Day 14 September 11, 2025 Owensboro 165 miles
Today is partly cloudy with an expected high of 86. We have an earlier departure time and it is already hot and humid. The jacket won’t last long.
The drive today is much longer than previous days which is why the earlier departure time. We wound through the farmland for nearly an hour before arriving at Judge Joseph Holt’s Home. The home is a brick three story structure built in 1850 and enlarged in 1870. The building and furnishings seem in excellent condition. The furnishings were not his original ones but are period appropriate. Judge Holt held different posts under several presidents. He was the judge over the trial of the Lincoln assination conspirators.
The terrain throughout the day was rolling country roads. They went up, down and around. Some places really felt like a roller coaster. Many of the roads are really only 1.5 lanes wide so if you meet an oncoming vehicle one or both must drive on the grass shoulder. Then there is the problem of the potholes and sunken roadway. Some of it was worse than on the permfrost on the Alcan Highway. Oh yes can’t forget the railroad crossings. Some of those really rattle the car. Lost count of how many we crossed.
Another item of note is the number of small ponds scattered everywhere. Rob calls these mosquito hatcheries. Luckily we have not encountered a single mosquito.
We drove another hour to the Squire Boone Caverns. In addition to the caverns there are various other activities many done as they might have been done back when the Boone family lived here. Squire Boone was a younger brother of Daniel Boone. As we arrived they divided us into groups to spread everyone out. Great idea because some of the places were small. We ate lunch here too. Connie chose not to go in the caverns when they said to get out you need to climb a spiral staircase with 73 steps. Rob did go in and agreed that I would not have liked it.
After lunch we did go to the candle making shop. Connie dipped a small candle to see what it was like. We also listened to how they are made in mass. Even with all the tools the process is labor intensive. They make candles to sell all over.
We left after that in order to get back timely. The drive back took another couple of hours of the same kind of roads. The crops are still mainly corn and soy beans. We did see two small fields of tobacco and one tobacco barn with tobacco hanging in it. The one field looked pretty tough like it had been neglected. Not that long ago tobacco would have been a major crop.
We got back to town and stopped to fill with gas. When we prepared to leave the car wouldn’t start. Another Model A driver came right over to help. We went through the normal tests to determine the problem. It turned out to be a broken bolt that holds the alternator in place. That kept it from working and the battery died. Eventually the decision was made to tow the car and pop the clutch. The tow lasted about 10 feet and the car was running. We made it back to the hotel. After supper Rob spent about 2 hours coming up with a workable solution that would normally take about 15 minutes at home. Rob needs to add more bolts and nuts to the packing list.
Spoffords Travel 