Frankfort and Nashville

Last night I mapped out my route and letterboxes for today, but sometimes plans have to change. I was up early, had breakfast and got the car loaded before the sun came up. Oh, and did I mention it was raining - hard. My first stop was about two hours away so I thought that maybe the rain would stop by then. So on I drove. I was surprised to find that there was steady traffic on I71 between Columbus and Cincinnati and as I got closer to Cincinnati the traffic got worse. It was bumper to bumper and with the hard rain it was less than optimum driving conditions. All I could think of was getting through Cincinnati and into Kentucky and then hoped that the rain and traffic would both end. So after about two and a half hours of driving (I still hadn't reached my first stop) I crossed into Kentucky and shortly thereafter I saw a sign for a Welcome Center. I decided I needed a break from the road so I pulled in. The place was pretty crowded for that early in the morning. The actual welcome center with all the information was open yet. I guess people were doing like me and just taking a break from driving in the rain. So I ran to the bathroom and then I walked around under this covered area destressing from the traffic and rain. I gave Thomas a call just to say hi and kill a little time and then I ran back to the car to continue on. My plan was to stop in Fort Mitchell at a cemetery which had quite a few boxes but the rain was still going strong. So I looked at my notes and I had nothing to stop for until I reached Frankfort. So I kept driving and slowly the rain started to ease. I finally arrived in Frankfort and made my way to the Frankfort Cemetery to find Daniel Boone's grave. If you remember I mentioned visiting his grave a few days ago in Marthasville, MO so I can see if you might be confused. I won't go into any details about it again but you can read about it at Boone's Bones Brouhaha. I found his grave and went out in a drizzle to take some pictures. One thing I liked about the area where his grave is located is the view of the Capitol you get. I wish it hadn't been raining because I would have liked to wander around the cemetery a little longer. Anyway, after a few pictures and before I got too wet I headed down off the hill and back into town and to the Capitol.

As luck would have it I parked and started walking to the Capitol just as a bus load of school kids was unloading. I quickly took some pictures of the outside and then went in to get started on a self guided tour before the onslaught of rug rats. I went through security and got a self guided tour and some post cards and was on my way. This is another of my favorite Capitols. The place is beautiful and elegant. From the statue of Lincoln and the Dome in the Rotunda to the white marble all over the place it was exactly what I picture the capitol building of a state to be. There were also incredible murals all over the building and a collection of dolls representing all the First Ladies of Kentucky wearing their inaugural gowns. I really enjoyed my visit to Kentucky's Statehouse.

Well, it was time to continue on. So I headed out of Frankfort headed for the Martha Layne Collins Blue Grass Parkway. By this time the rain had stopped and the sun was attempting a cameo. My original plans for the day were to head from Frankfort to Hodgenville to visit the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. But with the rain and extra driving time and the time I spent in Frankfort I had to scrap those plans. I took the exit for the Parkway and headed west. This drive is beautiful and I really enjoyed my time on this road and I wished that it would take me to my next destination but alas, it didn't. I took the Parkway to Elizabethtown and exited onto I65 headed south. I drove until I reached Park City. From here you can get to Mammoth Cave National Park, again I didn't have enough time to visit but I did stop at a parking area just before the entrance to the park to final three letterboxes. I guess I walked about a mile to a mile and a half and found all three boxes - Mammoth!, Kentucky is OK too! and The Weapon of a Jedi. I then made the very short drive back to Park City to fill the car with gas and use the bathroom. I also was going to look for a box hidden at the gas station. But when I went to the back of the building and looked for the landmark there were two trucks with about seven men just standing around. I waited about ten minutes and I made a call to Thomas but they never left. So it was time to continue on to Tennessee.

From Park City it wasn't long before I crossed into Tennessee and entered Nashville - and we were now in full sunshine. I set my Garmin for the Capitol. I had a hard time finding a parking spot but after 15 minutes and a few blocks away I found a spot. I made my way to the building and went directly inside - they are only open until 4:00 pm and according to my watch it was 3:00 pm. I went through security and then found the information desk empty. I took one of the self guided brochures off the desk and set out. After about 15 minutes and rushing to see the building I saw a clock and realized that I changed time zones again and I was back on Central time and I had plenty of time to explore the building. With that said - this wasn't one of my favorites. It seemed cold and impersonal, the walls were a drab gray and just plain. I did like the House and Senate Chambers and the State Library was pretty impressive. After exploring the inside I took a walk outside the building and got some pictures. I was surprised to find a statue of Andrew Jackson that is just like the statue in Jackson Square in New Orleans. So I read my tour guide and found out that this statue is the first equestrian statue in America and is the artist's proof and the first of three casts. This one, the one in New Orleans and one in Washington, DC next to the White House. Now that I was done here I wanted to find a few letterboxes. I drove just up the road to Bicentennial Mall State Park and the Farmers Market. This is an incredible place, huge with tons of stuff. I walked around a bit and wished I had a kitchen in my hotel and I could have gotten a few things. Oh well, so instead I went in search of TN Garden Fresh letterbox. I found the spot and could tell the box was there but it took me a while to get it. There were a lot of people all over and I had to wait for the area to clear. Once I did get the box I found a table and chair to stamp in on. Again it took me a while to get the box back in place - you know you have to be stealthy. On to the next place - Centennial Park. When I got there I the place was a hoppin' - there were so many cars and people I almost scratched my plan. There was someone directing traffic and I was able to find a parking spot pretty fast. So I decided to give it a try. The reason it was so busy was that there was an arts and crafts fair going on in the park - the TACA Craft Fair. Lucky for me the boxes I was looking for were in a different area from the craft fair so it wasn't so bad although this park is a busy place. There were people walking, picnicing, running and playing frisbee all over. Nonetheless I was able to find all three boxes - "ATHENA", Beatrix's Buddy and Sound of Freedom: Jewel Series #5. I had a great time in this beautiful park. And I finished early enough that I was able to walk around the craft fair for a little while. There were some wonderful things but I didn't have room in my suitcase to bring anything home so I just looked.

Time now for a little dinner and then get checked into the hotel. After a quick bite to eat I got settled in my room and made plans for tomorrow. I leave Nashville and make my way back to St. Louis - completing my circle. Tomorrow will be a much lighter day.