Vancouver Island Part 2

I forgot to mention in my last post about how great things went before we got on the ferry to Vancouver Island.  We got to the ferry site early.  Not being familiar with the process, we went through the ticket area, and a very sweet lady told us that, since the earlier ferry was still lining up, we couldn't get in line just yet.  She told us about some places we could visit in Tsawwassen, giving us directions and all.

Once on the island (we stayed in the Parksville area), we had to figure out what we were going to do.  I had done some research, and I had found several parks that we wanted to go to, but we were still somewhat unfocused.

Luckily, there was a presentation at the resort about things to do on the Island!

We went and had a nice time, as the presenter, Gary, talked about all of the main attractions around Vancouver Island.  Before the talk, we chatted with some other visitors.  They like to travel too.  I thought it was interesting that some of the other travelers mentioned Sedona.  Gary would bring it up briefly in his talk too. 

AND, as we would explore the Island, I started to see a connection to a place like Sedona here.  Not in it's appearance or climate, but in the vibe.  Like Sedona, Vancouver Island is one of those places that you really have to go to to understand it.  I am amazed by pictures of both places, but photos do neither justice.

Gary gave us a lot of ideas about where to visit.  Also, at the end of his presentation, he mentioned that he provides a couple of tours to people wanting to explore.  One of the tours involved an all day trip to the other side of the island (more on that later!).

We took the rest of our day to explore nearby Cathedral Grove, where some trees are 800 years old.  On our tour across Vancouver Island that we would take later, we were told about logging controversies in the area, and also about a parking lot that was almost built for the park.  Luckily, protesters stalled the building of the lot, and eventually flooding in the area helped to influence the parking lot project from going forward.

It was a cold, snowy, and wet day while we were there, but it was amazing.

After that we stopped by Little Qualicum Cheeseworks on Gary's suggestion.

This place was fun too.  They have various cheeses, and you can sample all of them!  I sampled several before I realized that sampling all of them would not be a good idea.  They were all good though, and we bought several, including one that mixed coffee with cheese!  They make wine here too, so we picked up a bottle for friends back home.

This was a great little farm, and I would love to spend more time here the next time we visit!  Check out their site at:

http://www.cheeseworks.ca/


We did some other stuff too.  I was excited to visit a couple of post offices in British Columbia.  The postal workers were very friendly!  I was thanked by one for coming in!  AND, these guys have great stamps!  They release stamps of Canadian musicians!  I bought several Rush and Guess Who stamps!

Near where we stayed, at Pacific Shores Resort, we collected shells on the beach.

Vancouver Island part 1

After visiting most of the states in the US, we have decided to branch out a bit. We are trying to work our way into Canada more!

We have actually spent some time in the north, visiting Toronto and Canadian side of Niagara Falls. When we lived in northern Ohio, we made that trip yearly - at least.

An opportunity came up recently, and we planned a trip to Vancouver Island!

So, I checked Amazon for travel books on the area, and on Canada in general. I REALLY like the "Curiosities" book series (there is one on just about every state, and on several larger cities). I was hoping that the good people at Globe Pequot Press had given Canada the "Curiosities" treatment too. They have not.

One of my other favorite sources of info when I travel had some information too, but not a lot. Roadsideamerica.com has a few odd tourist stops noted, but not enough to care about.

I have visited some of Canada's own sites relating to parks and other places.


 Maybe its just that I am used to planning trips to places in the US and I have no real experience with international travel.

I have felt very frustrated about this though. We had a week to spend at a place, but very little planned.

BUT, I have found in the past, that I get the most from life when I have low expectations.

The best fiction books I have read have been randomly selected, usually picked up as a last minute impulse buy on a discount rack.

The best concerts I have been to have been unplanned free or $5 type shows at coffee shops that I have stumbled upon accidentally.

"Maybe my trip to Vancouver Island will be like that. Not very well planned, no expectations" I thought.  And I was right!

So.....

We left Kentucky and traded flights in Texas.  We arrived in Vancouver in the early afternoon.  On the airplane to Vancouver, a couple of Canadians heard us mention we were going to the Island. One right next to us told us about various things to do. Another guy actually wrote out directions to some stuff. Very friendly. We had some great views of Vancouver on the plane. The airport was very nice, and decorated. I was getting a good vibe before stepping off of the plane!

We spent the night in Vancouver and drove to the Tsawwassen area the next day to catch the ferry.  Near the ferry are some nice shops, where we found some nice jewelry, shirts and coffee.

On the ferry I did see a killer whale!  That was VERY cool!

OK, before I get too carried away, I will write about my trip in several parts.  There are a few places that I really want to focus on......  More to come in the next day or two!

"Lincoln Legends:Myths, Hoaxes, and Confabulations Associated with Our Greatest President" by Edward Steers Jr.

I bought this book because it looked to be an interesting read relating to some of the various legends surrounding my favorite President, Abraham Lincoln.

Not only did it look interesting, it also looked well researched.  Sources are noted!  I think that is important when it comes to a book like this.

The rumors are addressed by chapters.  It seems that many rumors were started by politicians and others who wanted to make Abe look bad ("Lincoln's Father").  Some were started and spread by people who had an agenda, and wanted it to look like Abe was also on their side ("Was Lincoln Baptized?" and "The Gay Lincoln Myth"). 

There are some strange facts in general here too.  I did not know that the Lincoln "birth cabin" likely has logs mixed in with it from one of his enemies.

Forged documents, people trying to rewrite history, and haters in general fill the pages of this book.  "Lincoln Legends" is just a fun book to read, and it is probably my favorite Lincoln book not written by James Swanson.

"Bloody Crimes: The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Chase for Jefferson Davis" by James L. Swanson

 

I mentioned James L. Swanson's other book on Lincoln, "Manhunt" some time ago.  Here is the link-

http://kentuckytravels.blogspot.com/2009/02/book-manhunt-twelve-day-chase-for.html

I REALLY loved Manhunt.  In fact, I would easily rank it among my top five all time favorite books.  Even at a whopping 500 pages, you still want more.

Swanson delivers the "more" with "Bloody Crimes".

Both books center around the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.  In "Manhunt" Swanson gives an account of the hiding and traveling of John Wilkes Booth during and after the the events at Ford's Theatre.  In "Bloody Crimes" we learn about the elaborate funeral of Lincoln and the movements of Confederate President Jefferson Davis after Lincoln's death, and the defeat of the South.

Before his death, Abe was asked about what should be done to the Confederate leaders when captured.  In true Lincoln fashion, he basically suggests that they should be allowed to sort of slip away on their own.  Even though Lincoln has passed away by the time Davis is captured, things still work out pretty OK for him.

Concerning the passing of Lincoln, many are mourning the great leader's death, and wanting be a part of his funeral.  A train is used to transport his remains to several cities before getting him to his final resting place in Springfield.  Along the way many tributes are made, and some cities get a bit competitive, trying to outdo other cities in their funeral related displays.  Many areas also compete to be a stopping point for the train.

In the book's prologue, Swanson draws a very interesting picture of the two Presidents, and how each left their office prematurely.  Both had sons who died while each served in their respective White Houses.  There are some interesting parallels.

I have always personally been a huge Lincoln fan, but I have to admit that I am developing some respect for Davis.  Maybe saying that isn't exactly PC these days, but he is no doubt a fascinating character.  Swanson makes it clear that he was an admired political figure even before the Civil War, and with a few small changes in political maneuvering, he may have been a legitimate contender for the title of 16th President.

Swanson mentions that he didn't want to repeat material from "Manhunt" in this book, but he still needed to cover certain events again.  He tries to tell parts of the story (especially concerning Ford's Theatre) in a different way.  He compares this to making a movie sequel by shooting scenes from a first movie at a different angle.  As a reader, I really appreciated this.  The story is still the same, but it is not rehashed.  You are definitely getting more to the story.

Swanson does a great job of giving these characters personality.  In "Manhunt", Booth's ego really comes through.  He refuses to give up and quit, thinking that he has done something heroic.  He comes off as very cocky.  

In "Bloody Crimes" Jefferson Davis also comes off as someone refusing to give up because they believe in their cause, but he seems more humble in many ways.  His love of family and the South are emphasized, as is his willingness to give up everything for the cause.  At one point, he gives away his last coin to a mother who tells him that she named her son after him.  Davis also tries to keep the Confederacy alive, after it is obviously defunct.  Even if you are not a fan of Davis as a historical figure, you can understand him better as a human.

I could actually go on and on about how much I have enjoyed the Swanson books.  Both are must reads and get my highest recommendation.  I think any book crediting the author as James L. Swanson is worth a read.




Jailer's Inn Bed and Breakfast in Bardstown

I have walked past the Jailer's Inn in Bardstown before, but this was my first trip inside.

I have said before that I love going on ghost tours, and the odd historic tour with a bit of a dark side to it.  Well, for $5 the staff at the Jailer's Inn will give you a very nice tour of the site.  We felt this was actually a great deal.

We started our tour in the gift shop.  They had the predictable postcards and trinkets relating to a jail, but there were also some other interesting items to go along with the "crime and punishment" theme.

From the gift shop we moved through to an area where items were displayed from the hangings that occurred at the jail.  Shackles and a black hood were on display, as were photos from the actual hangings.  The presentation was startling and vivid.

From there, we walked through the still well preserved jail area.  One cell is still rented out to overnight guests during the warmer months.  A door used to give inmates their meals is still in that cell's door.  Our tour guide mentioned that one young girl who was serving time there tried to squeeze out of that small door to escape.  She got about half way through and then found herself stuck.

Various homemade weapons were on display. Other inmate made items, such as a key copy and a tattoo pin were there too.

Artwork done by former residents of the jail is on the wall.  My favorite was a painting of playing cards.  VERY nicely done!

Our guide told us a great story about Jesse James relating to the jail.  In fact, there is a photo on display showing Jesse in a family photo with local law enforcement!  It seems Jesse's kin had some authority in the area, and they no doubt had his back!

We were told some stories involving ghosts too, which is a bit standard in Bardstown.  Our guide had a honest feel to her, which gave her stories more credibility than some.

After exploring the cells, the shower area, and other places where criminals were once held, we were taken to the courtyard.

The old stonewall around the courtyard is cozy and private.  Having breakfast here on a summer morning would be great.  However, knowing about the hangings that happened in this area may be a little unsettling for some.  See the photos above for a "then and now" comparison of the back of the jail today....  and a photo of the same spot with a scaffold in front of it.

The Jailer's Inn is right next to the Old Talbott Tavern making the center of Bardstown a great stop for a fan of history.


http://www.jailersinn.com/

Kreso's Restaurant in Bardstown

http://kresosrestaurant.com/

We stopped by Kreso's the other night while in Bardstown.  Unfortunately, we already had dinner, but it looked like a cool place to go in.

AND, we were cold.  It was a single digit temperature wise night, and we needed a place to warm up at for a few minutes.  The very cool bartender there gave us all a HOT mug of water just to help us warm up.  It worked!

I have mentioned before that I am not a drinker, but our friends with us are.  They were very pleased with the selection here, and they were more than happy with the drinks that they had.  Our great bartender talked at length about bourbons and how different ones taste, how they are made, etc.  Even though I personally don't drink, I do appreciate the whole process.  I have been on many bourbon tours and I admire bourbon making.

BUT, the very cool thing about this place was that it is in the old movie theater.  They have fixed the theater area up with tables, and they have events there at times!  I would LOVE to catch a retro movie there while having a nice dinner!  It is gorgeous.  They do have mostly formal events in this area.

There is also a lot of classy art.  Check out the bugle boy statue in the middle of the place.

I am certain we will be back to this place!  More on it later!

Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown

Some friends planned a weekend trip to Bardstown and we were able to stay at Old Talbott Tavern!

I have hung out here a lot over the years, but this was my first time getting a room, and spending the night. 

I have stopped by here many times over the last several decades.  One of my fondest memories of driving back and forth between Owensboro and Berea involves stopping here to meet my old pal Eric for a couple of hours to break up the drive.

These days, I enjoy getting down to the Tavern for some Burgoo!  This is the only place outside of Owensboro that does it right!

Concerning our room- we were warned when we reserved the room that it was literally right over the bar.  They told us that we would be able to hear the music in the bar clearly.  To the credit of Old Talbott Tavern, they were very open about this.  AND they were right.

Luckily, country singer Ashley McBryde was playing in the bar, and we were able to relax in our room, and hear her perfectly.  It was an extremely pleasant evening!  In fact, if another performer that I liked played in the bar, I might consider getting the same room JUST to listen to them in the room!

Sadly, she would take a break now and then, and the bar would play something loud, and not as melodic.

Our room was, well, OK.  It was not as cozy and charming as a room at the Golden Lamb.  In fact, it didn't have the cool, historic vibe that the rest of the Tavern has, but that was OK.  We were still happy to be there.

AND I think that is the thrill of being at the Old Talbott Tavern- just being there.  Hanging out at a place where travelers have stayed since the 1770s.

Bardstown Kentucky

We recently spent a nice weekend in Bardstown.

This was my first time going to the area for more than a day trip, since it is really just down the road from me.

We usually just go down and walk around the shops near Old Talbott Tavern.  I always get a bowl of Burgoo there too.

It is a bit odd to me, as I get older and realize how quickly things change.  Every area has stores and buildings that come and go.  Bardstown is no different.  The fun little cupcake shop we visited a year or so ago is no longer there.  There is, however, a VERY cool bar/restaurant in the old theater that is amazing!

We had some great pizza at a place that used to sell wine only.

Still, even with businesses changing, the town still feels the same.  Bardstown is a very consistent place.

The Golden Lamb- Tales from the Innside by Fred Compton

Fred Compton spent about 30 years working at the Golden Lamb in Lebanon Ohio and he wrote a book about it!

See my MANY previous entries on the Golden Lamb in southern Ohio.  I really love this place.  I am glad that there are a few books out there that cover the history of the establishment.  THIS is the definitive one!

Fred's writing style is fun and honest!  He gives his opinions about many legends associated with the Golden Lamb.  He has an opinion about the ghost stories, the Shaker furniture, and even about Ronald Reagan's cowboy boots that he wore during a visit!  THIS is good stuff!

I have to admit that when I first started to read the book, Fred came off as a bit of a jerk at times.  He seemed unimpressed by the many people who came by the Inn to admire the Shaker furniture.  Well, after one encounter with a Shaker furniture fan, I totally understood why.  Some would get a bit too excited about the furniture.

Compton discusses all of the legendary guests who have hung out in the area.  He gives a nice history of the Inn itself, its Christmas promotions, and he talks about the various art used on postcards and in marketing.  Fred really gives you all of the information you would want to know about the Golden Lamb!

Before He Was Fab by Jim Kirkpatrick

After visiting the very cozy town of Benton Illinois, I wanted to read Jim Kirkpatrick's book, "Before He Was Fab" about George Harrison's brief visit to the small town.

Kirkpatrick's book is a nice, easy to read volume discussing George's visit and his interactions with the locals.  George's sister, Louise lived in town, and George visited her briefly.

At that time, the Beatles were huge in England, but they were mostly unheard of in the US.  It was really the only time that one of the Beatles would be able to come to America and visit without being mobbed.

It seems that George had a nice, casual visit to the local record shop, he jammed with a local band, and he bought one of his legendary guitars while he was in Illinois!

I really enjoyed reading about George palling around with locals.  George's supportive sister, Louise, is also a lot of fun.  She tries to promote her brother and his music.

Thumbs up for books about the Beatles that are a bit more regional and different.  Jim Kirkpatrick's book is a perfect book by a local who interviewed anyone he could associated with George's visit to Benton.  Well done Jim!

See my previous entry on the Franklin County Jail in Benton Illinois for more information on the area:

http://kentuckytravels.blogspot.com/2013/10/franklin-county-jail-benton-illinois.html

William Howard Taft National Historic Site- Cincinnati Ohio

I am on a big Presidents kick right now!  Luckily, there are a lot of great sites relating to the former leaders of the US that are very accessible.

This nice home, one lived in by President #27, is nicely preserved and full of relics relating to Taft.  I personally enjoy seeing the old political cartoons, and campaign buttons.

The house is managed by the National Park Services!  I think a lot of people aren't exactly aware of how great it is that some many great landmarks are managed by the NPS.  For the very low price of $NOTHING! you can take a guided tour, see a nice film, and walk around the grounds!

At the Taft House, we were allowed to walk around the home (inside and outside) after our guided tour pretty much on our own!  This allowed for more photo ops.  The house was not crowded, so we were able to go back and get better pictures than we might have gotten on the tour.

To be honest, I didn't know a lot about Taft before my visit.  I learned that he is the only person to serve as President and Chief Justice!

Check out my photos, and check out the house the next time you are in Cincinnati!

Historical Footnotes of Lebanon Ohio by John Zimkus

Before I leave the Lebanon area, I did want to mention a couple of books.

I picked up "Historical Footnotes of Lebanon Ohio by John J. Zimkus at the Golden Lamb.  They have nice signed copies for sale at the front!  AND, the author himself spends a lot of time hanging out at the hotel on weekend evenings!  Unfortunately, I was unable to chat with him during our last visit.

The book is directly about the town of Lebanon- but since the Golden Lamb is a HUGE part of the town's history, the Inn is a major part of this book.  Legends like Charles Dickens and Ronald Reagan make appearances!

Each story is contained in 2 pages, making this a very easy read, especially for those folks with short attention spans.  I like the cartoon style drawings too!

Tennessee River Bridge of Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala

This card from several decades ago notes-

Magnificent $1,500,000 Tennessee River Bridge at Muscle Shoals, Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala.

Kentucky Lions Eye Center in Louisville

I just wanted to give a brief mention to the Rounsavall Eye Clinic in Louisville!

This is a great place.  While visiting a loved one at a Louisville hospital, my mom's glasses pretty much fell apart.

We saw this place and asked if they might be able to help.  We were in and out in about 5 minutes, they fixed my mom's glasses, and they refused to take any money from us.

http://www.louisvilleeye.org/

WHY Louisville

I just discovered WHY Louisville!  This place is great.  It kind of reminded me of "Big Fun" in Cleveland (one of my old hang outs) mixed with the Hatch Show Print in Nashville.

We stopped by the store near downtown and we were blown away!  First off, the store is just a fun place to look around.  They have action figures lined up on a mantle above some of the items for sale.  Other museum pieces can be found along the walls.  Personally, I was impressed (and jealous) by the fact that they had a Billy Baloney doll from Pee Wee's Playhouse.

These guys sell all sorts of cool exclusive local items, almost all relating to Kentucky and Louisville specifically.  They do some screen printing and have produced some great t-shirts, postcards and posters.  I couldn't leave without picking up some of their very unique postcards and a shirt showing a Louisville skyline with the Loch Ness Monster subtly hanging out in the Ohio River.

They also have some cool pin back buttons.  I added a Lincoln to my collection.

There are a couple more locations that I have to visit soon!  Obviously, this is a "Must See" on your lext trip through town!

http://whylouisville.com/

Greg "The Hammer" Valentine

I saw this billboard while driving through Louisville the other day.  I don't know why, but I thought it was funny.  Part of me thought back to me younger days, when I loved wrestling, and Valentine was a huge villain.

I also wondered if Valentine has ever appeared on a billboard like this before.

When I was a kid, I loved going to the Sports Center in Owensboro to see Wrestling.