Category: Uncategorized

Cincinatti Ohio

8 May 2018

I am staying with Amber in her apartment in Cincinatti. I met Amber and her friend Ryan on a pedestrian bridge in Nashville Tennessee three (3) years ago when I asked them to take a photo of me with the Predators stadium in the background.

They asked me where I was from and what I was doing in Nashville and at that time I was travelling around America (North and South) after dropping off my son at George Washington University for his semester of exchange study abroad. I was also to fly to Orlando to watch my older son compete in the Cheerleading World Championships.

After having dinner, Amber and Ryan filmed me bootscooting at the White Horse Saloon and Ryan offered me one of his spare tickets to the Ice Hockey playoffs between the Nashville Predators and Chicago Black Hawks. My second ice hockey game and both times the Black Hawks won.

Ryan Amber and I have communicated since then and I am now in Amber’s apartment in Cincinatti as she kindly invited me to stay and show me around.

Last night’s baseball game was lots of fun with Amber and her friends, Brenna and Carlos.

This morning I went to Eden Park, an oasis in suburban Cincinatti, although to get there I had to dodge some squirrels scampering out from the woods. The park overlooks the Ohio River to Kentucky.

This statue of Remus and Romulus and the Wolf was gifted to Cincinatti by Benito Mussolini.

This cormorant fisherman statue is a friendship gift from Japan. I found the description about the work demanded of the Cormorant disturbing.

Quaint mushroom house.

Tomorrow on to West Virginia.

Kentucky to Ohio

7 May 2018

Every time I cross another border I am amazed at what I see. I seem to continually say “it is soo pretty” or “WTF, how big can these houses get!” I have to say these to myself as I cannot call my friends because of the time difference in Australia or unless they are here in the moment it just is not the same or they get annoyed that it is a reminder they are at work and I am not. It is probably the worst part of travelling alone, not having someone to share the moment, but it doesn’t make me want to change anything. I would be happy for someone to join me but I am really enjoying the whole experience, even the melancholy moments, which do not last for long.

There are people around whom I can have a chat with, whether it is the hotel manager who works the late shift that I had a late night snack with or the elderly man who insisted on escorting me across the Roebling Suspension Bridge from Kentucky to Ohio.

Or the person who filmed this crazy 50+ year old climbing the flying pigs sculpture in Cincinatti.

There’s always someone who will fulfill my need to have a chat.

Cincinatti was known as “porcopolis” in the 1800s so they have a Flying Pigs Marathon and flying pigs to welcome you to the riverfront.

Cincinatti is known as the Queen City of Ohio. A Queen City is the largest city of a State or province which isn’t the capital.

Then there are the people dancing on the keyboard of the Smale Park Foot Piano.

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The Smale Park tulips in the Alzheimer’s Garden.

The Roebling Covington Floodwall murals on the Kentucky side of the Roebling Suspension Bridge.

And I went to my first baseball game in the USA at the Great American Ballpark the home of the Cincinatti REDS. What a lot of fun these games are, not just to enjoy the game but the audience fun with Kiss Cam and shooting T-shirts out of a cannon into the audience and general fun capturing the audience on screen.

I got a certificate for my first baseball game and had the obligatory photo with a police officer and the REDS mascot.

Thank you Amber for the great night.

Pikeville Kentucky

6 May 2018

I woke up to a heavy rain but decided no matter what, I was going sightseeing.

I drove to Pauley Bridge (the bridge to nowhere) and just as I stepped onto the bridge the sun came out and the rain stopped.

The Breaks known as the Grand Canyon of the South is on the border of Virginia (Virginia is for Lovers) and Kentucky, 48 km (30 miles) from Pikeville.

This is the vista from the Kentucky side overlooking the Russell Fork River, which is popular for whitewater rafting.

I then drove to the Stateline Lookout on the Virginia side of The Breaks.

The Breaks Stateline Lookout Virginia

I thought these Elk were cute in Elkhorn City.

The Hatfield and McCoy feud is a very big part of Pikeville history and could be compared in some ways to Australia’s Ned Kelly story. The town has a historical trail of the Feud including the resting place of some involved in the feud.

I have been complaining about the weight I am gaining because I am driving so much and not dancing. I heard about the 99 steps of UPike (University of Pikeville). “UPike climb of 99” . So I decided to do this walk for some exercise. This climb is also part of an initiation for Freshmen.

What a surprise when I got to the top that I was given a goodies bag as congratulations.

Did I say I did the walk because of my weight gain?

These cute bear structures are scattered around Pikeville.

AS a volunteer for the Red Cross Emergency Services I am keen to meet up with other volunteers around the world. When I found this sign for the Red Cross I asked where the volunteer office was located. Someone in uniform advised me that they were located on the 4th floor. No-one was in the office but I soon realised I was in the local gaol.

Behind the corrections facility you will find the Pikeville Drag Racing track.

I ended my time in Pikeville with this sad story of Octavia Hatcher

Kentucky

5 May 2018

Today I left North Carolina for Pikeville Kentucky. I randomly chose Pikeville as a stop as it was just over three (3) hours drive from Asheville.

A reminder that the goal of my trip is to visit the States I have not yet been to, today I started in North Carolina and to my excitement within three (3) hours I drove through Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia to get to Kentucky. So today I could mark off three (3) more States. Although I won’t count them until I have stopped at some spot of interest.

The drive got a bit scary at times. It started raining as I crossed into Kentucky. It was pelting down and at times the car aquaplaned. The road was very steep and winds through the Appalachian mountains and there were many spots where the water funneled across the road rather than down the side of the road. Thankfully the drivers here aren’t like the aggressive Floridians.

Arrived at my motel, the Daniel Boone Motor Inn, yep, he was a real person, not just in the TV show. He is famous for exploring and settling one of the first American townshipswest of the Appalachians, Boonesborough, Kentucky. I took it easy the first night in Pikeville as the rain has not let up.

Asheville North Carolina

5 May 2018

Last night I had a fun night shooting pool with hillbillies from Flat Creek. Today I had a giggle with people at the other end of the spectrum, the Omni Grove Park Inn.

This hotel has two (2) fireplaces, each 11 metres (36 feet) wide which can burn logs up to 4 metres (12 feet)long in the great hall which is 36 metres (120 feet) long and 24 metres (80 feet) wide.

Check the size of the chimney.

The view from the rear terrace.

The original lift still functions and runs along the chimney shafts within rockwork of the fireplace.

The 3rd floor is the original atrium lobby.

Betsy is one of the Hotel Ambassadors who not only provided me a history of this hotel but recounted her time at MLC Melbourne when she was 13 years old.

Not only was I impressed with all the fine detail of this plush hotel, what made an impact was that anyone is welcome to spend the day admiring and touring the hotel without being a guest. They also have three (3) hours free parking to allow you to do this. This fabulous hotel also has a golf course. Perhaps one day I can afford to stay here.

This morning I visited the historical birthplace of the Governor of North Carolina Zebulon B Vance. He served both during and after the Civil War.

Lake Lure is the famous place Dirty Dancing was filmed. I was disappointed I didn’t have anyone to reproduce the lake scene with nor anyone to dance with in the gazebo.

The flowering bridge in Lake Lure

The Broad River in Chimney Rock is dotted with pretty cabins and houses.

I found the Bat Cave but Batman was nowhere to be seen.

These homes in Asheville are very different to the homes in Florida and other parts of the USA. I could have photographed so many more.

South and North Carolina

3 May 2018

Goodbye Savannah. I don’t plan much of this trip until the day before and even on the day I change my stops.

I don’t even know why I chose Congaree National Park to stop at on the way to Asheville North Carolina.

I left Savannah with its beautiful Spanish moss trees.

The Congaree National Park is in South Carolina and has hardwood trees.

This park is so serene and peaceful you can hear the wind rustling through the tops trees with no movement in the leaves but squirrels scampering and lots of birdsong.

However something broke the peacefulness and the park ranger confirmed what I thought was gunshots in the distance. Hunting season was on for hogs which are a nuisance here as well as at home.

The park ranger said not many Aussies come through here and he gifted me a walking stick for my walkabout.

This mosquito meter would be useful at home.

Driving through South Carolina I came across several rail crossings. I gave myself a wake up when I almost drove through one without stopping to check for trains.

I had a car tailgating me, as almost every car does in this country and I cannot shake the uneasiness I feel. I feel pressured to drive faster and try to make a conscious effort not to let the vehicle behind me control my speed.

This afternoon at this first railway crossing, it had flashing lights but no boom gate. I did slow down, looked right and left, then crossed the track. What felt like just 5 seconds later I looked in my rear mirror and a train went flying past sounding the warning signal. It reminded me of the book I was reading on the train to San Diego which stated there were many fatalities on USA rail crossings as many don’t have flashing lights or boom gates and people don’t pay attention or don’t stop and check before driving over the track. I certainly will stop no matter how close another car is to me.

Other signage of interest is the animal warnings. I have seen a lot of roadkill including small pig, snake, deer, possum and lots unidentifiable. Some of the signs have been to watch out for pigs (boar), alligators, deer, bears, turtles.

Crossing the border to North Carolina is another new experience. I feel like I am in hillbilly country and that was confirmed for me later in the evening. The landscape is hilly/mountainous, very green, with very different trees to the previous States.

The Airbnb I am staying in is in the backwoods of Weaverville. Do you agree it sounds like somewhere Gomer Pyle would come from? (O lordy I just Googled Gomer Pyle and the character is portrayed as from North Carolina)

The road (or rather track) to the house is similar to the road to Jenolan Caves. Narrow, windy, with big drops if you go over the edge it is a long way down. I had to psych myself up to leave the house knowing that I would have to drive that road in the dark on the way back from dinner. I don’t think anything has frightened me this much on the trip. Well of course I went to search for dinner and dancing. My hosts recommended Cowboys Lounge for dancing as it was open until 2am and that sounded perfect.

I mastered the windy road and when I got to the main road wasn’t sure whether to go right or left. When I took the left turn the GPS rerouted so I thought all would be fine. I passed this church.

And this building

And the road started to get narrower and steeper. When I came across a car stopped on the other side of the road on a dangerous bend I stopped and asked for directions. The person was the Sherrif and he was so concerned about where I was going he insisted I turn around and follow him. He said I would have arrived at my destination but the road was not a good one. He also said he didn’t think Cowboys Lounge was a place for me but he could show me where to get dinner. So I followed him to Weaverville and found an Italian restaurant, Glass Onion, with soup so delicious I took a second order back to the Airbnb.

Of course I didn’t pay attention to the Sheriff’s recommendation not go to the Cowboys Lounge which is now called the Tbirds. It was exactly what I was looking for. A place with locals, rednecks and by their admission, hillbillies. I was made very welcome by everyone. Most of them had never met an Aussie ever. One had been to Melbourne twice but he didn’t look nor act like a local. One asked me if I had been to Flat Creek before. I made him laugh because I had no idea that was where I was.

I had a few games of pool and had a lovely evening with these people.

Tybee Island Day 2

2 May 2018

I loved Tybee Island so much and I pneeded to rest so I decided to do that at the beach and enjoy this feel good spot in Savannah.

On the way there, something in my rear vision mirror caught my attention. I had been watching the news earlier and there was a discussion about tornadoes. My first reaction to the black shape in the distance was that it could be a tornado. When I got to stop at the lights I realised it was smoke. I made a mental note to check if it was a bushfire or something else.

When I arrived at the beach I hired a beach chair for $US5, paid $US6 for parking and just had a nap in between watching the school children again frolicking in the water and digging in the sand to China.

I didn’t give the smoke another thought until a news report popped up on Google that a National Guard plane crashed on a road just outside Savannah Hilton Head International Airport. None of the 9 passengers survived but miraculously the plane did not hit any vehicles or homes when it crashed on the Savannah 21. Very sad for the families of the deceased.

In the evening I revisited the Doubles Nightclub for some “shag” dancing. I danced with some people I met there 3 years ago. Thank you to Barbara and Mary Ann for making me feel welcome.

A lovely way to end my second visit to one of my favourite cities.

Tybee Island Georgia

1 May 2018 Already!!

The start of my third month of travel. Can you believe it!! I have only visited 2 of the 30 States I plan on doing on this trip. I have had to cross other States I have already done to do that but soon I will be venturing to more States not yet touched.

Today I explored Tybee Island Georgia for the first time. What a pretty place. The sand isn’t the sparkling white of the Gulf Coast but the whole place has a good vibe with a pavillion and several wooden fishing piers and quaint wooden swing benches dotted along the beach.

There is a Marine Science Centre near the beach and there were many (Primary) elementary school kids on excursion. It was so beautiful watching them enjoy the sand and surf.

A teacher told me it was the first time at the beach for many of the children. They were given small kitchen sieves to dig the sand in the water to find shells and they are taught about looking after the environment for the animals such as birds and turtles.

I met a lovely couple, Janice and Mike who recommended some places in Maine and Michigan for me to visit. Someone thought we were friends and took this pic, pointing out she wanted to include the wording on the fence. “I love life”. Messages everywhere for me!

Something I would like to see implemented in Sydney is the Park and Pay system on the island. You pay for a parking ticket which can be used anywhere on the island, not just one place, for whatever time period you pay for.

I could have stayed at the beach all day, but I had exploring to do.

Fort Screven

Tybee Island Lighthouse

And some colourful moments around the island

Back in Savannah I have been sitting in this lovely park, Forsyth Park (one of 2 largest in Savannah) updating my blog.

The city encourages people to hang hammocks and slack lines across the park trees. Another thing Sydney needs to loosen up on.

The oldest, most expensive hotel in Savannah, Manion on Forsyth Park has a display of hats covering the period from 1860s.

The elegant Ladies Restroom.

Savannah’s Jones Street is said to be the origin of the saying “keeping up with the Jones’ “.

So many places I have been to in the USA have beautiful decorations and furniture outside their homes. How lovely to be able to do this without vandalism and theft marring the neighbourhoods.

I found a trivia group held on Tuesdays in Wild Wings Cafe in Pooler on Meet Ups with an East Londoner host. Missing my trivia friends and family in Sydney.

We came 1st!!

Goodbye Florida Hello again Savannah Georgia

30 April 2018

Today I will drive to Savannah Georgia. I’ve been there before but to get to Kentucky need to go through a state/town I have already visited. Between Nashville (too far off my current route although love the country music and the Grand Ole Opry), Charleston South Carolina (love the dancing there and stunning plantation mansions) but Savannah won as it is such a pretty place and I want to revisit some of the places with paranormal activity I experienced last time. I also enjoyed *shag” dancing (it’s a swing dance – get your mind out of the gutter).

On the way to Savannah I stopped off at the World Golf Hall of Fame in between Jacksonville and St Augustine Florida

It is rare for a place to celebrate the achievements of a sport which includes male and female sports people across 26 countries.

I found our Aussie Greg Norman’s spot on the walk.

As well as the list of Aussie champions

There are world class hotels very nearby. You can also purchase a condo at “The Residences” for you die hard golfers, where you can have a view of the Hall of Fame tower or even the #8 hole. Decisions decisions.

I find it curious that I ended up here at the high end of golfing history when I have only just played 2 games of 9 holes so far, but we have to start somewhere.

Two (2) hours up the road in Townsend, Georgia I snapped these photos of USA’s smallest church.

I exerienced dejavu as soon as I drove into midtown Savannah. I randomly booked the least expensive hotel which stated it was 3km from the historical district but it actually is 18km away. It was next door to the hotel I stayed in three (3) years ago. I went looking for the nightclub I enjoyed “shag” dancing and there it was, still there. Unfortunately I won’t be shagging this time as the dance is on Wednesday night and I will be on the road again Wednesday morning.

I took a couple of photos in the historical district at night.v

I have yet to compare them to last time’s photos to see if there are any “orbs” (evidence of paranormal activity). The photos are too small on my phone to examine properly.

St Augustine Florida

29 April 2018

St Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European established settlement in the USA (1565) in Northern Florida.

This is the moat around the castello.

The Old Spanish Trail Zero Milestone

Flagler College

The oldest wooden schoolhouse in the USA.

Beautiful houses in the historic district.

Government House

Love treesare when two species of tree join or intertwine.

The oldest house in St Augustine

Obelisk Art 450

The Great Cross Mission and Shrine of our Lady de Leche

I needed the Fountain of Youth today but arrived too late to enter.

Some photos around town.

Churches of St Augustine

That is all for Florida this trip. I have enjoyed the wonderful weather, huge houses, did not enjoy the most aggressive drivers so far on USA roads. I could live in Northern Florida. Next stop Savannah Georgia.