Day 32 Kentucky

All good things must come to an end and today was the day to head north. We left behind the deep woods and hills of Tennessee and rolled through the farmland of Kentucky. Even when the farms gave way to expanses of forest the road was more open here. In Tennessee the forest that surrounds the highway envelopes you and there is a sense of isolation even as you travel the interstate. In Tennessee the road follows mountain streams and generously accommodates the mountains themselves. In Kentucky the road is more open and surprisingly straight. Certainly more trees, but often reminiscent of our trip across the prairies with ribbons of highway that appear to go on forever!

While we may be getting closer to home the English gap is increasing. While I have certainly noticed the varieties of English along the way it was never more pronounced than here is Kentucky. In direct conversation I miss every third of fourth word. When eavesdropping I get every third or fourth word! Folks here make, “How are you all doing?” one word!!

We stopped for gas next to a Dairy Queen and decided on a dipped soft serve for lunch. Sometimes it’s great to be a grownup! We passed the early afternoon reminiscing about our trip. Our favourite stops – probably Nashville and Washington tied but it’s really hard to choose; our favourite moments – US Constitution, walking the beach on Cape Cod, time with John and Julie then Cliff and Liz, getting lost on the NYC subway, the MLK Memorial, the slave presentation, The Grand Ole Opry...we decided in the end other than some traffic, the heat, the few technical difficulties and missing the kids and grandkids that everything on this trip was outstanding and we are very blessed that we have the chance to travel like this!

We pulled into our campground mid-afternoon and wee doggies! Called Oak Creek Campground in Walton, KY, it is indeed on a creek. Our site was right next to the creek in fact. While the creek is dried up at the moment which clearly perhaps God is in charge of, pretty sure it was a human hand we have to thank for the old bricks that are now exposed along the bed of the creek. And while I am talking about the creek, what would you suppose the creek running through Oak Creek Campground was called? It’s Salem Creek! I have no idea!! This is one special place! It is directly off the I-75 (although it would have been handy to know that your right turn was immediately followed by a left turn – honestly can’t people assume when you are going to an RV park that you’re towing an RV??). Our site was long and level, meaning we could leave the trailer hooked to the truck for the night, faced the out road for easy morning access, and it only cost us $27. That’s all the credit I can offer this spot. Clearly though it’s a local favourite. With 100 sites it appeared as if our little section was the one reserved for travellers. The seasonal sites were something to behold! The “season” has extended into years for some of these folks and I will say that a level of neighbourly cooperation has been clearly demonstrated to arrange these rigs cheek by jowl! In spots you could barely see daylight between the end of one and the side of another. While some rigs were big and new and we wondered how they ever navigated into the spots, others were so old the markings had faded and in one instance the roof had delaminated and concrete blocks were sitting on top to hold the rubber roof membrane! The decorating scheme ranged from your standard pink flamingos to wind chimes made from aluminum beer bottles – not kidding!! One man was in a tent. Sounds innocent enough and temporary you might think?  He offered a warm howdy on his way to his port-a-potty conveniently situated on his site – not communal campground facilities, his!!! People gathered on porches built on the sides of some of the trailers and kids and dogs played happily in the summer heat! What a sight! David wanted to take pictures but that WAS NOT happening! These people seemed quite happy with their summer vacation and we have no right to judge, except to state with some assurance that it’s not for us! One night is plenty thanks.

In a sweet gesture, someone left a beer cup of wild flowers on our camp table. In this campground bless them I'd call that lipstick on  a pig!