My Kentucky road trip yesterday

Junction-Guy

Well this was probably one of the few free days I will have for the next 3 months, so yesterday I was bored and decided to drive up to Kentucky for the day.

I only live about 60 miles from the border, so it wasnt that far.

I left yesterday morning around 8 AM, I traveled up I-75 to Jellico Tennessee, I got off the exit and on the side road. I went about 5 miles up the road, and then turned onto a 2 lane blacktop road-Hwy 90.

I drove through several small communities, and passed a few FreeWill Baptist churches, it was starting to reming me of my home town in Eastern Kentucky.

The road was very curvy and the pavement was awful. I crossed into Kentucky and then the road started getting even more curvy and I drove across a long mountain. I passed some very big strip mines.

As I got closer to Midddlesboro, I thought I would try to find the place that I went 4 wheeling several years ago with some friends from work. I dont know if I was on the wrong road or what, but this road was very dusty, you couldnt even tell that it was paved, there was so much dirt and dust on it. The coal trucks were everywhere, I must have passed 100 loaded coal trucks. I kept following the road, but finally gave up as I wasnt sure if I was going to end up on top of the strip mine, plus the road was so narrow I was worried I would get hit by a truck.

You should see my car now. The natural color of my car is yellow. My car right now looks almost completely gray.

Well anyway I continued through Middlesboro, then went on to Pineville Ky and stopped at Pine Mountain State park. The view from atop that mountain was awesome.

Well I went on down the road further and I passed the Barbourville Ky Kingdom Hall, it was the only one I saw on my trip.

Well I then went to London Ky and went to the Dogpatch Trading Post (big souvenir tourist trap). I also went to the Western Wear store.

For supper I decided to eat at the new White Castle restaurant, I was just craving a White Castle hamburger. This is one of the few towns that now has both a Krystal and a White Castle.

Well to finish up my trip I then headed down to Cumberland Falls state park. The falls are very beautiful, it is a shame they forbid you to swim in the river, as I was very hot yesterday. My AC has been out in my car all summer, and I just havent gotten around to fixing it yet.

Well that was yesterdays adventure, probably wont have much free time in the next few months.

I have always wanted to see Cumberland Falls and Pine Mountain park, and I live so close, I just never made the effort to go see them before now.

Cicatrix

Wow, sounds like you had a great day! Kentucky is absolutely beautiful.

My son and I were talking the other day and came up with a list of things we want to do. We've lived here four years, and haven't been anywhere really. So since I'm not working right now because I'm studying for my nursing boards, we are going to start doing things together on the weekends.

Junction-Guy

Do you live in Kentucky? You can tell me in private if you want to.

Sunspot

Without a doubt---it is beautiful country there!

I lived in WV, (near Pineville) and never ventured as far west as KY, but almost went to the Kingdom Hall (I seem to recall it was in Paintsville KY) one time. I would imagine that your area of KY couldn't be all that different than where I was in WV, haha!

If you're ever in a travellin' mood again, the Granville State Park outside of Beckley, the New River Gorge bridge in Gauley, and the Beckley coal mine exhibit (you get to hop in one of the cars and go underground to see how coal is actually mined) these are well worth the hours you would put into it.

I really enjoyed the area we lived in, it was SO different then being raised in my New England (MA) surroundings.

hugs,

Annie

Cicatrix

I don't live in Kentucky.I'm a Hoosier now.

I passed through a few years back on the way to Florida. I wish there would have been time to stay and explore! My daughter is a HUGE horse fan. It's our dream to one day attend the Kentucky derby-hats, mint juleps, and all;) I also want to visit the caves in the worst way. I was supposed to go see the caves for a graduation trip, but my grandma died that week:(

I'm actually not a huge tourist trap fan myself. I love out of the way places and back roads (country girl who used to live in the middle of national forest here). I just don't know where that would be in Kentucky, lol.

Junction-Guy

Sunspot, Paintsville is where Im from, did you know JW's that lived in Paintsville? I have been to Beckley to that coal mine, I have also been to the New River Bridge. I went to Thurmond also. Did you ever get to Thurmond? There is an old Railroad/auto bridge in Thurmond that reminds me of a bridge we used to have near Paintsville.

Cicatrix, Indiana is a beautiful state too, especially the southern half along the river.

Mum

Wow, JG. You're making me homesick. I was born in Middlesboro. My sister and lots of other relatives live in the Middlesboro-Cumberland Gap area. I have camped at Pine Mountain State Park seen Cumberland Falls from time to time. The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is pretty great, too. There's a settlement in that park, Hensley's Settlement, that was abandoned in the 1960's because it was so hard to get into and out of it. The one tourist attraction I have not yet seen is Cudjo's Cave.

Green with envy,

SandraC

Junction-Guy

Sandra, have you driven through the cumberland gap tunnel?

Sandra, the place that I was in yesterday is called yellow creek. It is just west of middlesboro. The road leads into Tennessee. There are alot of active coal mines up there.

Mum

Yes, I've been through that fancy "new" tunnel (about 6 years old now?). It's a marvel!

There was a story about Old Yellow Creek on Sixty Minutes some years ago. The water supply was contaminated because of the tannery, and people were getting cancer. I don't know if that tannery is still there.

My grandmother used to listen to local preachers on the radio. The Rev. Fern D. Robinson (possibly Robison) of the Old Yellow Creek Baptist Church was one of her favorites. Bro. Robinson has probably gone to his reward by now, too.

Downtown Middlesboro has changed a lot, not as far as the street layout. The department stores and drug stores are gone, and locals are running small businesses out of the buildings that used to house JC Penney, Montgomery Ward, Lee's Drugstore, and others. My granddaughter, who has lived in Nevada since she was 4, can't understand why we left. She says, "It's like the rainforest here. This is where I want to live." Cute!

Regards,

SandraC

Sunspot

Sunspot, Paintsville is where Im from, did you know JW's that lived in Paintsville? I have been to Beckley to that coal mine, I have also been to the New River Bridge. I went to Thurmond also. Did you ever get to Thurmond? There is an old Railroad/auto bridge in Thurmond that reminds me of a bridge we used to have near Paintsville.

No....I didn't actually know anyone in Paintsville, but the brother that brought me and my young'uns to the meetings, was giving a talk there....but for some reason we didn't go that Sunday.

I have pics of my son and hubby on that catwalk UNDER the New River bridge.....I have a fear of heights and stayed waaaay back from all of it, LOL!

Nope, I have never been to Thurmond.

I have been fishing at Beaver Lake outside of Beckley and at the Blue River Falls in WV. I caught a huge catfish in Beaver Lake and brought him right home and fried him up! The kids and I used to catch crayfish and bring those home too! (Like eating miniature lobsters, haha!)

hugs,

Annie

My Kentucky road trip yesterday

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