Kentucky Trip- Days Three and Four

We parked up our belongings a day early on day three. The B & B was perfect for exploring the area, but we picked a hotel closer to Louisville for our last night to give us more privacy and visit a horse farm on our final day, but before Louisville, we spent the day in Bowling Green.

We wanted to experience a cave in Bowling Green. It was on our agenda since day one. It is a boat tour, but the water was too high the first to days for us to explore it. Ava dressed in matching shorts and a top with a flower pattern. We stopped at a rock shop where Ava purchased several large rocks. Each weighed over a pound. I told Ava she could get what she wanted as long as she could carry them all to the cash register.

We went horseback riding at a nearby stable and headed for Bowling Green. The Lost River boat tour is located in Bowling Green and has a couple miles of trails for hiking on the property. We walked the trails taking pictures while waiting for our tour to begin. Ava nibbly traversed fallen trees and muddy creek beds to get her perfect shots. I was not as eloquent and ended up in the mud once. I kept telling her I would be there to document when SHE got dirty, but it didn't happen.

The final cave tour was by boat. It was a short ride, but you need to duck your head for the first five feet of the ride to avoid the ceiling. Even leaning over in the boat only provided inches of clearance. 

It was another beautiful day. Temperatures were in the eighties. I rewarded myself with ice cream from Dairy Queen, something she is determined to get me to avoid. Ava opted for a salmon and kale salad and a healthy smoothie, though she was tempted to get ice cream. We still ate both inside Dairy Queen. No one minded. It was dark when we made it to the hotel outside Louisville.

Ava is a perfect travel partner. She never complains, and she pulls her own weight by helping with the navigation and selection of audiobooks. Monday, when I was in the office, I sent her a text.

Bathwater: You are an excellent navigator/ adventuring partner. Together I think we can travel almost anywhere and not have a bad time.

Ava: You read my mind. I was about to say the same thing. Yes, I had a wonderful time, as always. Thank you.

We had one more day of adventures before we returned. The following day, we woke early. I watched Ava choke down a grapefruit on the side of the bed-- because, well, she doesn't enjoy the taste, but it is healthy for you. I decided to forgo the grapefruit for an orange and a breakfast bar.

Ava wanted to check out a nearby outlet mall. Shopping is one of her weaknesses. Ava has a hard time avoiding a perceived deal. She had never been to an Outlet mall, and while the nearest one back home is deserted, this one had a variety of active stores. I bought myself two pairs of pants in the hour we had while Ava bought herself pants, a blanket, and two small backpacks.

Our last stop was another horse farm. This one had several horses, all roaming freely. Ava enjoyed the experience because she loves horses, but I have to say this one was not the safest. One rider actually fell during the ride, though she was okay. They took us for a two-hour ride through unmanicured trails and through a stream at one point. I am comfortable riding, but this was not my favorite experience. 

The ride back took us around Louisville along winding country roads. I preferred this to the city's traffic, and we linked back to our regular freeway outside of Cinnianti. We are acquainted with the drive now. It has become second nature for us to stop at familiar rest stops along the route.

Part of me was sad our trip had ended, but I was also ready to get back to the comforts of home. Ava and I decided to go to Hawaii the first week in November. It seems fitting, neither of us has been there, it is a week before her 30th birthday, and it will also mark one year ago that we met. 

Kentucky Trip- Day Two

 The following day, we set out to do more cave exploring. We didn't have a set plan, but we stopped. Ava is interested in crystals and rocks, so we stopped at a rock shop and toured Onyx Cave. It is a small cave found when the nearby stables and amusement decided to expand their parking lot in the 1970s.

From Onyx Cave, we traveled to the town of Horse Cave, a few miles away. Horse Cave has a cave in the center of town with a wide opening and three major domes. The cave is sixty feet below the town.

"I wonder what happens when they flush the toilets," I asked Ava, looking down into the sinkhole at the entrance. Indeed, on the tour, we found out that Horse Cave was once the worst-smelling town in Kentucky. Apparently, locals did not realize what they were doing by polluting their source of fresh water with waste.

Entrance To The Cave In Horse City

We spent a little time in Horse Cave, then heading back toward Mammoth Park, we saw a sign for Diamond Cave. Naturally, we pulled off and decided to see what we could see. There is a lodge built on top of Diamond Cave. You actually enter the cave from a gate in the entranceway that looks like it leads to a cellar.  It is incredible how close to buildings these caves can be. Diamond Cave has some pretty stalagmites and formations, but it also shows signs of damage from what we learned were cave wars back in the forties when local establishments were destroying the completion to gain more of the tourist trade.

Ava In Diamond Cave

From Diamond Cave, we stopped back at the B & B to change. The temperatures in the caves are from fifty-five to sixty degrees. Outside, it was sunny and eighty degrees. We loaded up the bikes, water, and snacks and headed back to Mammoth Park. We took a ferry across the Green River, which cut through the park's center, and rode some trails on our bikes.

It was a nice ride but not as scenic as the hiking we took the first day. On the way back to the B & B, the GPS took us up a two-track gravel road in the park. In several spots, it was only wide enough for one vehicle. Ava was a bit nervous, but I assured her the path was nothing the Gladiator couldn't handle. At one point, she saw an owl in the trees and made me stop and back up so she could get a picture. She stood up from her seat and took a video of the owl flying overhead through the Jeep's open top.

It was a long day, with hundreds of stairs, thousands of steps, and an eight-mile bike ride through hilly trails. When we arrived back at the B & B the sun was down and we were the only people there. We ate dinner in the room. A combination of pizza I picked up for myself and the groceries we packed for her. We cuddled in bed and Ava stoically held back her usually passionate screams. I slept soundly through the night without even remembering falling asleep.

Kentucky Trip- Day One

We packed our bags, the cooler, snacks, and the bikes and left the Detroit metro area early Wednesday morning. The weather warmed the further south we traveled. Our destination was seven hours away. We ate in downtown Cincinnati near the college. The area was packed with students. Parallel parking the Gladiator with a four-foot-long bike rack sticking off the back was challenging, but we had no issues.

We made it to the Bed & Breakfast by 5:30 pm. I was expecting the Dragon Fly Inn from Gilmore Girls, but we were in Kentucky. Our B & B was a large house on a sloped section of land close to Mammoth Park.  They had plenty of seating, a gazebo, and a fire pit outside the home. The owners live on the premises and have three or four rooms in the place they rent and a cabin.  The owners are friendly, and the wife made a fantastic breakfast each morning with plenty of options for Ava to eat. 

After driving around the area, I don't think there was a better place to stay. Each room had its own bathroom. The only downside to staying there was Ava could not be as vocal during sex in the evening, but we worked around it. 

On the first day, we drove into Mammoth Park. The park is vast, with plenty of hiking and bike trails. You don't need to pay to get into the park only if you want to take any cave tours. They have several. We booked a two-hour tour and spent the time we had before the tour hiking the trails near the main cave entrance.

This was one of my favorite days. Ava seems to love it all as long as we are outdoors. She took pictures everywhere. She is good at capturing the beauty in the little things we often overlook. Most of my photos are of her taking pictures. I had her take a few pictures of me, but there is only so much one can do to make me look good.

The Artist In Action

Hiking in Mammoth Park

Mammoth's main cave tour does not have as much interesting rock formations. It is primarily a wide-open space. Thankfully, that was not the only cave we visited.  We toured five in total throughout the trip. 

Entrance To Mammoth Cave

After the park, we grabbed something to eat in Bowling Green and returned to the B & B later in the evening. We don't have much downtime when we are on vacation. We don't spend nights watching TV or on our phones. One of us usually has something planned, but there is always time to switch things up or add locations.

 

Snow, In April

 It snowed yesterday. Nothing stuck to the roads, but there was an inch on the ground when it was done. I am so sick of this winter weather. Thankfully, we will be in 70-degree temperatures when we are in Kentucky. Despite my preparation, I don't feel like I am ready to leave. Work is piling up, and I cannot seem to get ahead, but I will forget about everything once we are on the road.

Max's car is in the shop again. They cannot seem to solve the problem. It is the third time we have taken it back. Otherwise, nothing to report. Hopefully, I will have several days of posts when I return.

Names

I call Ava by several names. I'll call here Busybee because she self admittedly never sits still. I'll call her Violet because Ava said she was much like the character from the Incredibles Movies in high school. Ava keeps have hair dyed dark. It contrasts nicely with her pale skin tone, and she tends toward black clothes. I like to remind her she is incredible too.

Violet (but this could be Ava's Avatar)

She likes the name Ava and doesn't mind being called it in public. Her least favorite is her own name, and she tells her mother and sister not to call her it in public. It isn't bad, but there is an ethnic pronunciation that most people don't catch.

We have made plans for another road trip because our first was so enjoyable. Next week we will be going south again. This time we will be adventuring through Kentucky's Mammoth Cave national park and some other parks in the area. Mammoth Cave is only a seven-hour drive from the condo, and we'll be staying at a bed & breakfast.

Ava's been very open since our trip. I am no longer questioning her honesty. She answers all my questions and gives me updates concerning her life. She's never had to tell me everything, and I'm sure she still doesn't, but we are complete opposites. She likes her privacy, while I tend to be open. It is nice we have found some middle ground.

Tennesse

 We had an excellent trip. We did so much in the short amount of time we had. I wouldn't have changed anything. I only wish we had more time.

I picked up Ava Thursday night. We spent the night at my condo and left early Friday morning. We drove through a snow squall leaving Detroit, but the weather improved the further south we traveled. Ava is a perfect travel partner. She is a good navigator, goes with the flow, and equally participates in adding unplanned stops.

We stopped for lunch in Cincinnati and spent a few minutes walking around the area, checking out the shops near the restaurant. I bought a tee shirt at a local bike shop before continuing our journey. The trip to Tennesse took nine hours of driving, but it was a pleasant trip. It gave us plenty of time to get to know each other better. I love listening to Ava discuss things she is passionate about. She can get worked up but is never unpleasant.

Our cabin was tucked away down a secluded gravel path just off the main two-lane road. It was fully stocked and situated in a few acres of woods with a mile of trails for us to explore. The cabin was a spacious one-room building divided into a seating area, a kitchen, a sleeping area, and a bathroom. We reached the cabin at dusk. It gave me enough time to explore some of the paths while Ava freshened up.

We stayed two nights in the cabin, and they were just as energetic as our days. The following day we walked the trails near the cabin. Ava loves to take photos. She can spend fifteen minutes trying to take the perfect picture of a pine cone. The path led us passed a pond, across a small creek, and into the trees. I basked in the silence of nature while she took photos. 

We headed for Cumberland Caverns after our walk in the woods. The main entrance into the caves looks accessible and inviting, but our tour took us on a half-mile hike up and down a rocky unmanicured path to an intimidating hole in the ground. We came prepared. They gave us hard hats with lamps, and Ava and I wore gloves and kneepads and carried extra flashlights. And believe me, they were all needed.

Our tour guide led us and fourteen others through a challenging adventure through dark, twisting corridors and tight spaces. It was very physical. We crawled through mud, climbed up and down ladders, and squeezed through tiny openings. I fell once on a slick mud-covered decline. We had to slog our way through six inches of water at one point on the two-and-a-half-hour tour. I found myself bumping my head more than once. Thank god for the hardhat, and we were both sogging and covered in mud before the end.

Ava was quiet as we walked back to the gift shop. I fear she hated the experience, but to my surprise-- she LOVED it. Ava wants to come back and explore more caves. Cumberland Caverns is not as scenic as Carlsbad but much more physically demanding if you are up for it. 

It was late afternoon by the time we finished the caves. We quickly changed the car and headed to Falls Creek state park after. It was a short drive away, and we got to see the Falls Creek Falls from the lookout before taking the half-mile trail down to the base. Once again, the path down to the bottom of the falls is only partially manicured, and you have to watch your step.

Ava is timid, but I convinced her to climb up onto a giant boulder at the base of the falls to take photos. It is a beautiful area. We drove around inside the park after seeing the falls. We saw plenty of deer along the road and inside the trees. There is a modern lodge with a restaurant inside the park, and we ate dinner there. The food was not remarkable, but the atmosphere inside the lodge was pleasant. It was late by the time we made it back to the cabin.

We went horseback riding the following day. Ava loves horses and used to volunteer at a stable in Detroit. It was a fun experience. Then we headed back to Falls Creek Park to revisit the first falls before exploring the rest of the park and going to the second falls. There was a lot of climbing. My thighs were sore by the second day, but Ava is a ball of energy.

Ava took more pictures of the second falls and along a suspension bridge before it was time for us to head toward Nashville. Our two-hour trip to Nashville took us down some scenic, twisty roads. Ava booked us a sound cleansing in Franklin, a ritzy area south of Nashville. 

We ate in Franklin. Ava loved the area. It has all the trappings of the rich-- Whole Foods (we stopped there to stock up on more snacks), bike paths, and a small downtown surrounded by big fancy houses. The sound cleansing is similar to the gong emersion we in Detroit in December. I was underwhelmed by this one, but Ava liked it.

We headed for our hotel in downtown Nashville after. Ava jumped into the shower while I napped on the bed. We she emerged, Ava sat next to me and said, "there is one more thing I'd like to do while we are here."

By this time, it was after ten at night. "What that?"

She was hesitant to say, "You know, that thing we talked about before."

I wasn't sure what she was getting at, so she finally admitted to wanting to go to a strip club. "There is one just two miles away from here," she told me. This was her idea, not mine. Ava is fascinated with strip clubs, though she has only been to one. Ava is a bit bi-curious. She doesn't admit it to many people, though.

I told her I was game for it. It was after midnight by the time we were dressed and headed back into the city. The Crazy Horse Gentlemen's club would be considered a lower-tier club back home in Detroit, but that made it an affordable adventure. They don't serve alcohol. It is strictly BYOB. That was okay for us because Ava doesn't drink, and I don't need to drink. There is no valet to park your car, and we just had to pay a cover charge. 

By my standards, it was a seedy club. There is a three-foot-wide expanse between the stage and the closest seats. The customers have to throw money at the stage, and after each set, a bouncer uses a squeegee on a pole to rake the singles into a bucket for the girls.

It was late, and the dancers still around were thicker than I preferred, but there was one Korean with a decent body that Ava and I liked. I tipped the girl when she was on stage, and we went back for private dances with her after. 

The girl made small talk with us between songs before asking if we wanted her to dance for both of us. I indicated she should dance for Ava, and I sat across from them to enjoy the show. At first, Ava sat stiff and was reluctant to touch the dancer, but she loosened up a bit after the first two songs so I had the girl dance two more for her. Ava liked it and I reaped the rewards late back in the hotel room. We had sex and stayed up past four-thirty talking.

The next day we didn't make it out of the hotel till noon. Then we ate lunch at a cafe and went to see the Parthenon before the long drive home.

It was a great trip. Ava said it was her second most favorite. Which I consider impressive considering it was only four days long and two were taken up by the drive. She was already planning a return to see more caves on the drive home, but I am not sure if it will happen. Ava has decided to take the two-year arrangement with the guy I mentioned before. She doesn't seem too excited about it. I think it is a bad idea and mentioned my opinion till she was tired of hearing.

My opinion is partly because I don't want to lose what we have going here, but I also don't think it is good for her. The thing is, Ava doesn't want to stop hanging with me either. She has fun with me. This trip really cemented the fact. It gave us a chance to talk and broke down the walls between us. I am just going to wait and see what happens next.

Mixed Bag

 I've started packing bags. The Gladiator is washed, although I don't think it will stay clean with the weather we are getting for the next two days. I am updating my playlist and investigating stops along the route. I am overkilling my preparations, but it is better to be prepared. I have a feeling Ava will be more last-minute in her preparations.

I have been getting hair bumps from shaving lately. The only culprit I can point to in this change is the soap Ava gave me. I am not sure why that would be, but I haven't changed anything else. So that is annoying.

March dragged on with little change in the weather. I hope April is better. I don't plan to take my computer on the trip, but I think I will take my tablet just encase I decide to take notes along the way. Work is piling up, but I hope to have a better attitude after a few days away.

I was moody last week when I wrote the post Weak, but that has passed. Perhaps it is all part of letting go of the past. I am content, maybe a little bored, and looking forward to Spring. 

I have been editing Dave's book and reading a few by David Gemmell, searching for inspiration for my own. Gemmel was a great writer of heroic fantasy. I was sad when he passed. 

Winter Returns

Winter returned over the weekend, disregarding the date and bringing snow Saturday and Sunday. We received enough snow during the night to cover the ground Saturday morning and Sunday I took Twin A to lunch through snow squalls that limited visibility but didn't add any accumulation.  We will have cooler temperatures on the road trip than I hoped. Still, I am looking at getting away.

This week will be busy leading up to our departure. When I was a boy, my mother would have to clean the entire house before we left on any trip. She would be in a dark mood that would not lift until we were on the road. It dampened the excitement. My two brothers and I would make ourselves scarce while she cleaned to avoid her wrath.

I did not inherit her pretravel moods, but I did clean the condo this weekend. I want to clean the Gladiator inside and out before we leave, but the weather will be cold and rainy the next few days. 

I am working from home the first three days this week, so that will give me a few extra hours to finalize the trip by picking out a few places of interest along the route. I will be going to yoga on Wednesday instead of Tuesday this week, and I have a massage scheduled for Thursday evening. 

I took Ava to the River Crab Friday night. She enjoyed the food and the view. She was particularly interested in the driftwood floating down the river. Thinking of ways to harvest it for free and make some craft projects out of it. 

"So if we go to the sand dunes on Lake Michigan this summer are we going to be filling the back of the truck with driftwood?" I asked her.

Ava plans on spending the night Thursday, so we can get an early start the next morning. So we will be spending four nights and four days together. It is our first trip and I am anxious to see how it will go.

Thursday

 I texted Firefly the other day. She is back with her parents. There are no issues with the boyfriend, but she was staying with the boyfriend, his mother, and the mother's boyfriend, and they are painting the house and preparing it for sale. Firefly cannot be around the fumes. At least this is the story. There could be more to it. Firefly can be a lot to deal with.

She got her car back, but she has an issue with the seat belt that keeps her from driving it. Firefly is working at a Greek Coney Island. She seems happy and in a better headspace. She and the boyfriend are looking for apartments. Good for her. It will be an uphill battle, but she may need this purpose to motivate her.

January is a long month, and this feels like a long week. I am glad it is almost done. Our temperatures are bitter cold, but the weather overall has been devoid of any deep snow in my area. 

Ava has agreed to the trip in theory. A four-day road trip down to Cumberland Caverns and Nashville. I still need to book a cabin, a hotel, and a cave tour. We are going on the first weekend in April if the cabin we want is available. The last weekend in March is the alternative. I think it is a good time for an early trip, smack between St. Patrick's Day and Easter.

Vacation Conversation

And the reason oughtta leave her calm, I know
I said I don't know whether I'm the boxer or the bag...Yellow Ledbetter, Pearl Jam

The system that brought snow and ice to the northeast left us with colder temperatures and heavy winds. The wind rumbled outside this morning, causing the condo to flex and groan. Ava canceled dinner yesterday. When I checked in with her earlier in the day, I got an "oops." We are still getting together on Tuesday, though.

I finished Vampire Diaries over the weekend. It was a sappy unrealistic happy ending but isn't that why we call it fantasy. I like how the three series are linked together, Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Legacies, but I watched them out of order. I prefer binging older series. That way, I have plenty of episodes to watch.

I would like to plan a vacation for March, but I am unsure where to go. I am sure Ava would be up for a long weekend away somewhere warm, but I don't want to plan something active. I don't want to spend all the days on a beach somewhere. Any suggestions? I am thinking about Cumberland Caverns in Tennesse.

I could take Ava to Key West, but that is what she is used to guys doing. I went to get her out of that element and set myself apart. Or at least see if she is up for the adventure before settling for the safe alternative. This is the conversation we had concerning the possible trip.

Ava: Exploring caves seems dangerous.

Bathwater: So that is a yes?

Ava: Sure, lol.

Bathwater: Have I ever steered you wrong?

Ava: Lol, not yet.

Bathwater: Well we could play it safe and lounge around Key West in a black bikini (she doesn't own a bikini--I know shocking). But honestly, everyone takes you to the beach.

Ava: Lol

Bathwater: Either way I'd be pushing at your boundaries a little, cuz I know you can handle it.

Ava: Thanks, I would be open to trying almost anything with you (bashful emoji).

Bathwater: That's right because you are safe with me.

Ava: Yes, you have always made me feel safe and comfortable.

Bathwater: But I want you to try new things too. It can be very empowering.

Ava: Yes, I need to take more baby steps in new directions. I agree.

Ava has stores of pent-up energy. I see it leaking out when she talks about stuff she has a passion for. I like releasing that energy.

Soaring Eagle

 I'm back. Back home and back to the office.

Last Wednesday, Firefly and I packed up some clothes and head out to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. It was Firefly’s birthday, she turned twenty-one. Going north up I-75 can be busy during the holiday weekend, but it was no problem Wednesday afternoon. The weather was not on our side during our three-day trip.  It was cold and rainy. We made the best of it.  We checked into our hotel, changed, and headed to the casino for dinner.

The casino is following the latest CDC guidelines. If you are vaccinated, you don’t need to wear a mask. No one checks for a vaccination card. We stayed in a hotel a mile away from the Soaring Eagle Casino. Though she gambled and drank illegally while we were in Las Vegas back in December, she wanted to experience it legally.

Firefly dressed casually in jeans, a white spaghetti strap crop top, and a pink pastel jacket. I wore jeans and a polo. Firefly signed up for the players club and received $10 in free play.  I received $10 for referring her. We decided to eat at a bar off the casino.  They were still serving a limited menu. After dinner, we tried few slot machines without any luck before Firefly decided she wanted to try roulette.

We stopped at a roulette table without any other patrons. I handed the operator a $100 and told him to split it between us. Both the operator and I tried explaining the different ways to beat. The operator even offered up his own strategy. I lost my $50 using my own lack of system, but Firefly kept hitting, and we walked away from the table, $65 ahead.  After a few more plays at the slots, we walked away even the first day.

The next day we drove into Midland, Michigan. We visited the Tridge.  Three bridges that connect over the Tittabawassee River. It was last year about this time that the river flooded and covered the area we were visiting. We ate lunch downtown. The sky threatened rain the entire time. We took a quick swim and a nap at the hotel before heading back to the casino.

The second night I sat down in front of a $3 max bet slot machine and started playing.  I started winning right away. Firefly reluctantly sat in front of the machine next to me. She was not having any luck at slot machines, but both machines were hitting that night. She walked away with $160, and I won $90. I would say that it is a successful trip to the casino. It covered our drinks and food and only cost me the price of the room.

We headed home Friday. We skipped stopping off at Frankenmuth, Michigan. The weather was too cold. Traffic was light heading south, but going north, the holiday travelers were backing up in areas.  We were glad we planned the trip to miss the rush. We spent the holiday weekend close to home.  I did some work for the twins and for Alexis, but otherwise, we remained low profile.

Silver Lake

 The weather in Silver Lake was mostly cool and rainy.  Our view from our hotel, blue skies over matching blue water separated by a strip of sand.  Firefly is a good traveling partner.  She is not demanding and rolls with the situation when it comes to eating and activities.

We had a good day Friday and made the most of the weather.  We took the silver Jeep (my old one) out on the sand dunes for one more run.  My silver Jeep (the Punisher), can handle the dunes without issues.  I let Firefly do most of the driving.  It was her first time experiencing the thrill of bouncing up and down the hills.

She buried it once on the top of the test hill, the tallest of the dunes.  She slowed down too early and planted it at the top.  It wasn't a big problem.  There is always someone willing it give you a pull.

Saturday we went into Ludington.  A small town on the shore of lake Michigan.  The weather was cold and windy.  Firefly did not have any opportunities to strip down to her swimsuit but we made the best of the day exploring the town.  Sunday morning the wind we creating large white caps along the shore.  The path to the lighthouse was under the waves.

I told her we can try doing one more trip before she leaves for rehab if she has the time.  The weeks are going by fast here.  I feel like I have a lot I want to do.  I have to get the silver Jeep cleaned up and up for sale.  We still need to vacuum out all the sand inside it and I need to replace the passenger side fender skirt because some little bug hit a trash can trying to avoid an accident.