Posted June 13, 200718 yr There is nothing better than the open road, to explore and discover new and fascinating places about your home state. To get out and enjoy the bright, sunny days, and experience it all. To start, one of my interests is in history, so why not start a trip out to the Isaac Shelby Cemetery State Historic Site just east of Junction City? Isaac Shelby, Kentucky's first and fifth governor, was a highly esteemed military, political, and educational individual whose accomplishments and influence were felt in nine states -- including Ohio, whose Shelby County was named for the governor. Upon his death in 1826, he was buried in the cemetery of his estate, known as Traveller's Rest. 1. Cemetery 2. Kentucky Route 300 Kentucky Route 300, which runs past Traveller's Rest, is a quiet two-lane highway between Junction City and Stanford. A bit more local to Lexington, where I am residing at currently, is Boone Station State Historic Site. Seeking new frontiers, Daniel Boone departed from Fort Boonesborough in 1779 and established a pioneer station at what is now Boone Station, located north of the Kentucky River. It is near the present site of Athens in Fayette County, and was home to 15 to 20 families in the early 1780s. 3. Cemetery Of course, there is nothing I like to do more than mountain bike! And what better place than Capitol View Park in Frankfort! Offering numerous mountain biking trails, basketball courts, softball and soccer fields and meandering paths, this city park in Kentucky's capital city is one that is unique! 4. 5. Natural sinkholes provide a unique challenge and opportunity. And finally, I end with Natural Bridge State Resort Park, adjacent to the Red River Gorge Geological Area. Natural Bridge offers a spectacular natural sandstone arch that is 78 feet long and 65 feet high. Besides the namesake arch, there are a variety of high limestone cliffs, smaller arches and other natural wonders. A sky lift is unique to this Kentucky park, along with unique water features such as Hoedown Island. (The guide has not fully been written at the time of this posting.) 6. Natural Bridge 7. Narrow trail Yes, this is a trail that leads up to Natural Bridge. Let's just say that I am very skinny, and my backpack barely squeezed through this! 8. No comment 9. The Skylift Since 1967, the Skylift has provided visitors the opportunity to see the top of the natural sandstone arch without the hike! The trek is only 1/2 mile but provides spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and flora. 10. Balanced rock Hope you enjoyed this photo set from my home state of Kentucky!
June 13, 200718 yr Dude I was just at natural bridge. It was a lot of fun. Did you go in the cave? No Panera in sight though...bummer. The double arch was more interesting though. We climbed up some really steep hills, I mean...one slippery step and you're gone. Nice pics, thanks for sharing.
June 13, 200718 yr Yeah, but I had one hell of a time getting out of the other side because my camera backpack and tripod was so bulky.
June 13, 200718 yr So if you grow up in northern Kentucky, how do you feel towards Ohio and Cincy? Do you feel more a part of Cincy than KY?
June 13, 200718 yr Natural Bridge brings back nice memories. I don't know if it's still the case, but the inn there used to be a popular place for Thanksgiving dinner, 25 years ago. I went there with Mom and Dad one year, and we stayed there for a couple of days. On Thanksgiving morning I went out and walked some of the trails and ended up on top of the natural bridge. The morning was light overcast with a lingering misty fog and everything was wet, making the colors saturated. It's a gorgeous place. That area has visible remnants of the narrow-gauge railroads that were all over the place during the logging years, including an old tunnel in the park.
June 13, 200718 yr Weird that there's barely any wildlife there. According to a sign I read, they're all in the city parks and suburbs...where hte high concentration of food is!
June 13, 200718 yr So if you grow up in northern Kentucky, how do you feel towards Ohio and Cincy? Do you feel more a part of Cincy than KY? I grew up in northeast Kentucky -- Raceland, near Ashland, to be specific. I now live in Lexington, so I can't say for certain. But I have a friend who lives outside of Union, near Florence, and he feels more a part of northern Kentucky than Cincinnati as that is where he spends more of his time. Rarely does he venture into Ohio.
June 13, 200718 yr Northern Kentuckians generally view Cincinnati as a crime ridden place. They tend to criticize it for never getting anything done, corrupt politics and are likely to brag about their Newport On The Levee. They have a billboard on 71 advertising Ovation that says "Trump This" as a result of their small penis complex.
June 17, 200718 yr Here are some more from Friday. I have yet to put these on any of my web-sites. L&N Mt. Vernon subdivision, near Sinks, Kentucky. (I believe that is the correct name of the subdivision.) L&N (now CSX) rail tunnel at Mullins, Kentucky. Quarry at Mullins, Kentucky. Stuart and myself at the quarry. Golden hay awaits harvesting along Kentucky Route 1910 near Berea, Kentucky.
June 17, 200718 yr Not much else, actually. We were taking a long random drive through south-central Kentucky, and I was following an old L&N line and ... wap. Pretty nice to drive through, walk in, and party at (future notes...).
June 18, 200717 yr Natural Bridge brings back nice memories. I don't know if it's still the case, but the inn there used to be a popular place for Thanksgiving dinner, 25 years ago. I went there with Mom and Dad one year, and we stayed there for a couple of days. On Thanksgiving morning I went out and walked some of the trails and ended up on top of the natural bridge. The morning was light overcast with a lingering misty fog and everything was wet, making the colors saturated. It's a gorgeous place. That area has visible remnants of the narrow-gauge railroads that were all over the place during the logging years, including an old tunnel in the park. The place was always popular as a fall getaway. I recall having dinner in the lodge once, after a backpacking trip. While at UK I used to go into that area quite a bit. Not the state park, but the nearby Red River Gorge area, for both long day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. (good set, Seicer, you are making me homesick)
July 22, 200717 yr 1. Nada Tunnel is often considered one of the best ways to enter the Red River Gorge and Clifty Wilderness areas in the Daniel Boone National Forest. The 900-foot Nada Tunnel carries KY 77 under the aptly named Tunnel Ridge. 2. Former KY 34 Truss built in 1924. 3. Valley Pike Covered Bridge is the shortest covered span in the state of Kentucky. 4. Dover Covered Bridge, although bypassed in 2005, this covered span in Kentucky is still drivable and is in great condition. 5. A view of the Roebling Bridge on one foggy night. 6. A view of the former US 68 Blue Lick Springs Bridge, now closed to traffic. 7. In Frankfort, there exists the Singing Bridge. Constructed in 1893, it is still used by traffic today and is only blocks from the capitol. Enjoy these photographs and updates!
July 22, 200717 yr That first one...So they hollowed out a natural rock formation and made a tunnel? Awesome.
July 22, 200717 yr Still digging through my 2007 pile... 1. Here are some photographs from my recent mountain biking trip at Greenbo Lake State Resort Park. There are more on the site. 2. Quiet Trails State Nature Preserve: Pretty self explainatory. 3. Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill: A visit to one of the largest restored historical communities in the United States will leave you with a sense of enlightenment and a newfound sense of history. From numerous historical and agricultural tours to river excursions to marvelous dining options, there is much to see and do! 4. Iron Works Pike: I've added a few photographs, but more will be coming, along with a driving guide. a. Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church: The Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church was organized on April 21, 1827 at nearby "Cabell's Dale," home of Mary Cabell Breckinridge who was widow of John Breckinridge. He was a U.S. Senator and Attorney General in Thomas Jefferson's cabinet. The original brick church that was constructed in 1828 on this site burned in 1925. The present building of similar design was constructed in 1926. b. Mt. Horeb Pike c. Iron Works Pike, which leads by the Kentucky Horse Park -- home to the 2010 World Equestrian Games! More photographs and updates coming soon, from Pilot Knob to Natural Bridge!
July 23, 200717 yr Beautiful! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 23, 200717 yr That's splendid countryside, and you do an excellent job of capturing it with your camera.
July 24, 200717 yr From the Nada Tunnel Page: "The only fatality reported was when a construction worker attempted to thaw frozen dynamite by setting it near a fire. " I guess there were drunks in the Gorge way back then too...
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