Day 17 - Stanton, KY to Salvisa, KY

Up by 9:00.  The morning is overcast and cooler, but still very humid.

Got hooked-up and on the road by 10:30.

The 93 mile trip to Cummins Ferry Resort was pleasant.  Sunny and calm.  Traffic was moderate and the roads were very good.  We passed Lexington and are camped about 15 miles north of Harrodsburg.

Cummins Ferry Resort is located on KY-1988 about 5 miles east of US-127, on the Kentucky River.  It's tucked out of the way.  It's well managed and quite nice.

Heading for campground on KY-1988

Campground entrance

View of the Kentucky River from the camp store

We got set up at the campground by 1:30, then went to a highly recommended local restaurant (Family Affair) for lunch.

We drove to the Walmart in Harrodsburg after lunch for some groceries and RV supplies.

5:30pm - it's overcast, calm and humid.

Day 16 - Stanton, KY (Day 3)

We slept late and woke to a sunny, hot day.  It didn't stay that way.

This was a low-key day.  With nothing planned, we just made it up.  

We spent the morning planning our next leg of the trip.  National Geographic's "Kentucky Heartland Drive" is tomorrow's destination.

Then, we headed to Hemlock Lodge at the Natural Bridge State Resort Park for a late lunch.  Hemlock Lodge seemed like an odd name for a place to eat.  We laughed it off and arrived with thoughts of a sandwich.  We ended up enjoying their lunch buffet.  Lunch included dessert and a 79 year-old fellow (waiting for his carryout order) who just needed to talk with someone ... and he did, with us.

We drove around the area after lunch listening to Rachel Maddow's podcast from Wednesday night.

Adjusting to our new way of travelling is more difficult than expected.  We worked on the approach after we got back to the trailer.

The sky started darkening around 5 pm.  Hamburgers came off the grill at 6:40 and the rain started at 6:40.  It's dark.  There's thunder, lightning and rain.  It sure is nice to be safe and dry.

Day 15 - Stanton, KY (Day 2)

The day started as clear, sunny, hot (83°) and humid (62%).  We did some wandering and exploring.

First, we drove to Stanton for some groceries.  The drive along Compton Road revealed a lot about the folks living out in the country here ... it's pretty hard living.

Then we went to Natural Bridge State Resort Park and took the Skylift (chair lift) to see the Natural Bridge.  The ride was exhilarating.  The walk from the lift to the "bridge" offered many views of the massive formation.  We were grateful for having round-trip lift tickets.

Up we go

On top of the bridge

Taking a look below the bridge

Glad we had a light breakfast

The way down

Under the bridge

We ended our exploration by driving the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway.  Unlike last night, we had sunlight and cameras in-hand.

Nada Tunnel

Single lane, 900'

The byway snakes through the forest.

Yep, There is a Red River.

We stopped at Subway for dinner on the way back to the campground.  It was an easy way to escape from grilling on a hot, sticky evening.

Clouds appeared in the late-afternoon.  We may get some rain tonight.

Day 14 - London, KY to Stanton, KY

It's another sunny morning.  Time to move on.

Up at 8:00, on the road by 10:10 am.

It was an interesting 75 mile trip.  We left London on US-30 and cruised along a divided, two-lane highway for a while, then the GPS didn't know where the road was.  Turned off the GPS and enjoyed a bit more cruising on US-30.  Then, it became a single, dual-lane highway.  It was hilly and curvy, some parts had no berm (a white line and then a drop-off, with no guard rails).  Fortunately, traffic was light.

US-30 had lots of caution signs.

We passed through towns with interesting names ...Mummie, Levi, Zoe, and Zachariah.  

We stopped in Booneville at the Ole Bus Stop Diner for an early lunch.  Service was excellent and the menu selection was huge.  Our sandwich orders were so large we had to pass on their homemade desserts.  We're in Kentucky ... they had a smoking and non-smoking sections.

4 Guys RV Park is in the Daniel Boone National Forest ... it's about 60 miles southeast of Lexington.  Services are modern.  It'll be a good spot to explore from.  This stop is the 400th time we've set up the trailer.

It's 91° and very humid.  Everyone is inside their RVs this afternoon.

We took an orientation drive around the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway this evening.  We'll go back tomorrow for pictures.

Day 13 - London, KY (Day 4)

It's Labor Day.  Our labor was limited to doing laundry, draining the gray tank and microfiber cleaning of the Airstream interior.

It's another hot day.  The A/C is a blessing.

We made reservations for 3 days at 4 Guys RV Park near Stanton.  It'll be our home base for exploring Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge and Nada Tunnel.

Carol swam in the pool to cool off ... and slipped getting out.

Day 12 - London, KY (Day 3)

We're taking a day trip south to the Cumberland Gap today.

On the road at 10:30 am.

Travelled the southern portion of National Geographic's "Wilderness Road Heritage Highway".

First stop: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.  Went to Visitors Center, viewed history film, and drove Skyline Road to Pinnacle Overlook.

Second stop:  Drove through the Cumberland Tunnel to Cumberland, TN to visit a Daniel Boone exhibit and an Iron Furnace.

Third stop:  Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site near Barbourville.  Dr. Walker was the first white explorer to find the Cumberland Gap.

Returned home at 5:00 pm having driven 142 miles and set foot in three states ... KY, VA and TN.

Watched Joe Burrow and LSU battle Miami.

Day 11 - London, KY (Day 2)

Ran the A/C all night to keep the humidity down.  Comfortable sleep.

Well, we've finally gotten to OSU vs. OSU football game day.  The game is at noon and we're positive the OSU closest to London will win.  And they did ... Buckeyes 77 - Beavers 31.

We explored London a bit.  Grocery shopped and checked out a laundromat.

Watched Cincinnati beat UCLA and Notre Dame beat Michigan.

A low key day.

London Fun Facts:

• Home of the annual World Chicken Festival that celebrates the life of Colonel Sanders.
• Features the World's Largest Stainless Steel Frying Pan at the World Chicken Festival.