I was NOT born a coal miner's daughter!!

No, but my father was in fuel too, of the nuclear variety. If I had been born a coal miner's daughter, maybe I would have become a famous country music singer. I think I can rhyme better than daughter and holler, tired and hard! But it worked for Loretta Lynn and that is why I think she is awesome.

So awesome in fact I couldn't resist visiting her birthplace, Butcher Holler. On my way home last week from Portsmouth I stopped in the famous Route 23 Country Music Highway Museum and checked things out with the other two visitors. I was told by the curator (I job I would love to have, especially there) that Butcher Holler was only 15 miles away. What?? I am that close to Butcher Holler!? Well, fifteen LONG miles, as the miles are way longer when driving in hollers! At one point, I pulled over to check the directions, thinking surely I must be there by now. A nice man (NM) in a pick-up pulled up beside little ol' me (LOM) and the conversation went something like this.

NM: Hey there, you lookin' for LO-retta Lynn's ol' house?
LOM: No sir,I am just taking my dog Ellie for a little joy ride through the Kentucky hollers during this crazy thunderstorm!
(OK, I said yes, as it seemed pretty obvious and I am not really a smart ass!!)
NM: Well just foller me up the holler (now THAT is a good rhyme!).
LOM: No way I am follerin' you up this holler. I am alone, out in the middle of no freakin' where with no weapons, like I notice you have, and just this little schnoodle for protection. Do you think I am crazy???
(OK, I didn't say that either, just follered him on up the holler.)
And now, I have been to Butcher Holler!!!

Two things I have NEVER seen on Lake Murray

The first picture is a couple guys fishing on a Huck Finn style homemade raft. Never seen one before but I was a little impressed.

That second picture is just NASTY!! I THINK it was an upside down, half-dead, toxic waste infused catfish. It looked ready to explode, spewing toxic waste, or stinky fish guts, or something really really rank!! Poor thing was paddling around my dock, seriously, what is wrong with that fish?? It looks like a product of Chernobyl, nuclear disaster/tsunami in Japan, Erin Brockovich, Three Mile Island or something. I don't know but it scared me to think I am sharing water with that "fish"!! GROSS!!

Biking in Ohio;The Three Bridge Tour

Bridge number 1, crossing the Ohio River into Kentucky- Or as the locals call it, "the new bridge"

Bridge Number 2, crossing back into Ohio.

This bridge was named after Carl D Perkins----
the guy who invented pancakes or breakfast,
I am not sure which one??

While in Ohio, I wanted to get out on my bike some. My brother Mike suggested The 3BT, or the Three Bridge Tour. According to my nephew Kevin, only my brother Mike and his friend actually call it that, but it sounded official.

The directions went something like this: ride downtown to Chillicothe Street, take the bridge on Route 23 over the Ohio River; go right on 23 until you come to another bridge that will take you into West Portsmouth. Follow that until you come to an exit for downtown Portsmouth. Take that exit over another bridge, crossing the Scioto River and you will end up downtown by the murals.

Holy crap, that sounded a little ambitious. WRONG! Whole ride from my Dad's house took less than an hour-ROUND TRIP, and that included stops, detours, pictures, etc.

OK, so that first picture is really a mural, but that could be me if I decided to do the REAL Ohio bike tour, the TOSRV. Maybe next year. [www.tosrv.org/11/info.htm ]

Gotta love bike tours in a small town!!

Kentucky is a great state-and here is proof!

I made a trip for Father's Day up to Ohio this past weekend. More on that later, but one definite highlight was stopping by Butcher Holler' on my way home.
Helloooo......... Loretta Lynn's birthplace!!

I love Kentucky, I think?

5. They have better "beaches"? Growing up in Portsmouth, I would go boating with my best friend and her family on the Ohio River. We always put the boat in and then headed over to the Kentucky side; her Dad said the "beaches" were better. OK, I did learn to ski!!
4. The University of Kentucky, where I received my degree, responsible for my thriving accounting career? OK, I did get an accounting degree!!
3. Original Bob? OK, there are a lot of great residuals from that union!!
2. Loretta Lynn and her awesome lyrics? OK, but definitely the Coal Miner's Daughter movie and soundtrack!!
1. Wine stopper/compass!! Yes, why didn't I think of this?? I found this while perusing the Route 23 Country Music Museum. Perfect! You can drink wine AND find your way home. Sheer genius!