A week is a large proportion of our available leave from work, so we were determined to make the most of our time away - and to tell the truth, we aren't really the hanging-around-on-a-ranch-relaxing-for-a-week types. So while we were away, we visited nearby Kentucky, to see what was happening.
Here we are on Main St USA, on our way out of Indiana. I was amazed to find that every town had a Main St - I thought it was just a political phrase. Americans never want you to forget which country you're in - by the way.
Paoli, IN, had a beautiful town hall right in the middle of a huge roundabout ("rotary"). We were suitably impressed, considering how much Americans hate roundabouts. I love the columns and the grandiose look of it almost as much as the obligatory gun outside. Note: American flag not pictured due to roadway and angles, but it is there. We promise.
Most of Kentucky seemed to look like this - whereas Indiana and Ohio had more trees and hills, Kentucky was flat flat flat and covered alternately in horse pastures and cornfields, with the occasional tobacco field thrown in for good measure. On the day we went there, it was around 35 degrees C and fairly humid.
After a short 3 hours in the car and a stop for a delicious BBQ Burger (Americans make the BEST food), we arrived at our destination - Natural Bridge State Resort Park, home to the Natural Bridge - a 24m long, 20m high sandstone arch. As Wikipedia tells us, the arch formed naturally over millions of years. (Unless you've been to the nearby Creation Museum, in which case it is probably a relic of Noah's flood. See Part 4 for details!) Here's Stephen next to half of it, after a 6km hike in jeans in 35 degree humid weather :P
The full arch from lower on the trail. It was really beautiful.
Stephen's best impression of being a mime, in a rock chimney up the side of the arch. We were feeling quite Indiana Jones-esque by this point. We climbed up through this rock tunnel and up a flight of stairs, to get to the top of the arch, which you could walk across.
"Vicki, why do you want me to stand closer to the edge? And why are you running towards me grinning maniacally?!"
I find it hilarious that in America, the land of litigation, there is a 20m high rock arch that you can walk across the top of that has absolutely no railings at all.
Chairlifts - the bane of my existence. Yes, we climbed up this high. Yes, it was hot and humid. Yes, we are slightly crazy. I was still happier to walk up.
The arch, from the other side of the ridge. Check out how green and leafy the forest is! Beautiful! :)
Crazy trees - the rock seems to have been eaten away around this tree's roots.
We were hoping to see a bear while we were there - partially because we haven't seen one, and partially because I thought it would be deliciously ironic if Stephen (whose WoW avatar spends most of his time as a bear) was mauled by a bear on a WoW Guild trip. Well... a little bit funny at least. The real problem is that he can run away faster than I can, so he would probably have the last laugh.
We did find a bear after all - just not quite the type we were hoping for. Note the uncanny resemblance!
We took another (shorter) day trip while we were there, to Louisville, which is a town on the border of Kentucky and Indiana. From the outside, the city looked very similar to Brisbane, but once we got into the town, the decay was fairly evident. It looked like the town had had some money at one point, but a lot of the city was in a disrepair. We were there for 2 reasons that had nothing to do with America's urban decay, however - Kentucky BBQ meat and the world's largest baseball bat.
Before our BBQ meat arrived, our waitress suggested that we try the deep-fried pickles with ranch sauce. I don't want to know how many calories were in them, but they were surprisingly delicious. Curse you Americans and your obsession with deep-frying foods! (Apologies for the dodgy photo - camera phone.)
We had a tasty slow-cooked pulled pork sandwich with the ubiquitous fries and BBQ corn. It was delicious, particularly when coupled with the one of the many varieties of tasty sweet BBQ sauce that was on the table. And this entire meal (plus the 1L glass of soft drink, not pictured), cost $8. Hooray for America! :)
Last, but not least - here is Stephen with a 36m high replica of the Louisville Slugger (baseball bat used by Babe Ruth). Sorry Australia, but this kicks the ass of the Big Pineapple and the Big Banana.
Prior to this was Part 1, covering the ranch and its surroundings, and Part 2, containing photos of people that you probably don't know doing things that you almost certainly don't care about. Coming soon: Part 4, covering our side trip to the Creation Museum. (Yes, really.)
I find it hilarious that in America, the land of litigation, there is a 20m high rock arch that you can walk across the top of that has absolutely no railings at all.
We took another (shorter) day trip while we were there, to Louisville, which is a town on the border of Kentucky and Indiana. From the outside, the city looked very similar to Brisbane, but once we got into the town, the decay was fairly evident. It looked like the town had had some money at one point, but a lot of the city was in a disrepair. We were there for 2 reasons that had nothing to do with America's urban decay, however - Kentucky BBQ meat and the world's largest baseball bat.
Prior to this was Part 1, covering the ranch and its surroundings, and Part 2, containing photos of people that you probably don't know doing things that you almost certainly don't care about. Coming soon: Part 4, covering our side trip to the Creation Museum. (Yes, really.)
Vicki- American's make the best food??!@$ PLEASE. BTW it's a good job you run and exercise eating all that good old deep fried heart attack food 8-)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great trip anyway. The natural arch is certainly very picturesque. Keep 'em coming. Mum