Another Day in the Daniel Boone National Forest

Feeling lazy this morning, so we went to Bruens Restaurant in Stanton.  A really nice local restaurant serving a big breakfast.  Great start for the day.

I noticed on the map of the area we got from the campground all these points of interest called "quilt blocks."  After Googling this, we found out that a quilter in Ohio started a program of recreating quilt patterns as art and putting them on the side of barns.  This program caught on in Kentucky and we starting noticing them.  My Mother was a quilter and I have several wonderful quilts at home.  I grew up knowing a little about the patterns and methods of making these wonderful quilts.  In fact my pride and joy is a quilt that my Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother all pieced and quilted.

So we started looking for, and photographing any of these quilt blocks we could find. Here is the blocks we found over the last few days.  We continue to see more but can't stop to photograph.  It is a bit like a scavenger hunt, without the clues.

The next thing we decided to do was find another Letterbox, Walking to Whittleton.  This one was on the Whittleton Branch Trail.  We were successful finding this box, so we decided to continue on to the Whittleton Arch. This trail was not nearly as steep as the trail to the Natural Bridge but it was very muddy.  In fact we nearly turned around because it was so slippery.  We are being careful about Bruce's knee.  Looks like he will be having the second one replaced this winter. Fortunately, we pushed on and we were rewarded with an awesome site.  The Arch was incredible and even had a waterfall. Met some fellow hikers and their dogs along the trail.  They were very friendly.  We even fed the dogs some treats.

After we returned from the arch we drove around a bit through the Forest. Our next stop was a suspension foot bridge across the Red River. This trail was part of the Sheltowee Trace National Recreational Trail. It ran along the shore of the river. It also leads to a local swimming hole where we watched some locals dare each other to dive off the rocks.  About a mile down we found the suspension bridge.  We walked across it and back.  Indiana Jones, I am not.

Back to the campground to recover.  Cocktails and appetizers.

Nada Tunnel, Natural Bridge and a Letterbox

The Nada Tunnel is an awesome cave-like tunnel. A 900 foot long ex-railway tunnel. One lane only, if you see headlights it's not your turn.

We next went to the Natural Bridge.  This is a large natural bridge made of sandstone that you can actually walk over.  We have been to several Natural Bridges, but I think this is the only one you can be on.  The hike to the top is not long, about a mile, but every step is higher than the last one.  Wasn't sure I was going to make it.  Once you get to the bridge there is a very narrow, wait for it, . . . set of steps going up to the top.  Just a note, I have had no cell service in this entire area, but on the top of the bridge, I had full bars.  Once we came down from the top, a couple asked if we were interested in tickets on the Skylift down. Someone had given the tickets to them because they were going to walk and then they decided to walk as well.  Bruce's knee was whining about the trip down so we graciously accepted the tickets.  This was great except that our truck was parked on the other side of the mountain.  Once down the Skylift, which was really cool, we had at least a mile walk along the road.  But this was flat and we could handle that.

We ended our day looking for, and finding a letterbox.  Autumn in Red River Gorge.  This box was near the Wildcat Trail.  Back to camp to recover from the day.  The older we get the more we need to recover.   Cocktails and appetizers.

Day of Travel, Exploration & a Boo-Boo.

We left West Virginia in a leisurely fashion because we had a fairly short drive to our next destination, 4 Guys  RV Park, in Stanton, Kentucky. The drive was a bit of a white knuckler as over half the way was on very narrow, curvy, no shoulder roads.  As usual, Bruce handled the Coach beautifully.










Welcome to Kentucky.

We have another beautiful campsite.

Once we were set up we wanted to drive around a get the lay of the land.  Unfortunately, we turned on a private road and Bruce went to backup so he could turn around and a Mustang GT came up behind us and we bumped him.  It appeared to be a no harm done, but he examined every possible inch and found a crack on a front cap panel so I am sure we will be hearing from our insurance. Oh well, if that is the worst thing that happens we will continue to be blessed.   To be honest we are not sure we even touched him.  He was too quick to pop that hood and find that little crack.  What can you do?

The evening was cool, great sleeping weather.  Went to sleep serenaded by a Bullfrog who lives right behind us.  I am sure we will be hearing from him each night.

Exploring Beech Fork SP, Point Pleasant and Hotdogs.

Started our day with coffee and a nice walk around the Park. Visited the office to get trail maps for later.

Off to explore.  Of course, there was a Big Lots in Huntington so we had to stop a buy stuff we didn't need.  Bruce did get a deal on a Perfect Hose he has been wanting so that worked out well.

After shopping, we headed out for Pleasant Point, WV.  This new App, Roadside America, is great. It gives us destinations wherever we are.  Our first stop was the Mothman Statue.

Then off to the Mothman Shop and Museum to learn about the story.  Briefly, some teenagers were parked in a local hangout, an old munitions factory, and saw a 7 foot tall, man-shaped figure with wings and glowing red eyes.   Others reported seeing him too.   The legend is that a disaster will occur soon and indeed thirteen months later the Silver Bridge, crossing the Ohio River collapsed killing 46 people and injuring 9.  Supposedly, the Mothman or a similar creature is seen all over the world before a disaster.

At the end of town, we went to Tu-Endie-Wei State Park.  Here we visit the grave sites of "Mad Ann" Bailey, a frontier heroine.  Also the grave of Cheif Cornstock, a peaceful Indian who was still brutally murdered by soldiers.  An old log house, The Mansion, built in 1776 is also here. Surprising large on the inside, especially for the times.  It was full of historic items and an extremely large collection of arrowheads.

A fascinating collapsing barn along the way.

Next stop, Hillbilly Hotdogs.  What can I say about this place?  We could barely find the door. Everywhere you look is stuff.  You eat in an old school bus.  When Bruce put a tip in the jar the staff rang the bell and sang the "We got the Weenies" song.

A running moonshine still, a wedding chapel, trucks in trees, no end to the stuff.  The hotdogs were good too.  Visitors can sign almost anywhere.  There was a small space on the school bus window where we ate, so we left our names too.

Back to the campground to rejuvenate.