2026 June 25-27 Kentucky Trip with Backroads Tours LLC

 Day 1: Thursday, June 25:

We loaded the car after feeding the cats and began on our adventure. We traveled to Gabe's in Madison, arriving a little after eight.

We made a couple of pit stops along the way, one at the Shell Station and one at McDonald's.

Two more couples were waiting for the bus in Madison. (Dawn and Rick) Everyone loaded on the bus by 8:30 AM, and we were on our way to Kentucky. Our driver was Barbara Dudley on Eagle Christian Bus Tours, Rome, GA #3006, and our guide was Angie Himburg.

Our first restroom stop was the newly purchased  Travel Stop by Dolly Pardon. Their grand opening was June 24, the day before. Where Dolly Pardon was present to cut the ribbon. 

The travel stop has fuel pumps, EV charging stations, a general store, a truck driver's lounge, and a restaurant.  Hanging from the ceiling is a chandelier featuring guitars. 

Outside is a muralled bus next to a mural, and leading away from the bus is a painting of musical notes. You are greeted with a smile and warmth, which makes you want to stop and rest awhile. 

Our next stop was Farmwood's Dutch Bakery & Deli for lunch, where hubby ordered a steak sandwich and fries, and I ordered potato salad.  Just a few days before the trip, I had three teeth pulled and two implants, so I could only eat soft foods. $25.00

This was another great place to stop with warm hospitality, fast service, and homemade food. 

Their country store was filled with homemade items. We purchased a bottle of lavender lotion. 

We arrived at Tru by Hilton Lexington, Kentucky, room 417, to freshen up before going to Churchill Downs, Lexington, KY for a buffet dinner and to watch the horse races. 

From the Chef's Table, I mostly ate Mac and Cheese and a small brownie, with a Diet Coke. 

A storm blew up, so the last few races were canceled. Everyone walked to the gift shop before heading to the bus in the rain.

It was late when we arrived at the hotel, and a long day of traveling, so we both went straight to bed.

Photos:

7794-7809 Dolly's Travel Stop Centerville, TN @ 9:18 AM

7810-7814 Farmwalds Dutch Deli and Bakery Horse Cave, KY @12:12 PM

7815-7817 Tru by Hilton Lexington, KY @4:34 PM

7818-7824 Churchill Downs Lexington, KY @ 5:00 PM

Day 2: Friday, June 26: 

Breakfast at the hotel: Muffin, yogurt, egg, sausage, and kiwi juice. 

Today, we are going to the Louisville Little Slugger Museum. We were a little early, so everyone went to the gift shop. We purchased two baseball bats for two of our great-grandsons for Christmas.

We had their names engraved on each; both boys did very well playing baseball this year. One of the boys made the all-stars. $127.18

Next, we were taken on a factory tour where we were given the history of how the baseball bats were harvested and made. $20.26.

It was now lunch time so everyone dispersed, going in different directions, looking for a place to eat.

We stopped at The Main Eatery, 643 N Main St., Louisville, KY, a quaint sandwich and soup restaurant, where hubby ordered chili with cheese. I ordered a baked potato with butter and sour cream, and we both ordered a soda. The food was delicious, and the service was great. The restaurant had a friendly and inviting atmosphere where you did not feel rushed, and you could relax and enjoy your meal.

Our next stop was Louisville Art Museum which had a gift shop and two upper levels of art display. The cost was $5.00.

On display was art work by Stan Squirell Threads of Infulence on view from March 20th to July 5th 2026.

The visionary art of Minnie Evans on view April 4th through October 4th,  2026. Minnie's art reflects on living and how our own history affect our own lives.

Our next stop was the Frazier History Museum, which cost $14.00. Inside the museum was the Spirit of Kentucky, The Commonwealth: Divided we fall, Stewart Historic Miniatures collections,  Cool Kentucky6, The Lewis and Clark Experience, Prusit of Happiness, Gounder's Gallery, Louisville to Liberty, the Blackburn's jouney, 120 Cool KY Counties, and the Kentucky Show in the Brown Forman Theatre.

We did not have time to watch the movie, but when we returned from our trolley tour, we watched the movie. The curator said once we paid, we could return after our tour.

Next, take our one-hour trolley tour of Louisville with our guide,e Travis. 

After the trolley tour, we watched the movie at the Frazier Museum, and then we went to Mussels and Burgers for dinner. Hubby ordered a salad, and I ordered their bread pudding. Their motto is: " Who says 'Pub Grub' has to be boring? $24.37.

After dinner, we walked around until about 6:30 PM, when we loaded onto the bus and returned to the hotel. Packed, for we are leaving tomorrow.

Photos:

7825 Breakfast @7:34 AM 

7826-7833 Travel Lexington to Louisville, KY @8:41-9:18 AM 

7834-7896 Louisville Slugger Museum Louisville, KY @9:30-11:10 AM 

7897-7898 Lunch at the Main Eatery, Louisville, KY @11:32 PM

7899-7999 The Frazier Museu, Louisville, KY@12:02-1:41 PM

8001 Trolley Tour @1:47 PM

8002--8005 Dinner at Mussel and Burgers, Louisville, KY@4:39 PM 

8006-8068 Traveling from Louisville to Lexington, KY @ 5:48-7PM

8069-8012 receipts @7:13 PM 

Big Cameras

8736-8755 Traveling from Lexington to Louisville, KY @ 8:27 A.M. 

8756-8786 Louisville Little Slugger Museum and Factory Tour  8:34- 11:07 A.M.

8787-8802 Louisville, Ky    

8804-8806 Art Museum, Louisville, Ky

8807-8814 Louisville, Ky    

8815-8933 Frazier History Museum, Louisville, Ky  

8934-9011 Trolley Tour Louisville, Ky

9012-9021 Churchill Downs, fifteen-minute break and gift shop, Lexington, KY

9022-9062 Traveling from Lexington to Louisville, KY 

9063-9086 Traveling from Louisville to Lexington, KY

Day 3: Saturday, June 27:

Breakfast at the hotel,l I ate a blueberry muffin with cream cheese.

I  was up at 6 AM, took a shower,d finished packing, wrote in my journal, ate breakfast, and was on the bus by 8 AM.

Our first stop was Buc-ee's at 9:19 AM in Smith Grove, KY, for a restroom break and snacks. I was still hungry, so I bought eggs, bacon, cheese biscuits, and some Buc-ee's bites. I only ate a few bites and gave Hubbt half, but he was hungry, so most of it was thrown away. 

Our next stop was in Franklin, TN, to do some shopping and to eat lunch.

We decided to eat at Pucketts, where we ordered a meat and three veggies. We got chicken and dumplings, broccoli, green beans, and sweet potatoes with iced tea. We got an extra plate and shared the food, which was more than enough. After lunch, we walked up the sidewalk to the Williamson Archives and Museum. 

I took several photos and stopped to talk to the curator. We talked for several minutes about the different wars, genealogy, history, and families. 

We had to walk several blocks back to the bus,s so I had to cut our conversation short. I thanked her, and we began our journey back to the bus.

Loaded onto the bus by 1:30 and were on our way to Gabe's in Madison. Eight people got off in Madison; the rest were going to Scottsboro.

We loaded our car and began our journey home. We stopped at Chick-fil-A in Athens for a Dragon Fruit Tea, which was free with their app. 

Our next stop was Isom's fruit stand in Athens,s where we bought a basket of fresh peaches and several banana peppers. $19.00.

Our next stop was Lash's in Elgin for their Low Country Boil, thas consist of Cajin boiled shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and corn.

We were home by 4:30 PM.

 Unloaded the car, ate dinner, uploaded photos, and worked on the computer until time for bed.

Photos:

8073-Buc ees @9:19 AM

8074-8075 Pucketts @ 11:47 AM $24.09

8076-8164 Williamson Archives and Museum 12:12-1:07 PM

2018 Shoals Front Porch Storytelling Festival

I spent the last three days attending different functions of the Storytelling Festival.
May 17,18,19, 2018

On Thursday, I attended a free concert at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame featuring Kate Campbell. 

Kate played guitar, sang, and told stories. (3:00–4:30 P.M.)

One of the stories/songs was about Tomatoes and Jesus Coming Soon. 

The special guest was Spooner Oldham. Kate has made many recordings with Spooner. 

Later that day at Florence Library,  I enjoyed listening to Josh Goforth tell stories about his tobacco-chewing PawPaw. 

Josh played the banjo, Fiddle, and guitar. He can play as many as ten instruments. Very talented young man. (5–6 P.M.)

Josh Goforth playing the banjo 

On Friday, I was joined by three friends at the storytelling festival held at the Shoals Theater from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. 

The Movie Projector at Shoals Theater is displayed in the lobby

We enjoyed lunch at Legends, which is located across the street from the theater.
We listened to Bil Lepp tell funny stories. 

Josh Goforth sings, tells stories, and plays the banjo, guitar, and Fiddle. 

Tim Lowry's long program featured him dressed as a Southern gentleman from South Carolina. 

After lunch, we listened to Donald Davis, Dolores Hydock, Bill Lepp, and Josh Goforth. 

There was a dinner break, and we all went home. 

Saturday, I was joined by one friend, and we listened to Tim Lowry tell a story about attending an AME church in a Confederate Soldier Uniform. 

We listened to Donald Davis, Kate Campbell, & Josh Goforth.

Delores Hydock's long program was about a woman who worked for Loveman's Department Store, "In her own fashion." 

Bobby Horton played guitar while Dolores told the story of Ninette Griffith & Loveman's Department store. 

My friend and I enjoyed a meal at City Hardware. I ordered a red, white, and blue salad with chicken. 

Red, White, and Blue Chicken Salad 

At 5 P.M., the storytelling stopped for a dinner break.
My friend and I both went home. I would have loved to have stayed until 9 P.M. for the rest of the show, but I was just too tired.

I was between Dolores Hydock and Tim Lowery at intermission. 

Mystic Pizza a Slice of Heaven 🍕🍕🍕🍕

Kat and Daisy are sisters and rivals: Kat studies astronomy and works at the planetarium in the famous Whaling Museum of Mystic Seaport, as well as the restaurant, and has been accepted to attend Yale University on a partial scholarship. Daisy just wants to find love through lust while trying to get out of Mystic. Kat is the apple of her Portuguese mother's eye, whereas Daisy is not, as her mother feels she is wilder and less goal-oriented than her younger sister.

Mystic Pizza History

THE DAY HOLLYWOOD CAME TO TOWN……

Incredibly, Mystic Pizza caught the eye of screenwriter Amy Jones, who was summering in the area. Ms. Jones chose Mystic Pizza as the setting and focus of her story about the lives and loves of three waitresses. The movie was filmed on location in Mystic and the neighboring towns. "Mystic Pizza was released in 1988 and was a hit, even Siskel and Ebert gave it two thumbs up.

Enjoying a slice of Heaven @ Mystic Pizza 🍕🍕🍕

Paying Attention!

Yesterday I went to town to pay some bills and shop.

My first stop was Kohles.

The line at the register was long, so I decided to shop.

I shopped in every department, not sure why, but I was looking for a bargain.

I walked through the shoe department, looking at shoes — because I had just bought a pair of boots, not sure why.

Women have a thing for shoes.

I walked through the kitchen section looking for Rachel Ray dishes. I love Rachel Ray cookware and utensils.

I walked through the bedding and then on to lingerie.

Next, I went to the women's department looking for a pair of Chap jeans.

I picked up a pair of Chap jeans and walked to the register to check out.

I laid my jeans on the counter and started looking for my coupon.

I had put both the coupon and Kohles check in the front pocket of my jeans.

I looked inside my purse and the pockets of my jeans, but could not find the coupon or the check. 

The woman at the checkout gave me 20% off my jeans.

I walked outside to check the car, but the check was not in it. 

I looked everywhere, but to no avail.

I went back inside Kohles and I started asking people if they had seen a check lying on the floor.

A housekeeper even went through her trash.

I found the twenty percent coupon lying on the floor in the aisle near the candles.

I had everyone in the whole store looking for my check.

I left my name and telephone number, and I left the store.

I continued shopping: 

 At Finishing Line, Ultima's and 

At Sally's, I bought nail polish and hairpins.

At Best Buy, I went to purchase the new Marvel Movie, Guardians of the Galaxy. Which will not be released until December 9, 2014. My head was still in turmoil over the lost check because I ended up buying X-Men: Days of Future Past.

I looked at the many characters on the package. I was just not thinking straight.

I did not even notice that I had purchased the wrong movie until I decided to enter the code for Guardians of the Galaxy on Disney Movie Rewards.

Later that day, I called my daughter and told her about my strange day. 

She laughed and said, Let me tell you about my day".

 I had an hour before I had to go to work, so I decided to go shopping. 

I went to the store (Sears) and the saleswoman was invaluable.

 When I got ready to pay for my purchases, I looked at my coupon! 

The coupon I had was for JCPenney's, not Sears, and all this time I was shopping at Sears.

I explained to the saleswoman that I thought I was in JCPenney, and she laughed. 

She said JCPenney has a good sale on the item that I want to purchase, and if they don't have it, then I will come back.

I had to leave for work; no more time for shopping. 

After I got off work, I went to JCPenney's and made my purchase. 

The moral of my story is 

to be careful where you put your money, checks, and coupons.

AND 

Pay attention to where you are shopping. 

Later that night, I got a call from Kohles, they said A 

clean woman had found my check.

The check was made out to Kohles for payment, and I told the saleswoman to go ahead and make it.

I asked her to leave me a receipt at customer services.

All in all, it was not a bad day!!!!