Experiencing America > Road Trip Year...2003 > Deep-South & The Mountains > Day 5
Day FIVE...
Thursday, June 26th, 2003
It was a cool and foggy morning but by the time breakfast was over the sun was showing over the Greater-Charleston Metro Area. The first stop of the day was at the capital grounds in Downtown Charleston.
A sign on the grounds.
The West Virginial State Capital.
Now it was time to start making our way home. For that we headed west along Interstate 64. This is a straight shot across the western part of the state.
Back to State #3!!
Back into Kentucky...been here several times. What to see now? According to the state tour guild in Northeastern Kentucky there are several covered bridges. One being on the way to the Blue Lick State Park.
A sign on the bridge.
A marker along KY St Rt 32.
Looking west at the bridge.
The bridge.
This area also has the main attraction of the Blue Lick State Park. This park has several eras of history. It was a place that prehistoric mastodons came for the salt on the rocks that are through the area. This brought several Indian tribes to this area for life. Indians captured Daniel Boone and his men here during a salt-making expedition. In 1782 British Forces and Indians attacked the Kentucky Militia. This was called the Battle of Blue Lick. It was the last Revolutionary War battle in the State of Kentucky. Later in time the mineral springs were a popular health spa for affluent southerners. This park is not was resort. After the fun in the Blue Lick State Park we headed across KY St Rt 36 toward Interstate 75 to head north. We lost KY St Rt 36 near Bourbon County and ended up on KY St Rt 356. This highway eventually led us to U.S. Rt. 25 and then Interstate 75. I-75 took us straight into Cincinnati.
NB I-71/75 at the Ohio River.
Now to Ohio!!...State #10!!
This trip through Ohio was brief. All we did is cut across the riverfront of Downtown Cincinnati.
NB I-71 in Downtown Cincinnati.
Back to State #3!!
Although it was only about 4p.m., storm clouds were starting to move into the Greater-Cincinnati. We took Interstate 275 around the city to head on north.
A crash on WB I-275.
Back to State #2!!
Interstate 275 briefly passes into the State of Indiana, while by-passing Cincinnati.
Back to State #10!!
As we headed back into Ohio the rain started to come down. When we reached Interstate 75 we got back on and headed north.
A Ohio State Trooper on NB I-75.
When we got to Dayton we stopped at an A&W/Long John Silvers for a drink and to figure out where we were going to stop for the night...or drive on home. After calling the friendly people at Choice Hotels, we found a great Comfort Inn just across the Indiana State Line at Richmond, Indiana. To go there we hopped on Interstate 70 at Dayton and headed west.
Back to State #2!!
Our hotel was at the third exit in the state. This was a very clean facility. We got to the hotel and realized that we gained an hour by crossing back into Indiana. So we explored the area.
A Stuckey's Billboard on WB I-70.
How often do you see a Stuckey's anymore? So we stopped. This Dairy Queen was the slowest at making a hot dog. It was good though. The old National Highway travels through this area. It runs along U.S. Rt. 40. We took this back into Richmond and back onto Interstate 70.
Back to State #10!!
The welcome center was closed so we jaunted up to the first exit that went south and came back the hotel.
Back to State #2!!
Once back at the hotel it was time to call it a night.
Day SIX...