The Road Less Crowded

In the last month, we have seen another surge in COVID across the US. After the crowds at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we have avoided places where people gather in close quarters. I have done my best to avoid crowds for the last five years because of my risk factors for long COVID. In addition, we avoid touristy things on holiday weekends, especially on Labor Day Weekend. Lastly, we had hoped to get out and explore some of the trails in the area, but the 90-degree temps made them less attractive. The consequences of our aversion to crowds and the late Summer temperatures mean that we have had limited opportunities for getting out and about. Therefore, this edition will be a little thin of adventures and photos. But our week has not been without some entertainment.  

Our last day in Cincinnati included a bucket-list restaurant and getting some steps in at a local Mall. We were there early enough that the mall did not have many people doing their Labor Day shopping. We were able to get our steps in before the crowds arrived and some birthday shopping done.

Afterward, we decided to grab some sliders at a White Castle. I have often driven past these Burger Joints and always thought we should try them. This seems to be the Midwest equivalent of a Texas Whataburger and a California IN and OUT Burger. The sliders tasted pretty good, but I did not enjoy the texture. They are very soft, almost mushy. The crinkle fries were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Like the Cincinnati Chile, I enjoyed the meal but do not feel any need or desire to repeat it!

After lunch, we decided to do a little shopping tourism. We went to Jungle Jim’s International Grocery. Imagine a huge grocery store organized by continent and country! We only needed a few things but decided to walk the entire store to see what was there. I was amazed. Jungle Jim Bonaminio started with a produce stand in Fairfield, OH, just north of Cincinnati. He and his two investors built the first store in 1971 into a destination that draws customers from several States. He promises to treat their customers like gold and have some fun along the way. Their shelves are stocked with foods from nearly every continent (I did not see anything from Antarctica). They have cooking demonstrations and huge displays. We went to his second location, south of Cincinnati, at East Gate Mall. Three hours later, we had a few items in our shopping cart that were not on the grocery list, and many were. Thanks, Jungle Jim! You did good!

This is just one Corner of the Market.

Brooks RV Park, Site 50

After three weeks, it was time to leave Ohio. We packed up Koko. We hooked up Nakai and headed to Louisville, KY. The drive was beautiful. We drove through the Ohio Valley and climbed into the Bluegrass Plateau. We arrived at our RV Park and discovered that along with no shade, showers, or restrooms, we had an abundance of planes and trains. Apparently, the reviewers I read left out a few things. We are in the landing/takeoff pattern for the country's second-largest cargo air service, the UPS Worldport. After 10:00 PM, planes landed or took off every few minutes for most of the night! And, for good measure, we are 150 Yards from a very active rail line with a road crossing just outside the gate, which means the train whistles are steady throughout the day and night. Am I complaining? Maybe a little, but. this is just part of the adventure for full-time wanderers. (Yes, my review will mention both little surprises.)

On Wednesday, it was time for our annual COVID and flu immunizations. These immunizations are a necessary part of our Safety-First philosophy for managing crowds and other challenges. We have used Walgreens in the past, but last year, we spent over an hour waiting to get our shots even though we had an appointment. This year, I decided to try CVS. Wow! That made a huge difference. We had a Noon appointment and left the store at 12:05 PM. The paperwork was done before we arrived, and the Pharmacist did not waste time futzing around. Thank you, CVS; you also did well! The rest of the day was spent doing laundry and nursing sore arms.

After a morning of recuperating from the immunizations, we headed out to Wilderness Louisville, a series of city parks in the Jefferson Memorial Forest. We went to the Discovery Center, picked up some trail maps, and started our plan of attack. The temperature was in the 90s today, so we decided to go on a short .6-mile walk around the nearby Tom Wallace Lake. The walk was on a sidewalk for the first half, but the second took us along the edge of the lake at the foot of a significant hillside. It was a brief taste of forest therapy. When we returned to the parking lot, we saw a sign that read Tulip Tree. This was a .3-mile out-and-back trail connecting to much longer trails through the hills. We followed a mostly dry creek up into the hills and saw an array of wood mushrooms. I imagined the trail in the Spring when the runoff splashed down the creek bed. It was a good introduction to the Kentucky wilderness.

Lake Tom Wallace

 

The Jefferson Memorial Forest

A Little Still Life in the Forest

Siltstone from an Ancient Ocean

Tree 'Shrooms

The Bourbon Trail

On Friday, Marlene woke up in a new decade and prepared to celebrate with a drive in Louisville. Happy Birthday, Marlene! After lunch, we parked on the riverfront and walked to the Frazier Museum, a collection that grew out of the philanthropy of one of the largest Bourbon families in the area. In popular culture, Louisville is represented by baseball bats, horse racing, and bourbon. It began as a portage for the Ohio River traffic that moved goods from Pittsburgh to the Mississippi. The only falls on the Ohio River meant that barges had to unload and reload to move goods up or down the river. In the 1820s, a canal was dug, and in time, the river was dammed, and locks were installed. Louisville became a hub in the commerce of the Western Reserve in the 1800s. It is a diverse, cosmopolitan city with thriving arts and economic communities. Here are a few of the places we explored.

Louisville Slugger Plant and Museum

Louisville Science Museum

Our first stop was the Frazier Museum along the riverfront. On the way, we passed the Louisville Slugger Plant and Museum. This museum is the first stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. It celebrates all things Kentucky and Louisville.

My Hero

Replica of G. Washington's Still

Squire Boone, Daniel's Brother

Tree with words "D. Boone kill'd a bar..."

General George Rogers Clark

The Bourbon Room (Had to pay for samples!)

The Falls of Ohio

Next, we went to the Falls of Ohio, where Louisville was born. This is also where the US launched their invasion of the west during the revolutionary under General Rogers Clark and secured the Western Reserve. It is the site of the Clark family homestead. The General's Little Brother, William Clark, under the direction of President Thomas Jefferson, launched an exploration of the upper reaches of the Louisiana Purchase with his partner, Merriweather Lewis, and the Corps of Discovery from this very spot as well. This place along the Ohio River has been central to US History for centuries.

Mammoth from the area.

Disply of the earliest inhabitants.

Chihuly Glass Sculpture

Overhead

The Birthplace of Louisville

Just Below the Clark Homestead where Lewis and Clark began their journey.

Our last stop was Stevie J’s BBQ. This out-of-the-way BBQ Stand was recommended to us by a friend and fellow traveler. The people were friendly, and the food was good. I'm not a big fan of the overly sweet Midwest BBQ sauce, but the ribs were well-seasoned and tender without being mushy. Thank you, Dee; we enjoyed the tip!

 

We have a few more days in Louisville and will do some more exploring. For now, I am glad we have taken the road less crowded over the last couple of weeks. The places we have visited have offered new ways of seeing the roads we all travel. There are surprises all around us if we are open to them. Being safe does not mean locking away our hopes and dreams and avoiding riskier ventures. It means using our head and heart to encounter the moments and experiences that await us. And then claim the stops along the way. The last month has shown me that there is more to the Midwest than I ever dreamed. The land and the people offer a new adventure with each new dawn.

This piece of artwork in Koko reads, "Life's a Journey, NOT a Race." In the next two months, we will unhurriedly wander through Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas before crossing the state line in Texarkana. Are we going to see everything the states have to offer? Nope! But we will continue being safe and claim the adventures that present themselves. I am glad you are traveling along with us. We only have 2 ½  months left before returning to Central Texas!

Travel well, my friends!

Bob