getting south

it was a driving week with a little play thrown in. Left Pennsylvania and hit Almost Heaven, West Viriginia (blue ridge mtns, shanendoah river, etc...). Nice state, lots of trees and 'mountains' and I got to sing John Denver endlessly. The mountains were a little shorter than those at home and had trees right to the top. Had to get off the secondary hwy and hit the interstate though as got tired of going back and forth, up and down and wearing out the brakes and tranny on our poor van. Interstate is better as I think they just carved a route thru the mountains. Spent 1 night in a State Park on a lake that looked like it usually had a lot of large boats on it but all the piers were pulled up, the boats were stored and the lake was way down (I think a dam reservoir). Dropped in at Charleston and wandered, nice old city but nothing special. That night (Wednesday) we got to West Virginia/Kentucky/Ohio borders. Did a quick loop over a bridge to Ohio just so we could say we were there and then stayed in Ashland, KY for the night. I don't know the words or music to "My Old Kentucky Home" so had to stop singing. Went to the YMCA next morning for gym/run/pool. I had never been to a "Y" b4. It is like any other gym except the average age was about 93. saw enough wrinkly white asses to last me a lifetime. Also interesting that they had a men's fitness area, a women's fitness area and a co-ed area. there were 2 hot tub/saunas, one in each of mens and womens areas and none in co-ed. I avoided the mens only sauna. Drove thru the Danial Boone Nat'l Forest (a song I did know!). I thought he was just a TV character but apparently he was a real guy. Also went past all the Lincoln sites (birthplace, school, etc., etc.). Apparently he was a real guy too.

we are now doing the "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" thing so on Thursday in KY we went to the track. Thought it would be neat to go to Churchill Downs but the thoroughbreds were only running in Keeneland in Lexington so we went there (see pic above). races started early afternoon and there were thousands of people there - I don't think anyone works for a living around here. Following this we went to the Wild Turkey bourbon distillery. Spent the night in Bowling Green and had to deal with a flat tire on the van the next morning. So far we have had a broken headlight, a dead battery and now a flat. Nothing serious though, so hope our luck holds out. 2nite in Nashville, Tennessee we are doing the Nashville thing - Grand Ole Opry here we come! Should be fun.