Day 190

April 11, 2018                                                                                                       Day 190

I woke up to a beautiful day with the sun shining and the beautiful color of green grass!  Since I had planned to get breakfast with the guy from last night I didn't bother to shower or eat and just got dressed and drove into town to a place called Shakespeare and Co. where we were meeting up.  The food there was pretty good but the design and detail in the place is what really stood out to me.  It was quite exquisite looking.  After breakfast, I drove back to my campsite and went to take one last shower.  The day was so beautiful and it was warm enough out I did not need a jacket, the sun was shining, the birds were singing and it felt like spring!  I really didn't want to spend this beautiful day inside driving but I didn't want to spend any more money on a campsite. 

Kentucky has surprised me that much is true.  It was a lot more beautiful and interesting than I would have thought.  The entire landscape are hilly fields drenched in a rick green color and everyone seems to own quite a bit of land that is usually dotted with cows and horses.  The people are not the most attractive, especially compared to those found in Charleston, South Carolina, but one can tell they work hard for a living.  Lexington, although not quite as big a city as Chicago or Charleston, has an air of small town living.  Every farm has beautiful two fence rows going throughout their property with at stately home and gates.  The bright green fields are filled with beautiful horses and their offspring!  I wish I could have stayed longer to really get a feel for the place and I look forward to visiting it again in the future.

Driving north towards Ohio I was relaxed and feeling like my old self again.  Dorothy played on the radio and the fields rolled on by outside my window...which by the way were slightly less steep then those of Kentucky.  Before I left the state of Kentucky I stopped at Magee's Bakery in Maysville.  There was no one inside except for an older man who may have been her son?  I ordered a transparent pie and a cream filled pastry for $4.00.  As we talked I sat down and bit into a slice of heaven!  Pure, delicious heaven and so affordable.  When "Magee" came back in we all got to talking about the moth-man, goat-man, serpent mound, the hidden bunker and how all food today has artificial sweeteners, salt, etc.  She told me that she is 76 years old and does not take a single pill!  They do not buy fruits or vegetables from the store for they grow all their own things and can everything without using salt.  They get their own meat from the animals on the farm or from locals and they have their own eggs.  We discussed how she lives in the same house she grew up in (the one right next door) and there were three bedrooms.  One for the five girls, one for the three boys and one for the parents.  When they got home from school they hung up their clothes and put their work clothes on for they didn't do laundry every day.  All in all I liked talking to her and hope I can be that healthy when I am 76 years old.

From Maysville, I drove in the direction of Hocking Hills State Park listening to music and taking in the beautiful day.  I saw a sign for Serpent Mount and recalled Magee telling me about it so I turned down the road and followed the signs.  I discovered that it was not that great and even when one climbed the tower one couldn't really see the whole effigy.  I got back in my vehicle and spoke with my grandma Hoefferle while I drove to a rest area near Piketon, Ohio.

I was the only RV, truck or vehicle and the landscape was beautiful.  I made a wrap with chicken, roast beef, lettuce, hummus and cucumbers and grabbed my last desert from the bakery.  I didn't even need to snuggle into my blanket to keep warm.  I ate my lunch/dinner and updated my journal.  I had poor cell service and had nothing else really to do so I went to bed until my mom called me later in the evening and woke me up.

Day 189

April 10, 2018                                                                                                           Day 189

I woke up to the wonderful melody of birds...spring may finally be here!  I slept so well last night with no bad dreams which was great.  As I opened my door and peered out into the early morning mist that still clung to the lush green hills of the park I couldn't help but get excited for the day ahead. Out of my sleeping bag I made coffee and then drove down to the camp store this time to try my luck with the showers in the building closest to the store.

Upon entering I could feel the heat so that was a good sign.  Turning on the faucet the water that came out was hot, thank god.  Standing under the hot spray my body relaxed and I just soaked it all in.  Sigh.  I am pretty sure I stayed in the shower for around fifteen minutes and upon getting dressed blow dried and straightened my hair.  As I was finishing up with my makeup a guy yelled "hello" into the bathroom to which I replied, "yes?"  He then went on to ask me, "You about done in there?"  It was his tone that irritated me and I am sorry but I have not showered in some time and will go as slow as I damn well please for I paid to stay here! 

Leaving the shower area a little perturbed I walked into the camp store to pay for my Kentucky Horse Park ticket for I receive a discount if I buy it from the campground.  I also ended up paying to stay another night at the park just so I didn't have to worry about looking for somewhere to stay the night.  At my camper, I was shocked by how nice it was outside for I didn't even need a jacket; however, it would not be a prelude to a beautiful day.  Before driving to the park I made some oatmeal and ate it while listening to all the birds around me.  At 09:30 am I headed to the park entrance which was only located five minutes away if that.

There were only a handful of vehicles and a huge empty lot.  Just the way I like it!  I stopped first at the museum where I spoke to an older man who was there to answer any questions I may have.  After asking a question about the park map I found out he is an army veteran.  We talked for a little bit then I started looking at the museum; however, before I got too far I went back outside to walk to the Hall of Champions where there was to be a show at 10:00.  During the few hours from morning the sun disappeared and the temperature dropped making it quite cold out.  At the Hall of Champions we were shown some beautiful racehorses who had had a great career.  The first one was called, "Go for Gin", and he was a thoroughbred bay stallion who won at the Remsen Stakes, Chief's Crown stakes, Preview Stakes and the Kentucky Derby.  He is also the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner in North America at the ripe old age of 29.  The next one was "Da Hoss" a thoroughbred bay gelding who is one of only 18 horses to win two Breeders' Cup races, only gelding to win two Breeders' cup, first horse to win two Breeders' cup in consecutive years and world record for a 2 year old going 6 furlongs (1:07:1/5).  The third one was "Funny Cide" a thoroughbred chestnut gelding.  He has won the Eclipse Award for 3 year old male of the year, the first New York-bred to do so, U.S. Champion 3-year-old Male (2003), first gelding to win the Kentucky Derby since 1929 among others.  I want to say there was another one but I honestly can not remember.

After that twenty minute show I walked to the next show at the Breeds Barn where they showed four breeds: Akhal-Teke, American Morgan Horse, Gypsy Vanner and a Haflinger.  Next, was a show at the Big Barn with a Shire Horse.  At this point, I was so cold I could think of nothing else so I hiked it back to the museum.  There I would be for the next three hours reading up on the history of horses and the role they played throughout history.  I debated going to the mounted police barn but I was so cold I couldn't so I went and blasted the heat in my vehicle while I looked for  place to get a drink and some food.

I settled on Goodfellas Distillery in Lexington and drove the 12 minutes there.  It was pretty empty but it was a Tuesday and only 16:00 so I was not expecting too much.  The inside was nice and had the rustic warehouse vibe going for it.  I ordered a slice of pizza and a bread stick the length of my arm and then went and sat at the bar where I ordered a bourbon drink they had on the menu.  I was not a big fan of the drink so the next thing I ordered was a brandy old fashion. Sitting there by myself I was somewhat bored and my phone was about to die also so it was not like I could just play on that.  By the time I decided I was going to leave after my third drink the bar was filling up.  As I sipped my last drink, my tab already paid, a guy sat down next to me and started talking to me.  He asked if I was just sitting here by myself having an old fashion (he was drinking the same thing) and when I said yes he told me that was pretty awesome.  We began talking away and before too long our drinks were empty but still we talked.  He asked if I had plans after Goodfellas and since I didn't he invited me to go check out a comedy club.

I followed him in my vehicle to the comedy club which turned out be a bust so we walked to a bar nearby to have a drink.  It was only around 20:00 and the next bar had a beer that smelled exactly like weed and they were playing Independence Day on the TV.   The conversation continued to flow and after two more drinks I needed to stop drinking and get back to my campsite.  Before we parted ways we exchanged numbers and planned to get breakfast next the morning before I headed out of town.  Back at my camper it was peaceful and silent so it did not take me long to pass out; especially, since I went from drinking liquor to beer which makes me tired.

Go for Gin

Funny Cide

Day 188

April 9, 2018                                                                                                         Day 188

Another dream.  In this one my ex was the main figure and as he did in real life he left me and never bothered to inform me that we were over.  Then he came back and had me go on a boat with him though at first he didn't want me to go...everyone else that was there had invited me.  This boat was different for instead of sails it had balloons and I had to stand on a board shaped like surf board to steer it.  I was trying with all my might to keep it up but it was so much force on my legs.  While I was trying to steer the boat he was trying to get back with me and though I longed so badly to be held by a man I refused him.  Then I was back on the board struggling when I fell off and woke up to my legs feeling like they had actually been on the board.

It had snowed and rained last night so I woke up to the gloomy glow of the rest area lights shining thru my sunroof.  I dressed into hiking clothes and ate a slice of bread with almond butter and a banana.  I still did not know what I felt like doing today so finally I just decided upon doing a hike.  Therefore, I drove 17 minutes east to the Rock Bridge Trail near Pine Ridge, KY.  It was a 1.3 mile hike that featured a waterfall and the only true natural arch in the area for water runs under it.  The hike was beautiful and a storm must have gone thru for on both sides of the trail trees were down filling up the landscape. 

With the short hike completed I contemplated doing another hike; yet, I didn't feel like driving around.  Instead I voted to meal prep some and took apart the rotisserie chicken from the other day, cut up carrots, cut a cucumber and cooked asparagus.  Near the end of making some milk my fingers were freezing cold.  I boiled water and did the few dishes I had, gathered up my laundry and made a shake. 

The 1.5 hour drive to Lexington, Kentucky was uneventful.  I pulled into the almost empty campground around 14:00 and parked by the camp store to pay the $24.00 for the primitive site.  When I was presented with the map I was told I could park anywhere in the field.  So I had an entire field to myself which was phenomenal.  I found a spot up on a hill in between three very large trees.  Before doing anything I unhitched my camper and drove back down to the RV area and went to do laundry.  I had to use two washing machines at $2.00 each and while they washed I walked to the other side of the building to shower.

All but three stalls were out of order and one the light had went out.  I turned the faucet on and got ready to soak in the sweet luxury of a hot shower.  The water had a different plan though and barely warmed up to a luke warm temperature so I quickly bathed as my legs were ice cold and goosebumps covered my body.  Stepping out was even colder for the bathroom was not heated.  To say that was not enjoyable would be a huge understatement.  By the time I got back to the laundry room my clothes were done.  I put them all in one dryer, which I have done before mind you, paid $1.50 and waited 44 minutes.  After the 44 minutes my clothes were no where near dry so I had to divide it up between two dryers and pay more money and wait an additional 44 minutes.

To pass the time I sat on the folding counter working on my online fitness business and making a plan to speak with my coach later.  Finally, my clothes were done and I could get back to my camper where I made a wrap and spoke with my coach.  Once my conversation with her ended I then spoke with my dad in Florida about a new laptop.   As the sun went down shadows were cast from the trees onto the bright green grass, birds sang nearby and I was calm. I watched a romantic comedy on Netflix before calling it a night.

Day 187

April 8, 2018                                                                                                       Day 187

It was freezing cold inside my camper so I huddled deeper into my sleeping bag and blanket to hide from the cold.  Eventually I knew I needed to face the cold and begin my day if I wanted to do a long hike.  Opening my camper door I noticed that everything was coated in a thick layer of frost from the 20 degree night.  I walked to the restroom in my leggings with a pair of dark grey sweatpants I had found at home for painting.  The bright purple of my woolly socks stuck out against my tan shoes.  To top my attire off I wore two baggy shirts under my jacket and had on mittens.  It was quite the look if I do say so myself. :)  When I got back to my camper I turned my vehicle on to defrost the windows and made some black coffee and oatmeal for breakfast.  I cleaned my dishes and locked up my camper before I changed into my hiking clothes.  Taking down my canopy was irritating for it was covered in frost so I had to shake it off and then roll it up and put it away damp which I absolutely hate.

Once I had everything in order I called up mom to let her know my plan for the day which was to hike the Cumberland River Trail and then jaunt up to Pinnacle Knob Fire tower and continue onto the Anvil Branch Trail which would take me to the Rock House Trail for about 0.2 miles.  Lastly, I would continue onto the Wildflower Loop Trail ending on the Moonbow trail making my trip 7.5 miles.

Starting out the weather was fair at about 35 degrees Fahrenheit and at some point the sun made a rare appearance!  In fact, it was such a rare sighting that I texted one of my friends a picture of it and asked what strange object is that in the sky? :)  In the beginning of my hike I ran into an older woman who was out with her dog, a Rhodesian Ridge-back, and it reminded me how badly I want one of those breeds.  So for the rest of my hike I kept imaging I had one as a pet and what we would do. Like on so many of my hikes I became lost in my own head and it was easy to do for I did not see another person my entire hike.

The landscape here is littered with the leaves of last Fall and moss clings to everything.  One is constantly accompanied by the sound of water trickling off of stone and making its way to the grand Cumberland River.  The river itself is a beautiful teal color and is in quite the hurry to get to its next destination.  The most pronounce thing about Kentucky to me, besides the rock cliffs, are its endless hills!   By god is any part of this state flat?!  The people here must have huge leg muscles for I can surely feel my gluteus maximus!  I should have some fine looking legs after this.

After two hours and 36 minutes and an elevation gain of 1,375 feet I was back at my vehicle.  I called and informed mom that I was off the trail and we talked for some time.  Leaving Cumberland Falls State Park I drove to the Fitchburg furnace.  The drive there proved to be slightly complicated for first my GPS decided to take me on some crazy road and then ditch me so I had to navigate myself back out; thankfully, I know how to use a map.  Then everyone's dogs here apparently don't know how to stay off the road for I came across about 20 of them!   They were right in the road so I had to almost stop to get by and three of them tried to attack my vehicle!  What the hell people.  Lastly, all the roads to get to the Fitchburg Furnace were so winding and up such steep inclines that the fastest I ever went was 20 mph.  My poor brakes and transmission were getting quite the workout in. 

When I wasn't concentrating like the dickens on the road I observed that a lot of the farmland and all the animals I encountered were covered in mud.  Chickens, roosters and guinea hens ran around the yards and in between the farms and weathered down buildings there were only a handful of "nice" homes.  At least every piece of land had one building being held up with boards that were rotting away and contained a rusting out steel roof.  It was unique and pretty in the rustic kind of way. 

Around 18:00 I finally arrived at the furnace where I snapped a few pictures and got back on the road to my camping spot.  Thirty minutes to an hour later I found out the road to the campsite was closed so I made a new plan.  I decided to spend the night at a rest area in Slade, Kentucky and once I was parked I called and talked with mom.  I tried to eat some more of the rotisserie chicken I had bought but I just couldn't stomach it so I went into my camper and went to bed.

Day 186

April 7, 2018                                                                                                              Day 186

There was no sunshine to wake up to so I got up around 07:30 and it was quite chilly out about 27 degrees. Last night I had yet another dream.  This time it was not a family member but someone was trying to kill me.  I really wish I knew what these dreams meant if anything. I laid in bed for quite some time until I had to go the bathroom and could not wait any longer.  When I came back from the bathroom I had yogurt and fruit juice for breakfast with some hot tea while updating my Excel receipts in my vehicle.

Around 09:00 or 10:00, I can't remember, I changed into hiking clothes and unhitched my camper.  I drove twenty-five minutes Northeast to Cumberland Falls State Park.  At the visitor center I dealt with a lazy and uninformative worker who literally did not answer any of my questions and told me just to go buy a map at the gift shop.  So I walked over to the shop and bought a postcard along with a map of the park.  After weighing my options I chose to hike to Eagle Falls which was approximately 2.5 miles long and led to a beautiful waterfall.  Although the trail was somewhat strenuous it did not take the five hours the guy at the visitor center said it would; I completed it in an hour.

It lightly snowed on and off all day and was a moist and cold day.  The landscape reminded me a lot of Oregon for everything was damp and covered in moss.  After hiking I went back to the visitor center and combined part of the Moonbow trail, Rock House trail and Wildflower loop trail to make about another 2.5 miles.  The trail itself was decent with a couple trees down in the trail so I had to maneuver around them.  Throughout that hike I had service so I texted my younger brother sending him pictures to share my experience with him.

It was only going on 15:00 when I was done hiking but I felt tired which I attribute to the weather.  I have noticed that my mood is very dependent upon the weather.  I called my mom to let her know I was done hiking and heading back to my camper.  There I changed into clean, comfy clothes and made a dinner/lunch of grits, cheese, turkey slices and a Grolsch lager...pretty much all I had left to eat.  I did the dishes after heating up water, wrote in my journal and then chilled the rest of the day.

Day 185

April 6, 2018                                                                                                           Day 185

Last night I had yet another bad dream.  This time I was in a helicopter, on one of those tourist rides, with my older brother.  The pilot took us so close to the water filled, neigh invested, with alligators that the helicopter crashed.  As soon as we hit the water everyone was scrambling to unhook themselves and swim as fast as they could to safety and avoid being eaten.  As I was swimming I realized my brother was not with me so I stopped swimming and began to desperately search for him.  It was then, as I turned back to the helicopter that I saw him being torn apart by the alligators and screaming for me to help him.  It was to his screaming that I woke up in tears.  What do all these horrible dreams  that I keep having mean?

Thankfully, I was able to go back to sleep for a little bit and when I woke again the sun was shining and it was a little warmer out.  Though my heart was heavy from the nightmare the campground was beautiful with the morning light shining through the trees and the birds singing lightly in the trees.  As I ate my oatmeal on a picnic table a white-breasted nuthatch almost landed right on me and stayed close to me while I ate.  With my breakfast finished I changed into my hiking clothes and prepped my pack for a day underground.  I was meeting up at Shelter B at 09:40 to do the Grand Avenue tour which is a four mile and about four hour tour in the caves. 

It was only going on 08:00 so I figured I had time to get some hiking in before the tour began.  I drove to the visitor center where I parked my camper and took off on the  Green River Bluffs Trail.  The trail turned out to be beautiful and I was pleased that I decided to hike it.  The only other people on the trail were two women and their two dogs.  It was early morning and I scared off a doe that was nearby.  From that trail I connected with the Echo River Spring Trail, after I saw the River Styx, and then jumped on the sinkhole trail where I hightailed it to the visitor center!  I practically ran the last leg of the hike thinking I was going to miss my tour.  Thankfully, I made it with minutes to spare.

Our tour guide was an older gentleman who looked liked someone who had served due to his statue, crop trim haircut and his attitude.  His name was John and he informed us that he used to be a high school drama teacher. By looking at him one would not have seen it but when he spoke his was clear, strong and could be heard from some distance away.  Right from the beginning I liked him...he seemed kind.  It amazes me how with some people one immediately feels comfortable around as if one has known them for years. When he informed us this would be very a strenuous and more of a walking tour then a talking tour I do not believe the boy-scouts that were with us were paying attention.

The first mile underground was okay yet it wasn't until the last mile that I really enjoyed the tour.  I think it may have been better had those kids not been there.  They kept pushing everyone around and jumping in front of people and then going back again.  They also screamed and talked rudely so for me it ruined the experience.  Especially at the one point where John told everyone to sit silently as they shut off the lights so we could experience "true" darkness.  They were not quite once throughout that time period.  When we exited the cave we rode on buses back to the visitor center where I bought a sticker for my cooler and called mom to let her know I made it out.

After eating a hard boiled egg and a clementine I drove to the shower area and paid $3.00 for about an eight minute shower.  This was my first shower since March 27th and it felt amazing!  I even blow dried my hair and straightened it before getting in my vehicle and driving towards Cumberland Falls State Resort Park about two hours away.  I did cave in and stopped at Wendy's to get some food more so as a comfort then being really hungry.  I still can not shake this feeling of wanting this trip over with and tired of being alone. 

In any case, I  pulled into Barren Fork Horse Camp in Stearns, KY and chose a site.  It was about to snow/rain so I quickly setup my canopy and got it up just as the first drop of rain fell.  As it poured outside I sat in my camper talking to my parents before I wrote in my journal and went to bed.

Day 184

April 5, 2018                                                                                                                 Day 184

Sigh, another cold day.  Where is the excitement and happiness I once had on this trip of mine?  I wake up and feel like disappearing wishing the day was already over with.  I just can not shake this feeling I have deep inside me that something is wrong or missing.  As I sat in my camper last night it hit me just how alone I am.  Yes, I have my family but they don't even know half of the things I have been through and dealt with.  It would be nice to have just one person who knows everything there is to know about me and vice versa. One who I can talk to about anything and is able to give me their honest, no bullshit opinion whether I want to hear it or not.  Is that crazy...or unrealistic?   Normally, I like being alone that or it has never bothered me before.  So the fact that it is getting to me is starting to frustrate me.  What has changed?

Anyways, I got out of my camper around 07:00 to use the restroom and mix together Greek yogurt with fruit juice for breakfast.  I walked over to the well to pump up water to fill all my bottles and then closed up my camper for the road.  My first stop for the day would be the Walmart in  Harrisburg, Illinois to acquire some solar seal or Eva-dry if they even carry it.  After I stood around for almost 15 minutes waiting for an employee to show up (how is it that in these huge stores it always seems like nobody works?) to ask them just in case I missed it I was told they do not have either of those.   I then went to the Subway to get a sandwich for I was starving. 

Leaving Walmart, I headed to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky which was approximately three hours away.  The drive was nothing special and yet Kentucky is a beautiful state.  Not one area of this state seems to be flat.  It was consistently hills and rolling green farms scattered with cows and horses throughout the drive. Everything also seemed to be flooded and at times the sides of the road would disappear into lakes. 

When I arrived at the park it was packed and quite chaotic.  People and kids were everywhere fighting each other to get into line or to move from one area of the visitor center to the other.  I quickly acquired my prepaid ticket and asked an employees advice on trails and got myself out of there.  From there I drove right down the road to the camping area and I hate that on top of having to pay $20.00 just to camp I also have an additional charge to use the showers. By the time I got to my site it was around 16:00 and though I should go do some hiking to get my moneys worth I just couldn't find the motivation to get going.  Instead, I ate my sandwich while sitting in my camping chair directly in the sun soaking up as much of it as I could.  Once I began to get cold I went into my camper and called it an evening.