Another day of driving. And this one felt like it. The Hicks family has been cooped up in a car too long.
We woke fairly early this morning and grabbed breakfast at the hotel. We headed east on Highway 60 to the convergence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. We crossed two tall bridges and the boys were thrilled to discover a tugboat pushing barges strapped 3 wide and 6 deep.
Then it was meandering back roads through Kentucky until we reached our first pit stop at Paducah’s visitor center on the grounds of Whitehaven. We weren’t able to tour the antebellum home as tours didn’t begin until the afternoon, but we did eat our snack on the gracious benches outside the back door. What a deal.
Then it was on east to more Interstate driving. We drove past the Kentucky and Cumberland Dams. These dams were interesting to drive over because of the lock system that both contained. The boys were reminded of Grandpa’s recent explanation of the lock system through the Panama Canal. This was an opportunity to see a lock up close and personal.
And then we drove. And we drove. And we drove some more. And this time, the boys were not tired. They did not nap. It was brutal. Our lunch stop wasn’t even very interesting. It was a roadside service station parked on an asphalt and cement oasis in the middle of the divided highway. Definitely nothing to write home about.
After four long hours on the road, we reached Hodgenville, Kentucky and the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace on Sinking Spring Farm. This probably would have been a pretty neat experience had we not just finished a 6 hour drive.
The boys, who were extremely cranky, wanted to do the junior ranger program – but didn’t want to take the time to do the work required. This created several heated discussions about making decisions and, once made, committing to a task.
We woke fairly early this morning and grabbed breakfast at the hotel. We headed east on Highway 60 to the convergence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. We crossed two tall bridges and the boys were thrilled to discover a tugboat pushing barges strapped 3 wide and 6 deep.
Then it was meandering back roads through Kentucky until we reached our first pit stop at Paducah’s visitor center on the grounds of Whitehaven. We weren’t able to tour the antebellum home as tours didn’t begin until the afternoon, but we did eat our snack on the gracious benches outside the back door. What a deal.
Then it was on east to more Interstate driving. We drove past the Kentucky and Cumberland Dams. These dams were interesting to drive over because of the lock system that both contained. The boys were reminded of Grandpa’s recent explanation of the lock system through the Panama Canal. This was an opportunity to see a lock up close and personal.
And then we drove. And we drove. And we drove some more. And this time, the boys were not tired. They did not nap. It was brutal. Our lunch stop wasn’t even very interesting. It was a roadside service station parked on an asphalt and cement oasis in the middle of the divided highway. Definitely nothing to write home about.
After four long hours on the road, we reached Hodgenville, Kentucky and the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace on Sinking Spring Farm. This probably would have been a pretty neat experience had we not just finished a 6 hour drive.
The boys, who were extremely cranky, wanted to do the junior ranger program – but didn’t want to take the time to do the work required. This created several heated discussions about making decisions and, once made, committing to a task.
We attempted to lighten the mood by going on one of the shorter hikes around the park. A little time among God’s creation – we spotted several gray squirrels and paused to watch a small woodpecker – worked some of its magic. Because of the hike, the boys were able to relax and learn a few things.
For example, my oldest was surprised to learn the Association that created the park had among it’s membership several famous Americans: Samuel Clemons (a.k.a. Mark Twain) and President Taft just to name two. We had fun counting the penny display in the visitor center lobby. Using some third grade math skills, my oldest and I estimated it contained around 14,000 pennies. We also learned interesting things about how Abraham Lincoln grew up, how many brothers and sisters he had and that the Holy Bible was the first book that little Abe ever saw (it was on display). We learned that on February 12, 2009 the nation will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of our 16th President.
Outside of the visitor’s center, we enjoyed going to the bottom of the sinking spring. There was a noticeable, and much needed, drop in temperature on the way down. We sat at the bottom of this little area for about 10 minutes doing some of the junior ranger paperwork until we were chased out by another family. We also climbed the 56 steps (one for each year of Lincoln’s life) to the Memorial where a symbolic replica of the original Lincoln home is protected inside a granite memorial building. The building was created by the same man who did the Jefferson Memorial and the National Archives and looks very much like the architecture of the D.C. located Lincoln
Memorial.
We did the final crossword, sent dad and our youngest on a mission to find the answer the final question by the spring and the boys went to the ranger station to get their official, plastic, junior ranger badge. The ranger was a good guy and did a good job getting the boys to laugh and smile.
For example, my oldest was surprised to learn the Association that created the park had among it’s membership several famous Americans: Samuel Clemons (a.k.a. Mark Twain) and President Taft just to name two. We had fun counting the penny display in the visitor center lobby. Using some third grade math skills, my oldest and I estimated it contained around 14,000 pennies. We also learned interesting things about how Abraham Lincoln grew up, how many brothers and sisters he had and that the Holy Bible was the first book that little Abe ever saw (it was on display). We learned that on February 12, 2009 the nation will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of our 16th President.
Outside of the visitor’s center, we enjoyed going to the bottom of the sinking spring. There was a noticeable, and much needed, drop in temperature on the way down. We sat at the bottom of this little area for about 10 minutes doing some of the junior ranger paperwork until we were chased out by another family. We also climbed the 56 steps (one for each year of Lincoln’s life) to the Memorial where a symbolic replica of the original Lincoln home is protected inside a granite memorial building. The building was created by the same man who did the Jefferson Memorial and the National Archives and looks very much like the architecture of the D.C. located Lincoln
Memorial.We did the final crossword, sent dad and our youngest on a mission to find the answer the final question by the spring and the boys went to the ranger station to get their official, plastic, junior ranger badge. The ranger was a good guy and did a good job getting the boys to laugh and smile.
And then, we were off -- again. After a short stop at Lincoln’s childhood home at Knob Creek – and the place of his earliest memories, we turned south to Mammoth Cave.
We ate dinner at tourist trap central in Cave City and headed on into the park to our hotel. A long day ended in Room number 159 facing the woods. We have a small balcony with a couple of chairs facing a quiet, dark peaceful wood. The room is serviceable, much like last night’s except with the addition of a much needed refrigerator. As I write, the boys are in bed and we are quietly watching the weather channel on TV.
I believe that we are all thankful that we will be doing lots of things tomorrow – but one of them will NOT be driving.
We ate dinner at tourist trap central in Cave City and headed on into the park to our hotel. A long day ended in Room number 159 facing the woods. We have a small balcony with a couple of chairs facing a quiet, dark peaceful wood. The room is serviceable, much like last night’s except with the addition of a much needed refrigerator. As I write, the boys are in bed and we are quietly watching the weather channel on TV.
I believe that we are all thankful that we will be doing lots of things tomorrow – but one of them will NOT be driving.
