Parked in Paducah and Random Thoughts

Today (Friday) we decided to move west and north to get just a little bit closer to home.  The weather back here has been about fifteen degrees warmer than normal, which meant that we saw temperatures today of around 93 degrees.  That is much too warm for October, and we are not enjoying it any longer.  We drove about two hundred miles towards northwest Kentucky to Paducah, just south of the Ohio River.

Adding Kentucky to the RV Map

We did cross the Cumberland River and went by two large dams that form the Land Between the Lakes, part of the National Forest system. This is a massive land mass between two 50+ mile long lakes that have many campgrounds, boat launches, picnic area and more.

Ohio River from Kentucky

We read in one of the blogs we follow for tips and ideas, that the ideal RV travel day is the called the Rule of Two -- drive two hundred miles, arrive by 2:00 PM, and have two adult beverages each upon arrival.  We just may meet all those criteria, depending on how much we drink tonight.  However, it was so hot when we arrived at Fern Lake campground, that we set up early and quickly got in air-conditioned car for the five miles into downtown for different kind of drink -- root beer floats in an air-conditioned historic building.

Etcetera Cafe Where We Got Root Beer Floats Before Dinner

Etcetera Sign in Paducah

Paducah has two claims to fame: a national quilt museum and the massive wall and levee where the Ohio River flows by downtown Paducah.  We did not realize how much history took place here, from the early Indian tribes building large elaborate burial mounds, George Rogers Clark who won the land during from the French and buying 38,000 acres that his brother William Clark inherited by the time the Lewis and Clark exhibition came through, the Battle of Paducah during the Civil War, the expansive river boat shipping era on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, large military base during World War II and even a uranium enrichment facility that is still here today.

Paducah Floor Wall and Murals

The Ohio River flooded ninety percent of downtown Paducah in 1937. So, the Corps of Engineers built a massive twelve mile long concrete flood levee that with a fourteen feet tall concrete wall that lines and protects downtown Paducah.  That downtown wall now has over fifty flood wall murals depicting significant historic events for the area.  The large Mississippi river cruise/tour boats such as the Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen, and American Queen all make stops at Paducah, KY.

Oyster Barges Used to Make Pearl Buttons

Chief Paducah and Motorcycles Mural

Christening of Tow Boat on the Ohio

 Tomorrow, we have another short drive northwest to see cousin Brian Kelly in Illinois for a couple of days, before heading west.  Thanks for tuning in.

Neil and Pamela