Driving seems like the easy task. And it is, physically. But it actually requires quite a bit of thought and housekeeping. Half the time, we think we're doing a good job, the other half of the time, we hope the cars on the other side of the road aren't going to make us into metal sandwiches. At least on these Kentucky roads:
Kentucky roads are really well maintained. Most of them feel newly paved. And state roads literally connect every square mile of the state. The only downside are roads like the ones above. One and a half lane roads with almost no markings, and the possibility of 35mph cars heading toward you.
Today, the driver did something like this:
7:45. Leave about 5 minutes after the group does. Make sure all the gear is packed, do a final sweep of the church we stayed at, and ride off onto the highway.
7:48. Oh the car's outta gas. Better fill up.
8:00. Finally outta of town; see ya Lancaster! It's been fun.
8:20. Catch up to the bikers. Cheer them from inside the car. Hopefully they heard me (and I didn't scare Olivia).
9:20. Enter Berea. A fair size town on the 75. Drive to the Kentucky Artisan Center (sounds like I'm going to do some sightseeing!). Or really just use the bathroom...oh looks like they have fried chicken. Darn Kentucky.
Not the Artisan Center. The Old Train Depot though.
9:50. Meet first three riders. Distribute lunch (brown rice with lots of cumin) and water. Call to make sure everyone else knows where we're stopping.
10:00. Meet second group of riders. Board the Berea Trolley. Take a tour of the art capital of Kentucky. See Berea College students move in for orientation. Remember when we were those freshmen? Haha.
11:00. Decide finally where we will stay tonight. Discuss with every one else. We decide to just go to our original Warmshowers stop: the Jackson County Visitor Center (we didn't know this at the time, nor was I given directions to this place).
12:00. Arrive at my next stop. Did not realize this was two miles past the visitor center. Watch the rain pour down on everyone else. Clean up the car a bit while I'm waiting; decide whether to get groceries. The answer is no. Too bad I ain't biking in this rain. Looks like fun.
1:15. Get a call. Looks like I drove past the destination. I drive back.
1:30. Arrived. We unpack, settle down, and meet Jason, our host. He's this super chill bus driver/tourism manager from McKee area. he welcomes us and tells us to make ourselves home.
3:30. Wait, we have to sleep outside if we stay here? Well then, let's go to McKee! Off to find a church for us to stay at. Actually, Jason has a friend who's letting us stay at her Catholic Church.
6:20. Arrive at McKee. Today was actually a pretty easy day...not bad.
This is actually Lancaster...oh well, this is a fairly typical setup in the churches we've stayed at. Nice huh?