Winding Down, Our Last Stop

Renfro Valley will be our last stopping place on our Springtime in Kentucky Caravan. As with all caravans it is way too soon, but it is time to return to the real world. We have enjoyed meeting new people and seeing so many new sights. All in all, we have probably seen more of the state than native sons and daughters.

Enclosed are some photos of our last camp site in London. We hated to leave there because it is so beautiful and we did not get to explore the grounds nearly enough. Here we sighted only our second Piliated Woodpecker. Both sightings have been in Kentucky. Speaking of birds, we set our alarm each morning for 6 am, but at 5:30 every bird in the area starts chirping. Sometimes its irritating sometimes its pleasant; depends on the night before.

The drive from London to here at Renfro Valley was less than an hour so we just putted along. Upon arriving, we found we have cable TV. We have not watched TV for weeks, and honestly didn't miss it. Had it on for about 30 minutes and turned it off. We have not missed a thing.

By 2:30 we all headed to the town of Berea to tour their college. It is a liberal arts college available only to low income, whatever that means, kids. Along with their regular classes they also promote the lost "arts" e.g. furniture making, pottery, weaving etc. that used to be a necessity for survival.

After a meal at Cracker Barrel we returned home, tuned up our instruments and had a jam/sing-along. Followed by happy hour with new and old friends.

Today, off for more adventure.

The view out the back of the trailer.

Still us.

Waiting for our guide.

Beautiful old college.

I'd give a lot for a shop like this. The "snow" flakes seem to be dust particles.

Jamin' and singin'.

Pickin' and grinnin'.

Shirley even made a short flick of me playing.

"How'd it sound?"

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Free Day in Renfro Valley back on tour on Wednesday

Tuesday the 18th we had a free day. Some took the time off and we were planning on that too, but a phone call changed the whole day. They were filming a program for RFD-TV at Renfro Valley the place we will end our caravan. So by noon we were there along with Bill and Betty and a few others. We had witnessed TV filming before but it is still interesting. In the five hours we were there we only saw three groups because they kept making them do it over and over until it was just right. For those of you who know, we didn't, the groups were Marty Raybon and Full Circle, Audie Blaylock and Red, and our favorite, Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band. Rodney I guess was on the old Andy Griffith Show many years ago.

This is a good time to mention some of the names of famous people from Kentucky. I mentioned some in the last Blog, but my wits are with me today. These include: John Lair, Loretta Lynn, Ricky Skaggs, Red Foley, Tom T. Hall, Merle Travis, The Judds, Mary Travers, Todd Duncan, Bill Monroe, The Osborne brothers, Dwight Yoakam, Florence Henderson and many more.

After getting back we went to Bill and Bettys for a "rehearsal" for our next jam. I am to play guitar and mandolin and who knows the number of people that will come out of the woodwork to perform.

Tired but happy we went to bed to rest up for our next days tour. Wednesday we headed for the Big South Fork Railroad in Stearns, KY. Stearns was a "company" town during the big coal mining days of Kentucky. We took a train ride down to the Big Horn Mining town where the coal was actually mined.

Nothing is left but the remnants of that town and mine. It was started around the turn of the century and coal petered out in the late 50's. The ranger mentioned being taken there when he was a small child and remembering the coal dust in the air and all over everything. The river was black and smelled of sulfur. Houses were no more than 10 feet from the railroad tracks and the mine operated 24/7.

After this we returned to Stearns and toured the museum and remaining buildings. At the mine site we were provided with a box lunch but managed to find an ice-cream store in Stearns which supplemented our lunch very nicely.

Next we drove to see the Cumberland Falls on the Cumberland River. These falls were not discovered by the white man until around 1850 so they are relatively new to our history. Very impressive as falls go. Not much to say but if you get the chance...go see them.

From  here we drove to the Cumberland Falls Lodge, a CCC structure and is very nice for a nice buffet
dinner. Especially nice because it was not crowded. We then drove home to rest and prepare for leaving to go to our last stop on this caravan which is Renfro Valley.

One of the better preserved buildings from the mining era, the old school house/

The train ride was a great way to see the forest and river which is now cleaned up.

Some of our group in the next car.

Four rail trains were leaving the mine fully loaded day and night.

Took this picture because Blue Heron Loop goes behind our house in Lincoln.

One of the mine entrances.

We are not quite ready to be loaded into a rail car.

Love these old trucks.

Lots to see, just not enough space.

Stearns Museum.

More of the town.

Definitely was a company town.

The town is crumbing as the steps are.

I guess the ads are for those who did not owe their soul to the company store.

And the next stop was...

The falls are 98 feet high and 150 feet wide.

Not Niagara but still very impressive.

Quite a find in 1850.

Some of our group planning a happy hour.

Shirley at the Lodge.

The view from the balcony.

Next, Renfro Valley.


See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Butcher Holler

Saturday night it rained all night, a nice steady rain. By morning it was just threatening but not sunny at all. We hurriedly dressed and drove back to the Mayo Methodist Church for Sunday service. It was also  Mothers Day. The sermon was on mothers and he included  those, like Shirley, who had no children but had the love in their hearts of mothers. It was a nice thought and was nice to include those "mothers" who had not had children but had "mothered" many. Probably one-quarter of the congregation was from our Airstream group. As usual we made quite a stir and were introduced as a group and were acknowledged as being from all over the US; CA. WA, TX, IA, LA, etc. probably 20 different states in all.

Lunch was just us, we ate at "Floaters"a little place on the dock near where we are camped. We had real roasted turkey, cornbread dressing and all the rest as we sat outside watching folks catch fish. After this we all loosely carpooled to visit Loretta Lynn's childhood home about 10 miles from here. This in itself was an adventure. The road at first was busy and well marked, then it narrowed and there were no cars at all. Then it narrowed some more and there were old houses and trailers mostly abandoned. Then we came upon still more signs and some inhabited housing with people sitting on their porches celebrating Mothers Day. Next, hardly a road at all, one lane, curving, winding, desolate, and no signs.

We began asking people we saw, one man stated that when he mowed his lawn he would have to shut off his mower about 20 times to give directions. Today we were the first. Finally we pulled up to the house and we were there. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think we would be here. Met the brother, we were welcomed into the home like we were relatives. He apologized that the house was not cleaner etc. We toured the place and then left as it was starting to rain in earnest.

Next we visited Store #5, the "company" store, still open and run by Loretta's uncle. It seems there are signs posted on how to find the home but all get stolen. We had Moon Pie and RC Cola, well I had an RC. We had tasted these delicacies on last years Civil War caravan and did not feel the need to do so again. I remembered I did not like Moon Pie and now I remember I do not like RC cola either. Twice in a lifetime is enough.

We drove back to the Country Music Highway Museum for a dinner and entertainment provided by our own musicians, Bill and Betty. The rain was torrential and we were glad to be inside instead of outside where our dinner was first scheduled.

The only sign after we left the main road.

From these roots came a legend. There she is now.

When you consider she lived here in the '60's these were desperate times.

Probably Loretta wished at this well many times.

We included this because we included Elvis' throne when we visited his birthplace. 

Shirley shot this, she is a little shorter than I am.

Bill and Betty.

What do you think of Bill's guitar?

The ladies did some line dancing.

Tomorrow back on the road again.


See Ya! Barry and Shirley

May 12th, afternoon.

After eating lunch and learning that none of our group was involved in the crash that had closed the main highway earlier in the morning we drove the short distance to the Mountain Home Place for a tour of a 1860's farm community. Now my ancestors are from Arkansas, so personally I saw nothing new to me. I cannot speak for the others but I suspect from some of the accents from our caravan members that it was not too foreign to them either. But we are a pretty sophisticated bunch, unlike our guides. Both guides were probably products of many years of inbreeding and could not fully answer a question or direct a tour. On their behalf they did add color to our tour. Anyway it was a good way to spend a cloudy and threatening afternoon.

Some of our friends on the farm.

They are so cute I just couldn't resist another picture.

The barn was built around 1860 and is still in use here.

Carlos and me discussing the worlds ills.

A one room school, an amazing number of people had attended a one room school including me in Arkansas.

This sure reminded me of my granddads house when I was little.

Later in the afternoon we had a cookout. Actually some of the ladies prepared this feast and the rest of us ate it. Shirley said the prayer prior to eating. Most meals eaten by the group have a prayer before eating. Some of us need praying over, and not just at meals.

Come and get it.

I try to include  photos of our campgrounds, this was our greeting each time we entered.

 After eating our fill we drove to visit the Country Music Highway Museum. For it's size they have a lot. Loretta Lynn is big around here so a lot of time was spent on her career. But, look it up, there are many famous performers from here. Some are: The Judds, momma is my favorite, Crystal Gail, Ricky Skaggs, and tons of others.

After the tour we were entertained by the group, Five Miles From Nowhere, who were a delight and they required some audience participation which got most of us up off our chairs. The room was dark so I was unable to get a photo of the performers, but I sure got some of us.

Shirley getting folks off their keister s.

cC

John and Kathy dancing. John is 87 and doing just fine.

Couldn't resist the photo op.

Loads more tomorrow.


See Ya! Barry and Shirley