Kentucky Ride; Day 4

Today would have been Chris’ Dad’s 78th birthday.

It was a beautiful morning but cool, in the low 50’s.  I spent the morning giving the Goldwing a bath, which was much needed after the wet weather yesterday.  We left the motel at 10:00 and took off south on Hwy 627 (out of Paris, KY).

Hwy 627 is a narrow road that runs through horse country.Hwy 627 through ranch country

ranch country along Hwy 627We commented here that Chris’ cousin, Deb, would like this route and seeing all the horse flesh.

When we arrived in Winchester, KY we located the Best Western motel and stopped to make arrangements for lodging tonight.  The desk clerk lady said we could have a room but could not check in until about 1:30.  I think the lady liked Chris, though, because before we left she found a room for us and allowed us to check in early.  SWEET.  We unloaded stuff to our room and I disconnected the trailer.  After a lunch at Fazoli’s we were off for the Red River Gorge area (http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dbnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=39458).

The Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway was our route to the Red River Gorge.  This parkway is a four lane highway but the scenery is great.  At exit 33 we visited the local visitor center and then rode Hwy 77 into the Red River Gorge.  It is a narrow road with beautiful scenery.Hwy 77 approaching the Red River Gorge area

Two miles into the Red River Gorge area we encountered the NADA Tunnel.  The 900-foot one-lane tunnel was dug in the early 1900’s to accommodate a narrow gauge railroad that hauled logs out of the area to a nearby saw mill.NADA Tunnel; Red River Gorge

We checked out an old cabin that was originally located in the very rural community of Gladie in the Red River Gorge area.  The cabin was built in the late 1800’s and has been restored to its present condition.Gladie House in the Red River Gorge area

Our next stop was the Sky Bridge Recreation Area within the Red River Gorge Geological Area.  It has three scenic look-outs and a large natural arch.  The scenery was fantasticRed River Gorge area and Chris and I enjoyed the one mile hike over and down to the bottom of the natural arch.Sky Bridge natural arch; Red River Gorge area

We rode back to Winchester, where Chris did a little shopping before we returned to the motel.  It was a great day; cool (high of 63); mostly sunny skies; with 145 miles in the saddle.

Tomorrow we visit the Natural Bridge State Park (http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/natural-bridge/default.aspx), which is located on the opposite side of the Mountain Parkway from the Red River Gorge area.

For more pictures from today click on the following link: https://picasaweb.google.com/104542123131082631220/KentuckyRideDay4?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMW4oYKWwuLeaQ&feat=directlink

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