Arrived in Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky. Visited the Victorian houses that are all fairly original and well preserved, at least on the outside. There is street after street of them, mostly divided into flats now. We then went for a quick visit to Churchill Downs: home of the Kentucky Derby. Puts Rosehill to shame...it is is massive!
Sunday, we drove to the State Capital, Frankfort, and found the grave of Daniel Boone and his missus. Thought Ken would have been more impressed as he sing the song all the time!
Decided then to try some Bourbon... Woodford Distillery, one of the oldest and I am reliably informed, produces the BEST drop around. Very small batches of triple distilled bourbon is made here...."all bourbon is whiskey but not all whiskey is bourbon"! I must admit it was an interesting tour and I did agree with the assessment of the locals!
It was then onto Lexington. Home of things of a horsey nature. It was a beautiful drive, through some beautiful country. Lots of money invested in the livestock and buildings, many barns looked better than the housing for humans.
Monday we fluffed around Bardsville, Went to the original "Old Kentucky Home" of Stephen C Foster fame...impressive. Also visited a Civil War Museum that was mostly original stuff from a private collector. All in very good condition. Learnt a lot about a few of the battles.
Dropped into Makers Mark which was large compared to Woodford but really lovely grounds. Found a rarish bottle of bourbon for Dean which will use up most of my Duty -Free allowance!
headed for Tennessee....hit massive rain and Tornado warnings, adding to the excitement!!!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Amish country
We did not have much of an idea of where to go after the spectacularness of NF. Headed in a general direction (southish) while on the run we looked at Lonely Planet and realised a slight detour would take us into the biggest Amish community in the US. After nearly wiping out a few buggies, we found the most exxy hotel in Millersburg and I was going no further!
Dinner was at the oldest hotel in the town and it was a beautiful atmosphere. The decor had been restored and the furniture was authentic.
Friday took us out and about and among the people. Went to the heritage centre. We were the only people there so Ken could ask all the questions he liked. There is a massive mural that took 1/2 for the guide to explain. It was 200m long and had 1300 people important to the history of the Amish and Mennonites. More questions from Ken. Lunch at an Amish restaurant was pretty good. No complaints from Ken.
We then lucked out...by chance found the livestock auctions. The buggies out front were a hint. Inside goats, horses and saddles (handmade leather that would have cost '000,s in Oz, $225 i think was the dearest). Some of the horses could have done with a brush but all sold.
We then went to a furniture store that sold the hand-made solid wood furniture that was the best made I have seen. Beautiful finishes, no glue or plantation timber, it was oak and cherry and not expensive. The craftmanship was wonderful.
A dodgy winery finished the arvo. We managed to get out without paying for the tasting we had done! thanks to bus trip arriving at the same time!
Dinner was at the oldest hotel in the town and it was a beautiful atmosphere. The decor had been restored and the furniture was authentic.
Friday took us out and about and among the people. Went to the heritage centre. We were the only people there so Ken could ask all the questions he liked. There is a massive mural that took 1/2 for the guide to explain. It was 200m long and had 1300 people important to the history of the Amish and Mennonites. More questions from Ken. Lunch at an Amish restaurant was pretty good. No complaints from Ken.
We then lucked out...by chance found the livestock auctions. The buggies out front were a hint. Inside goats, horses and saddles (handmade leather that would have cost '000,s in Oz, $225 i think was the dearest). Some of the horses could have done with a brush but all sold.
We then went to a furniture store that sold the hand-made solid wood furniture that was the best made I have seen. Beautiful finishes, no glue or plantation timber, it was oak and cherry and not expensive. The craftmanship was wonderful.
A dodgy winery finished the arvo. We managed to get out without paying for the tasting we had done! thanks to bus trip arriving at the same time!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Boston to Niagara
We left Boston and did a drive-by through New Hampshire, with a few stops at some quaint villages.
Stopped the night in Vermont (Bennington). This was one of the battle sites in the war against the British. We then had a meal at the local pub with the locals. Good meal! but, they were shocked that we wanted a bottleof wine with our meal!!
Then, it was off to Niagara Falls. We took the scenic route through the Adirondacks. we mostly saw snow, snow, snow. Could see why people would go there for the summer and maybe winter but spring was a little blah!
It was a long drive but well worth it...what a sight! We stayed right at the American Falls and after dinner went for a long walk to look at the falls being illuminated. The walk was long as we walked onto Goat Island to see the Horseshoe Falls. Spectacular!!
The next day we drove into Canada to see the Falls from the other side...even more pectacular if you can believe it. We then went to Niagara-on-the-Lake. This is a village at Lake Ontario. It is old and very original. It is also the home of the Ice-wine wineries. We managed to find Inniskillen and enjoyed the tasting. We also bought some...at half the Dan Murphy price...still exxy though!
We went up the lookout to get a better view of the falls, took some photos.
Drove to Port colbourne to see the Erie Canal which runs through from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Ken was very impressed...(or was that obsessed)
We drove home via Buffalo...better than I thought. Ken then did laundry, I visited Factory Outlets...fair trade I think!
Stopped the night in Vermont (Bennington). This was one of the battle sites in the war against the British. We then had a meal at the local pub with the locals. Good meal! but, they were shocked that we wanted a bottleof wine with our meal!!
Then, it was off to Niagara Falls. We took the scenic route through the Adirondacks. we mostly saw snow, snow, snow. Could see why people would go there for the summer and maybe winter but spring was a little blah!
It was a long drive but well worth it...what a sight! We stayed right at the American Falls and after dinner went for a long walk to look at the falls being illuminated. The walk was long as we walked onto Goat Island to see the Horseshoe Falls. Spectacular!!
The next day we drove into Canada to see the Falls from the other side...even more pectacular if you can believe it. We then went to Niagara-on-the-Lake. This is a village at Lake Ontario. It is old and very original. It is also the home of the Ice-wine wineries. We managed to find Inniskillen and enjoyed the tasting. We also bought some...at half the Dan Murphy price...still exxy though!
We went up the lookout to get a better view of the falls, took some photos.
Drove to Port colbourne to see the Erie Canal which runs through from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Ken was very impressed...(or was that obsessed)
We drove home via Buffalo...better than I thought. Ken then did laundry, I visited Factory Outlets...fair trade I think!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Boston Weekend
Saturday we drove to Salem, famous for the hanging of "witches". It was interesting to hear and gain a little more understanding of the real story.
Even better was a military thing in the park opposite celebrating 300 + years of the formation of the National guard. there was a jet flyover, cannnons going off, Senators, Generals, really interesting!
We then drove into the city and took the Trolley around the major sites. Gave us a good idea of the lay of the land.
After that it was off to Harvard for a walk around those hallowed ground. It was very impressive.
Sunday we drove to the JFK museum and Library. It was interesting and I found out more about the lie and times of JFK.
Then into town for a walk on the "Freedom Trail". Knowing very little about the history it was interesting. We bailed at the North End Church...the famous church where the lanterns were lit to give the signal to the americans as to which way the British were coming.
A quick drive to the USS Constitution and it was home for Poison Pizza....way too much cheese!!
Even better was a military thing in the park opposite celebrating 300 + years of the formation of the National guard. there was a jet flyover, cannnons going off, Senators, Generals, really interesting!
We then drove into the city and took the Trolley around the major sites. Gave us a good idea of the lay of the land.
After that it was off to Harvard for a walk around those hallowed ground. It was very impressive.
Sunday we drove to the JFK museum and Library. It was interesting and I found out more about the lie and times of JFK.
Then into town for a walk on the "Freedom Trail". Knowing very little about the history it was interesting. We bailed at the North End Church...the famous church where the lanterns were lit to give the signal to the americans as to which way the British were coming.
A quick drive to the USS Constitution and it was home for Poison Pizza....way too much cheese!!
Newport to Boston
Left Newport for to find the Kennedy's at Cape Cod! We did a lap of the island and decided we were lucky that it was not summer! I imagine it would be very crowded in "the season". Very touristy but we did manage to find a little village called Sandwich. It was how I would have imagined the area. Hyannis was a little more prosperous than some of the other areasbut alas no Kennedys to be seen..
We then set off to Plymouth. We easily found Plymouth rock through the rain and sleet. It was bitterly cold! I do know that they would have kept sailing if the weather was that bad back in the day! Still impressive that we got there and saw it!!!
Arrived in Boston to semi dodgy hotel. May or may not have harboured witness protection program people.
I went for a walk around to get some snacks and Ken thought I had been abducted and went searching...I got back to hotel and thought he had been abducted...we did find each other in the end!
We then set off to Plymouth. We easily found Plymouth rock through the rain and sleet. It was bitterly cold! I do know that they would have kept sailing if the weather was that bad back in the day! Still impressive that we got there and saw it!!!
Arrived in Boston to semi dodgy hotel. May or may not have harboured witness protection program people.
I went for a walk around to get some snacks and Ken thought I had been abducted and went searching...I got back to hotel and thought he had been abducted...we did find each other in the end!
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