Hurst Falls, Cove Spring Park

This post is so after-the-fact that it's almost embarrassing to mention, but the location is quite a hidden gem that I just can't go without mentioning it. While out scouting locations for The Daughter's senior pictures last weekend, we came upon Cove Spring Park on the northern edge of Frankfort. The park encompasses an area that at one time was a reservoir for the city, remnants of which remain (I'll snap some shots at a later date). Besides a fair amount of hiking trails and the spring from which the park takes its name, one of the main attractions is Hurst Falls - the subject of our brief visit.

Hurst Falls, Cove Spring Park, Frankfort, KY

Named for Jerry and Tammy Hurst, whose preservation and conservation efforts were instrumental in retaining the park as a natural area, the falls plummet thirty feet down a limestone outcrop into the Penitentiary Branch stream, which then opens into the Kentucky River just a short distance away. Tammy is rather active in the Frankfort community, being a manager within the Facilities Section of the Commonwealth's Division of Environmental Program Support and a Lt. Col. in the Kentucky National Guard.

Penitentiary Branch, Cove Spring Park, Frankfort, KY

Anyway, Wonderful Wife and I spent a few moments taking shots of the falls from various angles, as well as a few of Penitentiary Branch. We were at the park in the late afternoon, so the light was just right for capturing the falls. Enjoy!

Top of Hurst Falls

Penitentiary Branch

Wednesday Wanderings - 24 August 2011

In the summer of 2001 we took our first vacation since leaving the military, driving from our home near Detroit to the tourist mecca of Niagara Falls. We stayed on the Canadian side of the border, something I doubt we'd do these days what with the hassle of crossing into Canada (and back), since the majority of the attractions were on that side. Below is a picture of American Falls taken, of course, from the Canadian side.

Wednesday Wanderings - 10 August 2011

Each Wednesday, more or less, I'll post a scene from our travels. Some will be recent, some will be from the distant past, but each holds an interesting memory for us. The first entry is a photo of an abandoned farmstead in Garrard County close to the Kentucky River. Wonderful Wife and I were out on a lazy afternoon drive a while back when we stumbled upon this scene.

The 127 Yard Sale

For 24 years now, a phenomenon known as the 127 Yard Sale has taken place the first weekend in August on a 675-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 127 - from Hudson, Michigan to Jamestown, Tennessee. Folks all along that venerable roadway set up their booths, tents, and folding tables to display wares of all kinds for what has become the world's longest yard sale. Although we've lived in Kentucky for more than a couple of years now, this weekend was the first time we'd explored what treasures the event had to offer. With stories of snarled traffic and crazed bargain hunters occupying our thoughts, Wonderful Wife and I set out (not too) early Saturday morning to dip our toes into a ten-mile sampling of the madness.

Our first discovery was that the stories we'd heard were just that - stories. Sure, there was an increase in traffic and practically every sale we visited was crawling with people, but there were no obvious instances of insanity (except for the prices on a few items). Packed into the ten miles we travelled were three large concentrations of vendors, one of which boasted 300 booths, and a labyrinthine subdivision with a dozen individual sales. With a temperature hovering around 90 and a humidity percentage equally high, the ten miles seemed considerably longer and we were both ready for a long air conditioned ride home by the time we'd finished browsing the last tent.

So what did we score? Not much, to tell the truth. There were a number of things that we could have bought, but very little that we absolutely needed to buy. I piked up John Wayne's Angel and the Badman on DVD for my newly-started collection of Western movies and Wonderful Wife snagged a lovely bowl to replace the apple bowl that The Daughter chose to throw away instead of wash. Teenagers.  Anyway, pictures of the bowl are below for your perusal. A bit of online research found another example being offered by an auction house for $15, so in light of that the $5 we spent was a bargain. The auction house labelled their piece as Depression Glass, but as to the manufacturer we haven't a clue. Although we didn't return home overburdened with loot, we had a great time together experiencing a true bit of Americana - and plan to expand our experience next year!