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We also hung out with Jack and Hannah, who we met on that 24 day overlanding safari in Africa during our 100-day adventure and became fast friends.
We got a chance to stay at their cool new house in the hip Fishtown neighborhood of Philly while celebrating Jen’s bday, a trip highlight.
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I think I missed posting here on ye olde microblog about getting together with my questing buddy, Tom, during the trip. He’s at least partially responsible for me adopting a solid chunk of my weirder quests. Here’s us pointing to stuff on the map. 🏷️25.05C
A couple views of Pittsburgh from my trip. I had planned on visiting two additional viewpoints, but instead found myself down by the river and spent too much time there before I needed to skedaddle, knowing I’ll likely be back soon with Jen for some SW PA national parks. 🏷️25.05C
I’m back home after my road trip.
Still have some additional photos and wrap-ups to post—something I’m trying to do a better job of than in the past.
It’s so easy during my whirlwind trips, which usually feature crappy internet at my campsite when I finally have a chance to post stuff, to get behind on trip updates. And then, upon arriving home, getting too busy catching up on all the things to get around to it.
I’m hoping to do a bit better of a job of that this go-round.
I also visited Ripley, a small town that featured two important figures in abolition and the Underground Railroad: John Rankin and John Parker. I stopped by both of their historic houses, which are now museums (closed today, of course 🙄). The Parker house might become a future NPS unit. 🏷️25.05C
Got in a short hike on the Buckeye Trail that encircles Ohio in East Fork State Park this morning. There’s an effort brewing to include the trail in the National Parks System, so gotta pre-mark it off while I’m here. 😂 🏷️ 25.05C
Was told I had to stop here (or Gold Star) while passing thru Cincinnati. Welp, I absolutely DO NOT need to come here ever again. (Everything about it was terrible). 🏷️ 25.05C
Did a short hike through the Bluffs of Beaver Bend. 🏷️ 25.05C
This is the Triple Whipple Bridge, which features a rare triple-intersection truss design—the only known example of its kind in the United States. 🏷️ 25.05C
Pushing up the Ohio River 🏷️ 25.05C
Of course, if you find yourself in Frankfort, you have to stop by the grave of Kentucky’s most celebrated folk hero. 🏷️ 25.05C
I also marked off Kentucky and Indiana on my State Capitol Buildings quest. Of course, both rotundas are currently under construction. 🏷️ 25.05C
Larry Bird, the pride of French Lick, Indiana. 🏷️ 25.05C
Toured the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site today, which brings me to within two of completing my “A Site For Each President” quest—just Madison and Nixon left. I’ll do Nixon in Aug, but no immediate plans for Montpelier (they closed early on a previous trip I made to the site 🙄). 🏷️ 25.05C
Had an enjoyable evening at Mirror Twin Brewing in Lexington KY a few nights ago. Also made a stop at Afterburner in Terre Haute IN last night. And Kismetic in Indianapolis IN today. #LostNeededDirections 🏷️ 25.05C
I sidetracked a bit to visit Berea College, the first racially integrated and coeducational school in the South.
Funny enough, this cool memorial scene was funded by the guy who opened the very first KFC franchise, in Salt Lake City of all places. And, yes, I have already been there 😂. 🏷️ 25.05C
Grabbed a sandwich on my way to Flat Lick Falls so I could use it as a nice lunch spot.
Unfortunately(?), I enjoyed this quaint little falls enough that I totally forgot about my sandwich and drove an hour to the next town and got an entirely different lunch. 🤦♂️ 🏷️ 25.05C
While I followed along much of the Hatfield-McCoy feud trail, the only spot I spent more than a brief moment pausing to read a plaque was visiting the oddly-placed on the side of a steep hill Hatfield Family cemetery, which features the grave of the Hatfield ringleader, “Devil Anse.” 🏷️ 25.05C
I also visited the historic African Zion Baptist Church, one of the first churches started by slaves. It was the home church of Booker T Washington. 🏷️ 25.05C
I’ll need actual wifi to upload the video, but I made it out to Black Mountain, the high point of Kentucky.
It was the last one to complete for my “lazy highpointers” quest of (nearly) drivable state summits. One of my oldest quests, originally called High Points of Otherwise Flat States. 🏷️25.05C
