I stayed at years ago. They had a bad fire in the 1990's and are still working on getting part of it back. But part of the fire damage is still seen in the old bar. The cross beams have scorch marks and so does some of the stone. We then went around the down square and a few more blocks south and took the kids to My Old Kentucky Home State Park.



Perryville Battlefield

 You now have to pay to just walk the grounds but at least kids are free. Billie and I took the kids out walked around the house. Explained who Stephen Foster was and that he wrote the state song for both Kentucky and Florida. Everything was to show kids the tie from Kentucky to them. Last stop on the trip before heading home was Perryville Battlefield. The only Civil War battle that was fought in Kentucky. Yes we have a relative that was killed in Perryville during the battle. Oct 1862. Drove through the battle gounds. Stopped and played and had lunch at the picnic area. All we have left is the drive home. As the hills of Kentucky fade in the rearview mirror the memories lighten and the smiles are fresh and yes. We are on are way home.













A Family Trip Down Memory Lane

My mother has decided that she would like to take her Grandchildren at least the smaller ones that she can get to go and her children go on a little trip (no a big trip) to her favorite place in the world. Mammoth Cave Kentucky.

Planning this trip makes me think of a lot of thing.s Last time we went Timmy and Alex were just kids. Emily, Ashley and Paul were not born yet. Grandma was with us and her and mom still travelled in the motor home. A great thing to have for someone else. I do not need to be that close to anyone for that long. I like space and privacy. Togetherness is great but not every second of the day. We cooked on the fire everyday even breakfast. Nothing like toast over an open fire and eggs and sausage before a hard day hiking and spelunking (caving).

So far we have Beth and the girls, Billie and Paul, Al, Mom and me. WooHoo. I am not sure how Tori's getting out of this but she should feel obligated to go but that is something only a few of us get.  Which is kinda the point of this trip. I started going to Kentucky when I was about 8. I have been many more times than the rest of them and I know the drill. A trip to Kentucky means to hit the favorites and the obligations.
Depending on who you ask could be any or all of the items on the itinerary.

Mom wants to teach the kids about the family heritage and our history. This part I get. Well I get the whole thing but I am the only one who see's every ones agenda. Billie would like to do something with Paul that Paul will not only enjoy but learn something from so we are going to Springfield, Kentucky where Abraham Lincoln was born. He is cool in Paul's book right now. Mom wants to go to Mammoth Cave and hit the highlights in Louisville, Bardstown and Perryville. This takes care of the family history back to the Civil War which is cool but may be lost on the kids and their mothers. Oh and don't forget Al who would just like to find a bar to hang out and have a few beers. I get it all. I don't even want to mention that I would like a pit stop in Nashville to go to the Antique Archeology store. You know the American Pickers.

See this is a tough group to travel with. Why are we not taking husbands. Well someone needs to watch the dogs. Jeff is on crutches and who needs to add those wasps in the hornets nest of women and Al anyway. Wally would like to go Brian wants to have a party and like I said Jeff is on crutches.

A few days apart isn't going to kill any of us. And adding all those opinions to what to do next and where to eat and who is going to drive and when do we stop. Please.

So today Beth and I tried to work out the details at least a rough draft of a plan so we know if it is all do able or not.

Do able it is but I will need a vacation when I return. This is the problem with going this distance with so many people. Brian and I used to be able to make the trip in 15 hours in one day. Oh that brings me back to how many times I have made this trip. I would guess I am probably on trip 8 or 9. Sometimes Brian and I have done it on own. We have met mom and grandma and we have done the whole family thing.

When it comes to Louisville, Ky this is where my mom, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmothers were born. Which is how we get to the Civil War and Perryville, Ky, One of my g-g-greatgrandfathers was killed in the battle of Perryville. It is now a State Park but I did feel a tie to the area when I have visited. I guess I would like the kids to feel it to. Maybe just one of them. That can take from the trip a sense of place, a place that they are from but have never lived. A sense of the history from the War to the L&N Railroad that my Great Grandfather worked for. Churchill Downs a place where my Grandmother went when she was young. The cemetery where all these ancestors are buried has always been on the list. Grandma has been with us all the times in the past and her parents are buried in Calvary(the newer of the old cemeteries), her grandparents are in St. Louis the older cemetery and now this time Grandma's cousins are in the newest of the ones our family is in Evergreen. Facts that will be lost after me if no one cares to remember. This is what Mom doesn't want to happen. I left out Louisville Slugger, and a family visit at least dinner.

My Grandmother would travel with her father on the railroad to Florida every year when she was young. Another place near Bardstown we used to stop is Nazzareth, Ky which is as we say where the nuns live. The Sisters of Charity was one of the groups that my Great Grandfather used to travel with. Grandmother used to like to stop in and see the place and reminisce. Brian and I have stopped on our own as well. We pulled in one morning and the Chapel windows were open and we could hear the sisters singing as we pulled in. We said it was angels singing. The place changes every time we visit but we stop and say how we relate to the place. How we tie back to it. Bardstown. Is very cool. Just a town that has the oldest Pony Express stop west of the Appalachian mountains. A bullet hole in the wall where supposedly Jesse James was shot. Fried Green Tomatoes, Fried Chicken and a Hot Brown and a very cool Tavern. This is also Bourbon Country, not to far is the home of Makers Mark and many other fine bourbons.

Have I missed anything oh yes. Mom said last night she has always wanted to go to Plains, Georgia. The hometown of President Jimmy Carter.  I lost Beth hear but had to reel her back for the Louisville, Bardstown part.

It is going to be a fun trip that we will all remember forever. I know we still talk about the last time we did this trip. Not often as adults you travel with your parents. There is probably a reason for it but it will be fun.

3 weeks to go.

Vacation

Well, I was told by my sister that knows everything that the title that came across on her phone the other night was Day One Abuse. Well I do not want anyone to think that I am abused. Mentally self tortured yes but abused no.

So today I thought while still new at this I would change the name. Sunshine and Shadows is a more accurate name for what I want to share. I do have happy moments and sad ones.

I want to share both. I love to travel when given the time and money. Trust me I would find the time if I had the money.

So a little more about me.

Top 5 outdoor activities

Kayaking/Rafting/Canoeing/Tubing down a river.
Sailing
Swimming in a pool or at the beach. (But please do not get my ears wet.)
Walking on a nature trail. (without mesquitos)
Outdoor photography


Top 5 places I have been.

Mammoth Cave Kentucky
Cumberland Island Georgia
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
New York City
Bardstown, Kentucky


I love to cruise. Pack your bags get on a ship enjoy yourself. That simple. Get off the ship if you want. Sleep and eat the day away if you want. Do anything or nothing.

Been on a number of ships. Love Royal Caribbean. The last ship we were on had an Adult Swimming pool that was enclosed. My favorite Princess ship had a Piano Bar that we spent every evening at.
Played music trivia and Name that Tune.

On our last cruise I did the unheard of. I got up in front of a lounge full of strangers and played Don't forget the Lyrics. 8 contestants. I came in 2nd. I think it was rigged for the old guy to win.

For those of you who know me this is unbelievable. I still carry my medal I won on my key chain. I had to sing 3 songs.

1. King of the Road. (first learned the song in band in 7th grade)
2. Pina Colada Song (doesn't everyone know the words)
3. I can not remember. Was surprised myself by being able to get it.

I was last to go. As people started I thought well I will not be too embarrassed. I will get out on the first round and sit down and know the words to every other song. But as soon as the music started both Brian and I know that we had that one no problem.

With King of the Road I had every old person in the lounge singing along. Same with Pina Colada song. The ranking was by applause. The old guy just beat me out.

To this day I have never any other time stood up and sang in front of a group. But that night it was fun.

So on this holiday from work. I will think about some of the best places I have been on vacation. Hope at some point today you will too. That is why we all work so hard anyway isn't it. So we have some money and time to do something we love.

Happy Labor Day