To Cave Country
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Day 1: April 21, 2019 To Cave Country Comment via blog |
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It was pretty gray when I left home around 8:30. Patches of blue started
to appear about halfway to Louisville. A little fog remained, but that was
clearing, too.
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I followed I-71 all the way to Louisville where I had a breakfast spot
picked out. I'd identified three candidates and, because of the Easter
holiday, messaged them all. All responded and made the choice an easy one.
Two of the three would not be open. The exit for the restaurant took me
right past the historic Louisville Water Tower. I'd been here before but
figured another picture wouldn't hurt. Grabbed one of
the sign, too. More history was waiting at the
turn onto the street that actually passed the restaurant.
Another plaque tells the story of the Heigold
Facade. North End
Cafe is a rather classy place with everything
needed for breakfast. It's where I found my
Easter eggs.
I had no plans to stop as I passed through downtown but seeing Mr. Redlegs sitting in front of Louisville Slugger Field caused me to circle back for a photo. The first professional baseball team was the Cincinnati Red Stockings back in 1869 and one of the ways the 150th anniversary is being celebrated is with benches and sculptures like this one. I've seen a few of them but didn't expect to find one this far from Cincinnati. The reason he's here is that this is where the Louisville Bats, a Cincinnati AAA affilate, play. From there, I worked my way south to Broadway, turned left on Dixie Highway, and passed the big whiskey bottle to head out of town. |
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How many times must a cannonball be photographed? I don't know the answer
but I've apparently not yet reached the limit on this one in
Elizabethtown, KY. The building that Confederate artillerary originally
placed it in burned in 1887, but it was installed "in the same spot,
as near as possible" in its replacement. While parked in the town
square, I walked a block back north to snap a shot of the State Theater
with a holiday greeting and flags flying.
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An early version of my trip plans had me staying at Wigwam Village #2 in
Cave City but I've stayed there several times and decided to try something
different this round. I'd passed my reserved bed a few miles north of Cave
City but it was too early to check in so I continued on a bit. All three
pictured motels are in Cave City. My understanding is that little to none
of the neon in those signs is working but I didn't come back to check it
in the dark.
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Once I'd reached Cave City, it seemed reasonable to continue a bit farther
and check up on Bell's Tavern. The Civil War permanently interrupted
construction of this stone replacement for a wooden structure consumed by
fire. The saftey fence is new since my last visit as is (as best I recall)
the playground equipment. Also new to me is the parking lot next to a good
sized pavillion that includes restrooms.
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I returned to Cave City and headed east to US-31E which was once the
Jackson Highway. It seems this place hasn't gotten much love since I ate
breakfast here in 2004 when it
housed the Old Dutch Mill Restaurant.
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Frank Redford's first Wigwam Village once stood in that open area behind
the gas station. I intended to fill up here but it was closed for the
holiday.
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I left US-31E/Jackson at the site of Wigwam Village #1 and headed back to
US-31W/Dixie and my home for the night. I'd previously noticed the
Horse Cave Motel in passing and found positive online
reviews. It's an older place but clean and well maintained. The green
(rather than dead) shrubs and newish wood benches (rather than mismatched
plastic chairs) are good signs. My room is here.
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By now the weather was really nice and I really enjoyed the short walk to
dinner. I've always thought that what is now a beauty shop was once a gas
station but I can't figure out where the pumps would have been if that's
true. Easter dinner was a pizza buffet right across the street at
Turtlelini's.
I'd missed it on the walk north but the neon Mad Sign-tist caught my eye
on the way back. I guess the shadows were just a little bit darker.
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