Another Day, Another Winery

Next, we drove from eastern Kentucky to western Kentucky, stopping at Carriage House Vineyards, a Harvest Host location. On the road, I called for permission to stay that night.  No one answered the phone, so I left a message.  Within an hour, I got a call back from David, the owner.

“Actually, we’re on vacation from the winery,” David said.  “But you can still stay on the property.  Do you need electricity?”

With the temperature at 95 degrees, the answer was “Absolutely, if you have it.”  Harvest Hosts properties do not normally have electrical hookups, but David had a 30 amp outlet installed on an outbuilding for that purpose.  I was very grateful.

I went to the tasting room during the late afternoon and sampled six wines (free tasting).  I liked all of the wines except for one and purchased a green apple/grape wine and a maple dessert wine.

There was only one other visitor during my entire stay.  The employee went home at 6 p.m, and then I had the place to myself.  This turned out to be a very relaxing stay.  Callie and I took walks up the long gravel driveway.  When the sun went down, it cooled to about 60.  The air conditioning was off.  The skies were dark (no artificial light on the grounds).  I slept well.

Daniel Boone National Forest: Grove Campground

After three nights of delightful weather in the Virginia mountains, I was ready to continue my journey west.  I crossed back and forth between Virginia and Tennessee until I settled in southeastern Kentucky.

The weather had changed from mid 70’s for highs to low 90’s for highs.  By the time I arrived at Daniel Boone National Forest near Corbin, Kentucky, I was ready to plug into some air conditioning.  The Grove Campground has multiple loops and two different campgrounds.  One is called the Drive-in campground, where campers drive in and set up.  The other one is the Boat-in campground, which is not accessible by vehicle.

The drive-in campground is past season.  There were only a few trailers when i arrived.  Rates are discounted, and reservations aren’t being accepted. The header photo shows the large hickory nuts that have been falling on my trailer, both in Virginia and Kentucky.

After setting up for one night (leaving the Brew Hut hooked up to the truck), Callie and I hiked down a path recommended by the campground host.  We walked down the Closed C loop to the dumpster, and then hiked past the “road closed sign.” From that point, the asphalt turned to gravel and then to dirt. Eventually, we reached the Boat-in Campground, which it turns out is accessible by foot.

After hiking back up the trail, we continued to walk each of the campground loops.  Before you know it, Callie and I had our 12,000 steps in for the day, despite a full driving day.  Dinner tonight was burgers and cold beer.  Later, I went over and sat with an older couple with a Casita who had traveled tens of thousands of miles during their three years of ownership.

They keep a home in Florida but are no strangers to adventure on the road.. After we solved many of the world’s problems and philosophical issues, I headed off to bed.  A cold sweet tea sounded better than a beer, so that was my nightcap.

Daniel Boone National Forest: Twin Knobs

After leaving Cedar Creek Winery, I set my google maps to avoid highways, beginning a meandering route along state highways, county roads, and town roads. I didn’t make good time, but the scenery and people-watching were well worth the longer journey.

Headed into the heart of coal country, yard signs told me that “coal keeps the lights on.” As I drove, I listened to Amy Goodman on Democracy Now make the case that continuing down the path of fossil fuels will lead to climate collapse.
I saw a lot of America on that drive: rural poverty, small churches asking support for the troops, big houses behind walls and gates, large mega churches, and dozens of signs proclaiming allegiance to local high school school football teams.

By mid afternoon, I arrived at my destination: Twin Knobs campground in the Daniel Boone National Forest. I didn’t have reservations, but I was able to secure a spot with electric for two nights. Choices were limited. All of the sites are back-in. My site had a slight incline.

Those gouge marks in the driveway aren’t from me but testifies to the challenges of the site. Once I set up camp, everything came up roses.

It was a beautiful clear night with falling temperatures. Twin Knobs is a huge campground. Callie and I got 14;000 steps in just walking the campground loops once.

We ate a light dinner of a small strip steak, sautéed spinach, and a toasted hamburger bun, followed by glasses of porter and an internet radio broadcast of the Packers Bears game.  Public consumption of alcohol is illegal in Kentucky, so we stayed close to the Brew Hut, our current abode.

On the next morning, we slept late (7 am), and then prepared bacon, eggs, potatoes, and coffee. I’m currently drinking a home roasted Ethiopian, taken to just before second crack. Rather than roast coffee on the road this trip, I have two weeks supply and froze enough for the remainder of the journey. If I run out, I’ll look for a good commercial roaster and ask what they roasted that day.

Freshness is more important than origin or degree of roast–almost every time.
After breakfast Callie and I hiked up Twin Knobs. When I thru hiked the Appalachian Trail in my younger days, I was always the first to leave the shelter and be on the trail. As I broke through countless spider webs on the way up Twin Knobs, I was reminded of that disadvantage in being the first on the trail.

When I reached the top of the “observation area”, I was also reminded of the eastern forest’s stinginess in rewarding climbs with views. Trust me, there is a beautiful lake behind the trees.

After the hike, Calle and I sought a less obstructed view.