What a difference a few hours makes!! We left Chicago during a massive downpour with flash flood warnings, and within an hour were under clear skies and a rapidly rising temperature gauge. Driving into Louisville, it registered 30 degrees Celsius and felt several degrees warmer with the humidity.
We only planned a brief stop in downtown Louisville and I’m glad that’s all it was. There were some interesting historic buildings to view, but Louisville IronMan is tomorrow so the place was bunged with lean, muscular people. Fourth Street with its concentration of bars, restaurants and the Jim Beam Urban Distillery looked like Vegas’ Freemont Street - and I’ve only had to see that once to get the gist! Tourist trap!
We did stop for some refreshments away from the crush of people at the Against the Grain Brewery. And “when in Rome”...we had to try the pork rinds!
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Three days later....
Rural Kentucky is absolutely what I’ve always envisioned...rolling hills and swaths of manicured grass punctuated with neat brick homesteads, complete with swings on the front porches. Utterly charming. There must be more riding lawnmowers here per capita than anywhere else in the world! Plus everyone calls you “darling” in the cutest accent.
Yesterday we hiked around the grounds of the Bernheim Arboretum and Forest, a huge plant research park. Today was a visit to Maker’s Mark distillery for a fascinating tour to learn about Kentucky’s sacred beverage. Apparently this area is ideal for making bourbon because the local spring water leeches through underground limestone to add calcium and remove iron.
The grounds of the distillery are gorgeous, and to add to it, there happened to be an exhibition of Dale Chihuly glass art going on. Walking into the cask aging warehouse was one of the best smells I’ve ever experienced. I think I’ve become a bon-affined bourbon fan. That is...until we get to Baja and switch to my beloved tequila ;-)
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