Southern Hospitality

 When you think of Kentucky you likely picture fancy hats at the world's most famous horse race, excellent bourbon tasting, and the very best bluegrass music around.  And I did too, until our most recent adventure that is. Now when I think of Kentucky, I shall think of crazy winding country roads that lead to even crazier tunnels through the mountains, the most incredible Jump Rock I've ever experienced, and good old fashioned southern hospitality.  Yes ma'am, Kentucky did not disappoint.  

This year Mird planned our third annual summer adventure with our kids. It was her turn since I planned the first two years.  It was particularly special because it was the first year AJ was able to join us!  Anyhow, her and the boys decided to take us away from the big cities (Remember Year 1 New York and Year 2 New York and Boston combo).  We ended up completely off the grid.  Like actually. Nobody could have found us for the past four days even if they hired a private investigator or bugged my phone because we were in the middle of nowheresville (Kentucky), in a cute little A-frame cabin way up in the mountains and then down in the holler with very spotty wifi, a herd of cute furry cows, an impressive colony of pond algae and some fancy thoroughbred  horses to boot.  It was absolutely perfect! 

Day one we drove directly to an underground kayaking adventure because it was on the way to our house so it just made sense.  We soon learned it was an old limestone mine that filled with water back in the 90s and sat unused for a decade or so until some genius dude decided to turn it into a money maker tourist attraction by creating an underground kayaking adventure. It totally worked! This particular dude now spends most of his time lounging in a lawn chair in his mountain cabin mansion counting $100, $200, $300, $400... all day long as zip liners traverse their final leg of his ziplining course just a little way down river from his place.  That's right he also happens to own the place where we zip lined, the ATV rental place in town and a bunch of other fun things to do in the wilderness of Kentucky. Yes ma'am that dude is doing ok!   Anyhow, back to the kayaking, we had great tour guides Spencer and Gabe who started the tour by asking who was first time kayakers to which nobody raised their hands and then Spencer quickly answered, "oh good then we're the only first timers today!" we all laughed and then listened to their short safety spiel. Then together we all explored the old mine in the dimly lit,  Labryinth style, waterway of a maze. Interesting fact it is 50 degrees in that cave all year long.  Even when it is 95 degrees outside like it was the day we were there!  It was a welcome break for the intense heat.  The kids had fun and so did us adults! 

 

Day 2 was our "sleep in" day which we soon learned we should have clarified exactly what is included in sleeping in. By 7 am Cody and the adults had been up for hours and were rearing to go.  The rest of the group not so much.  We finally coaxed everyone out of bed with fresh cooked bacon and eggs compliments of our amazing Airbnb hosts and headed out thrifting by 10:30ish.  We found great southern hospitality and some great bargains along the way and made it home in time for a late lunch and a little R&R before our feature event. That's right when in Kentucky a race should definitely be the main event of the trip.  Which for most people would likely be a horse race, but for us it was the Moonlit Mile 5K in Richmond. Driving anywhere from our house took a minimum 30 minutes and involved a series of moments when you are certain you will plummet to your death and the bottom of the gorge.  Richmond was closer to an hour which was where the race was located, but we arrived with plenty of time for the pre race yoga session we had added on!  The black car skipped yoga and made a quick Goodwill trip where they scored a super cook Pokemon board game and a giant stuffed Pikachu!  Yoga was perfect after sitting in a car so long the day before it felt amazing to stretch everything out.  Then came the actual race and it was 93 degrees with over 70% humidity at the start. Brutal.  We all finished and actually cleaned up with prizes too, but it was horrible conditions and we were spent. We collected our medals 3 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze and headed on our way to ice cream to celebrate and cool down. By the time we got home we had a midnight dinner instead of a midnight snack and headed to bed exhausted because we knew we had to be up early for our zipline adventure the next day!

The crew Richmond, Kentucky Moonlit Mile 5K

State Number 27??

No we didn't plan this...

but we look professional grade!

Day 3 was zip lining day and everyone was nervous with anticipation and perhaps a tad of general fear of heights! It was a bit of a cluster getting us all there checked in an figuring out who was actually going because the place was booked solid and we only had 7 spots reserved because we had some people on the fence when we signed up not because they were scared, but because of injuries.  Long story short, Kenny and AJ didn't go and the rest of us did go. And you know what? It all worked out perfectly which I feel is more proof that God has our back all the time not just when we're praying!

The zipline tour guides at Red River Gorge Ziplining were especially awesome so I must mention them. We were lucky enough to draw the Girl Tour (Kensi, Katie and Amelia) which doesn't happen often because there are far more male guides than female and they were dynamite!  Truly professional. Loved their jobs. Full of positive energy and just all around amazing guides. If you go to this place please tell them hi and ask for them if possible. You won't be disappointed.  

Team Codzel or Hazdy!

Kara, Hazel, Mad Dog Vern, Mandy (Vern's high school pepper partner)

just hangin' around

Meanwhile Mird sent the two boys who were not zip lining with her purse and told them to have fun....It could have gone so many directions and so badly but when we arrived back to the lodge after our adventure they drove up to the lodge with AJ driving in Jeff's car giddy as a couple of school girls and looking like full grown men on a bachelor party joyride.  We figured they would just sit around the place bored or buy a bunch of food, but instead they found some mini golf place nearby (also owned by the same dude who owns the kayak and zipline places) and played a round! 

Bonus~they even sent a pic to the group chat we had going for the trip! 

This was a proud mom moment for both of us! These boys really made some fantastic lemonade out of their lemons that day and had a bit of bonding time before they start (gulp) their senior year in a month.

The final adventure was possibly the best and was absolutely free!  That's right, the rich dude got none of our money when we made our way to Jump Rock and played all day in the river.  This video is the best I can do at sharing this moment with you. Check The Epic Video out!

Day 4 also known as today we started the day as we did each leg of this entire journey and that is we drew cards to determine which vehicle and with whom we would ride to get to Florence Kentucky-- the final destination before we split-- and headed our separate ways.  I ended up in the red car and for the first time all week with Mird in the same car with me!  It was the perfect ending to our adventure.  We already have ideas for next year, but I am sure it will change at least a few thousand times before we actually leave next summer! 

Kentucky you are special and will be missed.  There's a strong southern accent we never expected and some fierce southern hospitality that was second to none.  We were especially thankful for that hospitality when my keys ended up unexpectedly in my locked car (that's a story best told in person) while we were at Jump Rock which is located through a one lane tunnel at the bottom of the Red River Gorge where there is absolutely no cell phone or wifi.  It was like the 12th car I had approached asking for help.  I expected another "no idea how to get in and good luck" and instead some sweet thang said "hun go try an help her" to her fella and just a few minutes later as my car alarm sounded because her fella had successfully broken into my car, I was near tears and nearly jumped into his arms out of sheer joy before I caught myself and said "is it ok if I give you a hug?"  

lucky red car

the one lane tunnel through the mountain. Space was especially tight in there...

AJ doing his star jumps to earn a draw from the infamous Money Bag!

The Final Money bag draw!

Yes I brought the money bag back. Mostly because the kids love it and our grandma Smith made it so it feels like we are bringing her along on our adventures. Oh and as a bonus  the kids don't bug us asking for us to buy everything and give them money because they have gotten some along the way. It works so I am going to keep bringing it!  Also noteworthy on this journey, Mandy my best friend from high school and pepper partner on the Fremont Packers Volleyball team for 6 years met up with us for many of our adventures basically everything except for kayaking underground because she had to work Thursday. It was spectacular to reconnect with her.