Miscellaneous Louisville Area

We were so busy during our week outside of Louisville that I'm just going to throw the rest of these pictures up in one post. I'll try to keep the commentary to a minimum.

One morning we loaded up our bicycles and headed over to Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. This 14,000 acre preserve was donated by German immigrant Isaac Wolfe Bernheim who came to this country with $4 in his pocket. It's run by a non-profit private corporation and is free on weekdays.

Don't we look athletic with the kayaks and bikes?


The preserve was beautiful - green, cool, and peaceful.


Just look at this gorgeous water lily!


It was a workout for me since it wasn't flat terrain.


These miniature horses are pastured right across from the RV park where we stayed. You can't really tell from the picture, but the mother is only about three feet tall. The baby is just a few weeks old. The owners of the RV park feed them chocolate candy - is that really good for them?


We also toured a few of the local distilleries where they make good Kentucky bourbon whiskey. How many of those samples did you have, Bertie?


One evening, we went to Elizabethtown and took a walking tour with historic citizens and visitors who related their role in the town's story. It was excellently done.


They were all wonderful, but my favorite was General Custer. Disrespectful though it may be, I couldn't help but laugh when I heard Jim B whisper, "I hate to tell him but he's going to die."


We had all prepaid for a boat trip up the Ohio River from downtown Louisville, so on Sunday off we went. The drive in didn't start out too promising, but I was confident the rain would stop. After all, weather.com said it would.


This has to be the best group picture ever! Look how happy everybody is despite the threatening skies. Check out Patty's boots - she's prepared for a flood.


The boat was the historic Belle of Louisville - an authentic steam driven paddle wheeler from 1914. It has even raced the famous Delta Queen (although it lost.)


It had a very loud calliope on board.


Although the sky remained cloudy, at least the rain stopped before we boarded and our trip was very pleasant. Here we are coming back into town.


Our week was topped off by an All-American Cookout with hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad and apple pie. Here Marvin demonstrates his flame-broiled technique while Ernie supervises Ed in the background.

Bertie had so much packed into this week, that Ron and I had to take some time off. We missed the Louisville Slugger museum and Churchill Downs. I'm sure Judy will have them on her blog, but she's not as timely as I am.