Kentucky farwell

Though last week we were less than impressed with Kentucky, it seems the people of the bluegrass state set out to change our minds. In Springfield we were treated to the finest southern fare by Renee Lamont, a real belle with a French name and a southern drawl. In McDaniels the Thompsons rolled out the red (neck) carpet for us, an experience which really deserves a posting unto its own. I'll get to that soon. Our last night was spent at a Baptist church not far from the Ohio River. Though we arrived at dusk to an empty parking lot, the door swung open and a booming voice greet us, "Ya'll want some dinner?" There we picked up two new riding companions, Max and Kevin, nearly doubling our numbers and more than doubling our joy.

Despite these and other great experiences, Adam was really ready to cross the river that marks the KY frontier. (Just look at that face!) He did so in epic fashion, swimming across the Ohio to Illnois soil. Kevin's charm won us an invitation to a wedding reception (!), where we joined Elizabethtown in celebrating the joining of Jesse and Kyla in holy matrimony. The mother and father of the bride welcomed us warmly and we couldn't turn down the fish fry, pecan pie. Our legs were not too tired for a little bit of dancing before sleep on the shores of the Ohio.

We've got big plans to blow through Missouri and hit Kansas by the 4th of July.