Part 6: Bardstown, Kentucky. Day 1

So, as we hit the highway leaving Trish's house, it was quite a shaky ride. We felt like we had just put a quarter in the Motel 6 bed. 

Relaxing? Not.

I suspected tires, but I posted to my amazing Facebook group. There were a couple possible causes, but with 41,000+ miles on the original tires, the consensus was "get thee a tire shop, STAT!"

It was a Sunday, and no tire shops were open, so the next day I gripped the steering wheel tight, avoided freeways, and took it slow through the back roads of Georgia. 

The amazing Travato group let me know which tires are best, and where best to get them. 

Upon arriving at our stop for the night, I researched and found such a shop within a few miles. They supposedly had my tires! And bonus! A Planet Fitness just down the street. Shower time! 

Of course, me being me, I worried overnight about what if they don't have the tires blah blah blah. But I called first thing Monday morning, and they said, come on in.

Yay!

New boot goofin'!

Our next leg was through a bunch of backroads, but when I found a freeway, I set her to fast. What a great ride on her new shoes!

Onward: to the Centerpiece of our Journey: Bardstown, Kentucky!

By the way, Little Sister Adventurer, why did you pick Bardstown, Kentucky for your destination?

Two words. Bourbon. And podcast.

One day last winter, one of my FB groups got to talking about true crime podcasts, which is one of my favorites to listen to on the road and walks. Someone from Bardstown, Kentucky suggested "Bardstown," which was about numerous unsolved murders in this small Kentucky town. 

The description of the town on the podcast was glowing, and my friend praised the town, too. Plus "Bourbon Capital of the World." 

I'm going. 

I picked the dates, called Trish, and within a day or two she had places to stay and places to visit.

We were off and running!

We arrived in Bardstown (actually New Haven, KY, just down the road) on the evening of Monday, March 24. We pulled into the Log Still Distillery property before sundown and had a restful night.

Thursday morning, I pulled around to the front door and walked in to find that I would be getting a "prah-vit turr" of the distillery before my tasting.

My host was a fantastic, knowledgable lover-of-bourbon who told me about the history of bourbon making in the area (he is one of a biggie family), distilling (along with all the sciencey stuff!), and how to properly taste. It was a yummy tasting of probably 7 bourbons!

I didn't take many pictures!

Afterwards, we headed into Bardstown itself. 

We toured My Old Kentucky Home, the home of a richie-rich enslaver-type family. The dude was a Senator, Representative, and Secretary of State. The home has many original furniture and other artifacts. It was a good tour. 

No pictures were allowed inside the home. You'll have to get a ticket and take the tour, I guess!

A pig-salting trough

The original privy

Kentucky loves Stephen Foster and his songs. You know them and sang them, some of you like I did, with Mrs. Snell and her autoharp.

The next morning, we walked around and visited the Railroad Museum where we parked Poppy for a couple nights. 

Ever see a railroad bike?

Cue The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore by Johnny Cash

We'll do more in the fun little town of Bardstown!

Part 5: Florida and Georgia

I picked Trish up in Florida a week ago! 

I'm muchly behind in my trip documentation. I've been wanting to connect to WiFi but have been thwarted at every turn, so here I am very very late in chronicling the continuing saga!

I made it to Dunedin finally on Thursday March 20 and got a couple days RnR.

I was happy to reunite with Punk.

We hit the road mid-day Saturday and traveled to Paulk Vineyard, a Harvest Host, in Wray, Georgia. We made it just in time to partake in a wine tasting.

They make wine out of the Muscadine grape, a grape that is indigenous to the South.

The wine is sweet. 

It's shitty.

OK, maybe I'm being unfair. I'm a California girl, surrounded by fine wine makers and wine snobs. I don't drink a lot of wine, but I like hearty, complex, dry wines. 

Muscadine wine was none of that.

But they kindly let us spend the night on their grounds. Thank you, Paulk Vineyard!

It was a comfortable, quiet night, except for the good ol' boys in their pickup, horn blasting "Dixie" and yelling "'Murca, fuck yeah!" on their way past. 

The next day, we went north through Georgia, stopping at the place where Jefferson Davis was captured. The story is that he tried to disguise himself as a woman and was captured in women's clothing. The truth is more nuanced, and if you are interested you can read about it elsewhere. 

During the scuffle, two Union soldiers were killed in friendly fire. 

We next made our way to FDR's "Little White House" in Warm Springs, Georgia. He loved it there! He took the warm spring waters to treat his polio, and he built a house there, which acted as his "Little White House." 

He loved children, and he invited children stricken with polio to swim and play with him in the warm spring waters as well. They called him "Rosey."

Who knew? I didn't.

He spent a lot of time in Warm Springs, Georgia, and it is where he died.

I came away with a lot more knowledge and respect – if that was even possible – for the great man who led our country from 1933 - 1945.

Photos!

One of FDR's cars

Some of his mobility equipment. He tried to hide his polio-induced mobility difficulties from the public, most of whom didn't know or pretended not to know about his physical difficulties.

The last car he drove, with hand controls (below) that he designed himself.

FDR also traveled by stagecoach

And when he walked, he used a cane. These are some that were sent to him from the public. 

The Little White House

The famous unfinished portrait. He was in the process of sitting for it when he died. 

FDR died in this bed

We made our way to this nice mini-farm home in Ringgold, Georgia, where we had a quiet night with the chickens. I slept well with drip-drops of rain throughout the night. I awoke well-rested, despite my fretting about finding new tires the next day (to be continued...)!