On to Bowling Green

6/14/2014

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel this morning, we gassed up and were on our way to Bowling Green where we will meet about 9 other cars from the Atlanta and Chattanooga areas.  After about an hour drive, we reached Sparta, TN where we stopped for some shopping at the downtown antique stores.  As we were leaving, a nicely dressed older gentleman stopped to talk to us, saying that he has two Midgets.  Interestingly, he works at the funeral home around the corner.  Seems like funeral homes is the theme of this trip!

From Sparta, we drove about 15 miles to Burgess Falls State Park.  We had heard that these were some of most highly rated falls in the country.  After a slight problem getting there due to our GPS not knowing about a newly rerouted road, we found our way to the park thanks to a nice person that lives by the road where we stopped.  He said that since they re-routed the road, lots of people stop there and turn around.  The parking lot at the Park was full, but we found an unused bus parking space and put three MGs in it!

Thank goodness for bus parking spaces!

Then we walked to the falls on the Falling Water River.  There are 3 separate fall, each one more spectacular than the next, but each one is a further, rugged hike along a wet trail along the steep river bank.  We hiked to the first two and the falls were pretty spectacular.

Burgess Falls #1

Burgess Falls #2

A lovely couple at Burgess Falls!

After the falls, we got back on Hwy. 70 and continued on toward Bowling Green.  Shortly after leaving Smithville, we had to slow down to miss a turkey hen with about 5 babies crossing the highway.  Luckily, there were no cars coming and they got across..  I yelled to her and asked her why she was crossing the road.  She replied, "ask the chicken".

The next stop was the Sunrise Diner in Lebanon, TN for lunch.  The lunch was good and cheap!  Just before getting to the Diner, we passed the agricultural center which was very busy.  We noticed a lighted signboard that read, " A.A.C.A National Meet June 12-14".  Luckily, our timing was  right and there was no additional traffic.

Time for lunch

After Lebanon, it was only about 50 miles to Bowling Green.  We arrived at our hotel to find not more MGs, but various hot rods and classic and custom cars.  Turns out there was another automotive event going on in Bowling Green - NHRA drag races and the Holly Hot Rod Reunion.  We relaxed for a little while and made plans to eat at a local restaurant - Montana Grille.

Montana Grille - Bowling Green, KY

It was another good choice. Although it was busy, the service and food were excellent.  After dinner it was a short trip down the street for dessert at Culver's frozen custard.  We then gassed up on the way back to the hotel to be ready for our final drive into French Lick tomorrow.