Kentucky Bound

Retirement bliss - when you're afforded the opportunity to take a road trip with your adult children. It's a completely different experience than you remember from your previous life. Never once did Kent ask, "when are we going to get there." Never once was their a fight for the "way back." Though there could have been - given the fact that the way back in a Yukon is like a limousine when the middle seat is put away. You can stretch your legs out completely, even putting them up on the seat back. Sleep comes easily. Another difference is that your child can do the driving. And his wife provides the snacks. Retirement bliss, I say.

On the way to a wedding outside of Atlanta, today's mission was to make it to Kentucky so as to give us plenty of time for the highlight visit to the Makers Mark distillery. But first, Mariah wanted to stop by Metropolis, IL, based on the description as given by Bonnie and Anne. That was of a five story Superman statue standing in front of the local court house. Pure Americana.


Well, it DID stand in front of the court house, but it wasn't quite five stories high. Maybe one story. And it was a compliment of the Superman Museum, located along main street. When we arrived, at around 6:30 p.m., the streets were empty, and it felt a little bit like a ghost town trapped in the 1950's. Cheezy might be used to describe it. Metropolis had relocated closer to the freeway, so it wasn't exactly destitute, it just looked that way in the center of town.

Ten miles further down the road was Peducah, KY, which turned out to be a much more interesting downtown area. Vibrant with antique stores, historical markers and references, and well-restored old buildings. Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers, river commerce was evidenced everywhere, suggesting a sustainable economic base. And the restaurant we visited, Max's, provided some of the best service and best food we've experienced in a while. Bluegrass music played in the background of the outdoor patio where we ate, across from the historic marketplace building (closed in 1907, now a well maintained museum).  Perfect atmosphere for a perfect evening.

Tomorrow - destination Makers Mark and Nashville.