Colleen has a number of cousins in Kentucky, one of whom turned 30. The family had planned a surprise get together for her; and Colleen drug me 500 miles to meet people that she hadn't seen in years. The Birthday surprise was in three parts. One: Birthday Girl was sent to the airport to pick up a missionary from India; who turned out to be her cousin from Pennsylvania. Two: Colleen was staying at the same bed and breakfast as the now surprised Birthday Girl and mutual cousin, so we would surprise them at Breakfast. Three: about 30 family members from PA, KY and VA were in town to celebrate, and Birthday Girl didn't have a clue. I am so glad we went.
Colleen and I left on Friday and about two hours after we left her neighborhood, finally hit the
highway. We had some errands to run. And we are slow people. But our trek began nonetheless. Google was our guide, and suggested we hit Frederick MD by way of US15 and then head West to Hagerstown and follow 68 along the MD PA border. After crossing into WV we got on 79 and stayed on it until Charleston. Then 64 west into Kentucky. We took an extra long dinner, and got lost, so we were on the road for about 12 hours. Thankfully, the innkeepers at the Bed and Breakfast we were staying at were very cool about our after 9pm arrival. They showed us to our room and we collapsed on the comfortable bed.
The next day at Breakfast (sweet potato pancakes, IHOP eat your heart out) Colleen's cousins came down and their was much squealing and catching up as part two of the surprise was sprung. We headed out after breakfast, got lost again, and finally arrived at the location for the surprise.
Now let me be brutally honest here. I liked this family, I liked their house. It was great, and they were hospitable, so the next thing I have to say should not be seen as mean spirited, it is just so that you may get a glimpse into my mind. We visited people who live past the middle of nowhere. I mean if you go through the middle of nowhere, turn right, and go another hour, you get to the far end of nowhere, keep going a little ways and you can get to their house. On the plus side, these are some of the views off of their property.
Gorgeous right? And that's in January folks. Those of us who rarely leave the coasts save for vacations often forget how big the country is.
Anyway, we got to the party, and I met cousins and Aunt's and Uncles and Second Cousins and babies and dogs and all in all had a great time. We ate well, talked a lot, and celebrated with Birthday cake and presents. I also got to pick a little banjo, and let me say that I am not naturally talented at that particular instrument.
We got back late that night, and I went to bed an hour or so later. Colleen and Birthday Cousin and surprise number one cousin from PA stayed up until close to five AM. We got up, had breakfast (individual quiches no cheese on mine thank you very much), took some pictures and headed east.
The trip back let us see more of Kentucky during the day. We drove through Bourbon County on the way back, but I saw no distillery tour signs. I almost ran us out of gas in West Virginia, and we didn't see traffic until we were north of Harrisonburg on 81.Another long trip for us, and we enjoyed it, so expect more travelogues once it warms up and we have money.
