Part II: Go Climb a Rock...
Thursday morning brought with it a
cloudburst that threatened to put a major damper on the day's planned activities,
one of which was a visit to Keeneland Race Track. Founded in 1935 and
situated on about 150 acres just on the outskirts of Lexington, the famed
race track was the location for most of the racing scenes from the 2003
movie "Seabiscuit
". It is a gorgeous venue and is well known for its
mid-April running of the Blue Grass Stakes, an important prep for the
Kentucky Derby. We were a tad early (in the season) to experience the
thrill of an actual race, but were still able the watch the jockeys and
trainers as they worked out their horses on the synthetic Polytrack surface
installed in 2006.
Racing starts in April and on Saturdays, a hot
buffet breakfast is served -- $5 for adults and kids 3 and older; kids under
3 eat free. Parking is free with a nominal $3 admission fee to the
racetrack during races; there are numerous opportunities to
learn more from the trackside commentary about how horses prepare for a
race and to learn about Keeneland's history... maybe even see a famous jockey or
two. For those who want to place a wager, it can still be done cheaply
-- as little as $2 -- and the whole family can have fun without having to
take out a loan to do it!
The rain that had taken a break and
allowed us to observe some of the workouts began anew, and a cold wind added
to the discomfort, so we packed it in and headed east and south to Natural
Bridge State Park, with a brief stop in the Red River Gorge Geologic area of
the Daniel Boone National Forest, a magnificent and beautiful area,
comprised of sandstone and limestone, carved out by nature over a period of
millions of years. Here can be found the largest concentration of
arches and rock shelters east of the Rocky Mountains -- places in which
native Indians and possibly even Daniel Boone once stayed. Our first
destination was Red River Outdoors -- a venue that offers rental canoes for
individuals or groups, comfortable and secluded cabins with plenty of
amenities, guided and instructional rock climbing from beginner to advanced
(for those requiring a bit more of an adrenaline rush) and plenty of
Kentucky hospitality. I'm sure that we looked pretty green (as well as
pretty out of shape) but Amy (one of the owners) took us on a brief tour of
the property where the majority of the climbing takes place and then very
nonchalantly asked if we were ready to climb...
It probably wasn't, but the sandstone wall
in front of us appeared to be almost vertical! The rain had once again
stopped so, undaunted we both slipped on the
harnesses and climbing shoes that were available for those of us who are
unprepared novices, and then we attempted an ascent. Neither Yvonne nor myself got
very far up the wall... but at least we tried. And I do have to admit
that I now understand why people get into climbing mountains. It's
more than simply a case of "Because it's there" and I don't believe that I
can adequately describe the sensation. But it was a lot
of fun and something that I would encourage you to try. Amy shared
with us that lots of people drive to the area all the way from the Chicago
area every weekend, just to scale these cliffs. Try it for yourselves
and you'll surely understand why. It's a great place for novice or
experienced climbers, as well as groups that want to share an exceptional
experience. We thanked our gracious hosts for their patience and
headed back down the road to our next night's lodging in Hemlock Lodge at
Natural Bridge State Park.
Before entering the Park, we stopped at
Miguel's Pizza and Rock Climbing Shop for a bite to eat. Not only
is this little gem a hang-out for climbers, it is a picturesque -- and
inexpensive ($2 per person per night) -- spot to pitch a tent and camp for a
night or two. They have some of the best pizza I have tasted: Miguel
makes his own dough and pizza sauce every morning and always has a couple
dozen different toppings available. The place also has all the
requisite rock climbing equipment you would need. And you can scour
the 'net, but you simply will not find anything less than a five-star review of
the place. The parking lot is always full, and that is testament to
the quality of the food. Even as the rain started again, it didn't
dampen the spirits of the climbers we saw there. It's a must-stop
destination, whether you are a climber or not!
Almost directly across the street from Miguel's is
the Natural Bridge State Resort Park. As State Parks go, this one
is very cool.
About 50-60 feet below Hemlock Lodge (where we stayed), a small river runs through
the park and surrounds an
area called Hoedown Island -- an open-air dance patio for weekly square
dances; Pedal Boats and Hydrobikes are available for rental there.
There is also a swimming pool... but our choice was the many miles of hiking
trails up and around the cliffs. The rain seemed to let up in response
to our desire to go for a hike, so we headed up one of the trails -- which
range by the way from easy to advanced -- to reach the natural bridge for
which the park is named. The trail we selected is only about three-quarters of a
mile in length from the lodge to the bridge... but the ascent on this the
"Original Trail" is some 500 feet up. Even done slowly, it'll get your
heart pumping! Though spring hadn't yet fully arrived, the redbuds
were starting to show their colors and the dense stands of rhododendron were
looking as if they were about to burst, while the yellow poplar still held
tightly to last season's leaves.
The climb took only about 45 minutes and
views were breathtaking --- certainly worth the time and effort to get
there. Crossing under the arch and then sliding through a narrow
fracture in the rocks, we emerged and climbed a number of stairs in order to
reach the very top of the natural arch. Wow! What a place to be.
The product of some 300 million years sculpting by Mother Nature, the
sandstone arch is quite a sight to behold. And except for a few
hollers and whistles from folks wanting to hear the echoes, the peace and
quiet was deafening. After snapping a plethora of pictures, we headed
back down, selecting Trail #2 -- otherwise known as "Balanced Rock Trail" --
for our return trip. It too was only three-quarters of a mile in
length back to the lodge. Though we did have another choice... a trail
which was nine and a quarter miles long, my legs said an immediate
NO to that thought! Balanced Rock Trail -- sporting a
huge and precariously-balanced block of sandstone for which the trail is
named -- was much steeper, and I was glad that we chose it for going down
rather than up. By the time we got back to the lodge, our legs had
been replaced by something that I can only describe as an alloy of
rubber and spaghetti. Oddly, it was a good feeling, and I knew that we
would sleep well tonight.
We took showers and headed to dinner at
Sandstone Arches Restaurant in the lodge. The menu is fairly large and
boasts many Kentucky favorites that utilize locally grown meats and produce
when available. With offering such as Fried Catfish, Fried Green
Tomatoes, and the popular Kentucky Hot Brown (an open-faced sandwich of
turkey and bacon, covered in Mornay sauce and broiled, then topped with
tomatoes -- originally created at the Brown Hotel in 1926), as well as a
giant buffet and serve-yourself ice cream for dessert, how could one go
wrong? It was a severe case of "the tireds" that kept us from having
any dessert; we gingerly arose from our chairs and headed to bed early.
Another long but satisfying day had come to an end.
Part III: Whiskey For My Horses --
Water For My Men...
