CA to NY 10

Day 33 8/9/17

Boy, what a pleasant ride today. I left around 10 am and pulled in about 5:00 pm.  312 miles and not a cloud in the sky all day. I had to stop twice to fill Winnie but between the traffic (very light) and the scenery, it was beautiful and, if you can believe, relaxing. Most of the ride was along I-65, the "Blue Grass Parkway"; 71 miles of scenic beauty. It opened in 1965 as a toll road but Kentucky state law requires tolls end when the highway has been paid for. That happened in 1991. Nice concept. Think it'll work in NYS?

All along the route (I-64 then I-65) I saw or read so many attractions: 

I saw this exit and had to rethink where I was...CT or MA.

Churchill Downs

Abraham Lincoln's Homestead

Diamond Caverns Cave

The National Corvette Museum

Natural Bridge State Resort Park

Mammoth Cave National Park

Drove through Daniel Boone National Park 

The Bourbon Trail where you can visit the distilleries of:

• Heaven Hill
• Four Roses
• Wild Turkey
• Maker's Mark
• Jim Bean
• Town Branch Bourbon
• Woodford Reserve

As I left Hart County and drove into LaRue County, I lost an hour going into the Eastern Time Zone. It was fascinating to watch my iPhone, on-board Rand McNally GPS, Garmin GPS and iPhone app, WAZE, eventually synch. Why do I use three different applications to track my travels, she asks? Plain ol' fascination and curiosity to observe how one differs from the other...and it's entertaining.  The WAZE app on the iPhone gives traffic information in real time and allows your input to confirm or to alert other drivers of hazards; and she has a very pleasant voice. The on-board GPS of Rand McNally also sounds pleasant and announces state line crossings, hazard alerts as well as time zone changes. My Garmin guy has all my destinations pre-programmed; I did that before I began the trip and it's the one I've used the longest. This has my RV specifications programmed into the route so I can avoid low bridges, weight and road restrictions. They all speak at different pre-determined times to indicate a change in directions or when to exit. I get a kick out of listening one tell me to bear left while another tells me to bear right at junctions.

Saw lots of these striations and sedimentary rock outcrops.
I can understand how seeping water over the years
eventually dissolve and create caves and caverns.

The National Cave Association lists four in Kentucky where the organization offer guided tours:

• Hidden River Cave
• Diamond Caverns
• Kentucky Caverns Kentucky Down Under
• Lost River Cave & Valley.

There are, however, over 16 caves listed for Kentucky.

The Rolling Hills of Kentucky

Light traffic, beautiful scenery and not that many 18-wheelers.

By the way, in my last post I mentioned two Harley riders that camped two sites from me. 

His 'n Hers...He towed

This shows the width into which it all fits

When I left, they had not returned from breakfast so I couldn't get a shot
of the camper packed, closed and hitched.

Having little for breakfast and no lunch other then nibbling on Chuck's Chipotle beef jerky and dried mangoes (California survival food), and driving for such a long period of time, I was eager to find some take out comfort food so I wouldn't have to cook tonight. Then, like manna from heaven I catch the Magic Sign just nine miles from my destination:

I heard the angels singing...the perfect choice at the perfect time.
I couldn't remember the last time I enjoyed one of these; not too many
around back home.

Ate half, the rest frozen. Life is good.

Meanwhile the KOA at Ashland/Huntington West was a welcome sight.
I no longer expect shade; I've gotten used to the heat. Fortunately, I arrive
at these sites late in the afternoon and before long, the sun sets and it's
cool. 63° right now.

Not crowded, a nice layout and for an overnight, just fine and dandy.

Next door neighbor, Susan, traveling alone. Recently retired, she lives in
Houston, TX. Her guard dog, about the size of a rat, keeps her company.

Swimming pool nearby

Yes, Jack, another Winnie shot in her natural habitat. Note the cloudless,
blue sky. A beautiful ending of a beautiful day. And now, just 3 days from
home and Croton RV's Park

Opps, I'm sorry.  Really. I am. Okay, I just couldn't help it. Folks across
the road from me having a bite to eat. I just could not resist this
shot from inside and through my galley window. I know "what is
seen cannot be unseen" but this is classic and I've always wanted to
see one in person (excuse the pun) I've strategically cropped
the photo so, no, I don't know the gender and no, it's not a selfie.

I hate ending on such a note but I'm laughing; Will you too go to sleep with visions of sugar plums dancing in your heads? See you tomorrow in West Virginia.

Day 34 8/10/17

This is my second stay at this campground

Weather-wise, as beautiful as the ride was yesterday, was how bad the drive was today....weather-wise. I awoke to a steady but soothing pitter patter of rain, always my favorite, on the fiberglass roof. I used the lull between passing showers to disconnect electricity and water for storage before taking off for West Virginia. The rain lasted most of the day and my drive from Argillite, KY to Sutton, WV; only 144 miles or 2¼ hours, was not rushed. A nice ride, I-64 then I-59 was very hilly, winding, remote and heavily wooded terrain. There was to be no picture taking for me. Visibility was about ¼ of a mile made worse by the spray created by passing 18-wheelers who didn't seem to notice it was raining as they continue to barrel along at the speed limit past me; in WV, it was also 70 mph. I often wondered how they would ever stop in an emergency if they had to. There was no time for 'sight seeing' or photographs for most of the trip. Only as I approached Sutton, WV did it stop raining but fog and mist remained settled in the valleys like wisps of smoke while climbed the curvy highway.

I needed another tank of diesel as I approached my 255 mile travel limit. The timing was perfect for at the end of the ramp, my destination was a mile to the right. A Pilot station was 4/10 to the left. I was discouraged, however, looking at an adjacent gas station offering diesel at $2.699 whereas my Pilot wanted $2.779. A big difference. Knowing I'd get cents off using my card, I stuck with the Pilot station and used my card. Result? Diesel for $2.669! A silent hooray and a full tank for tomorrow made me a happy camper even before I got there.

If any readers have a good memory, you will remember that in March of 2016, I was returning from my Florida trip and stayed at this campground.

If you care to, you can re-read it by clicking this LINK. thus relieving me of having to re-describe. Part I of that blog is the more interesting trip getting to this KOA site. I see I paid $1.679 for diesel then. Yikes. To read that post, click the "OLDER POST" link at the bottom right of the page. Today, my site is on a hill; it's flat with only three other RVs in the area. The temperature is at 73° and very overcast and cloudy.

I'm keeping this blog short because of the link I've provided from the past. Tomorrow, the Uniontown KOA in Connellsville, Pa 124 miles, 2 hours 15 minutes away.

A special treat for you weather/cloud lovers. Award winning Chad Cowan produces incredible cloud time lapse videos that will leave you in awe. I'm sorry it's only 3 min. 22 seconds long. It's called FRACTAL. See it HERE. On his page are many other videos of mid-west supercells. Enjoy