EASTERN FALL COLOR SUMMARY
DRIVE OUT • BACK EAST • DRIVE BACK
Day 28 - I began my trip back with a visit Pennsylvania's lovely capitol building in Harrisburg. Outside was their replica of the Liberty Bell. I swung by Gettysburg where I drove the loop around the various battles. Unfortunately I didn't get to finish because of a torrential (albeit short) storm. It was an ample drive to my motel in New Stanton, and while passing through some mountains at dusk, I saw a black bear crossing the road!
Day 29 - I hit the road early with my first stop being the Grave Creek Mound in West Virginia. It was built by the ancient Adena people as a burial mound. It was an easy walk to the top. Next was Columbus, Ohio, for another capitol tour. They too had their Liberty Bell on display. The building was interesting in that it had no dome on the outside but did on the inside! I spent a lovely evening with couchsurfing hosts Jeff and Charlene. They made a delicious Mexican pizza!
Day 30 - In Chillicothe (Ohio), I visited a collection of dirt mounds built by the Hopewell people at the Hopewell Culture National Historic Park (Mound City Group). Very little is known about this ancient culture. Nearby was the Adena mansion, so I took a tour. It was the residence of Thomas Worthington (one of the state's early governors)... where salmon pink was considered a highly masculine color. I drove deep into the countryside to visit Serpent Mound. It is still under debate as to who actually built this long, snake-shaped mound. It was a long but beautiful drive through Kentucky to Frankfort, where I had a very fun evening with Moe (a couchsurfing host) and her big, sweet, old dog Parker.
Day 31 - In true 'Southern hospitality' fashion, Moe treated me to breakfast at a charming local diner. I then did a tour of the capitol. Unfortunately both legislative rooms were closed due to restoration. Most entertaining were the lights in the dome that would cycle through various colors. I wandered around the charming city, enjoying the lovely architecture and even the old capitol building. People were incredibly friendly, constantly sharing interesting stories. At the local cemetery, Daniel Boone's grave rested among many other interesting monuments. At Buffalo Trace Distillery, I learned all about how Kentucky bourbon is made... as well as how it tastes! I followed up that visit with one to Wild Turkey, enjoying another tour and still more samples. It was a bit of a drive down to Cave City, where I spent the night in my own private cement tipi!
Day 32 - It was a short drive to Mammoth Cave where I did a 2-hour tour. There were many stairs, tight passages (some so narrow that the ranger had to take her hat off in order to fit!) and steep slopes! I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the numerous trails... seeing the springs that helped create the cave, the slow moving Green River, more caves and lots of deer. Two even started fighting each other... standing on their back legs and striking each other with their front legs with a disturbing thudding sound! I spent the evening in my tent at the local campground.
Day 33 - At Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, I took an underground boat tour though a small cavern. I then had a long drive to Illinois where I stopped at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and climbed Monks Mound, the largest prehistoric earthwork in the Americas. Near St. Louis, I spent the evening with Tony, an absolutely wonderful couchsurfing host, and his affectionate dog, Mambo. I joined him and some friends for dinner... where there was alligator on the menu!
Day 34 - Tony and I went out for a hearty breakfast, then I spent several hours in St. Louis. I took the tram to the top of the arch for spectacular views, explored the beautiful old courthouse famous for the Dred Scott case (a slave who sued his owner for his freedom), and enjoyed a lovely cruise on the Mississippi River. I had a bit of a drive to Jefferson City where I saw the state capitol building with its numerous paintings. I spent the night at a motel in Columbia, Missouri.
Day 35 - I set out early since it was a long drive to Topeka (Kansas). I took two tours of the capitol building: one to the very very top (quite scary but super amazing!) and the other regular historic tour. The First Presbyterian Church across the street was filled with Tiffany glass windows. Gorgeous! Of course I had to do the local cemetery which contained some Civil War graves. I then met a friend, Bill, from Boulder for lunch as he was heading East while I was heading West. It was another couple of hours to my motel in Salina.
Day 36 - My neighbors were less than courteous, so when the partying still hadn't ceased by 4 am, I decided to begin my long drive back early. I arrived home safe and quite tired! Total driving distance: 5,626 miles!
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