OOHH..so that's how they do it...August 14, 2010

We  traveled to Frankfort,  Ky yesterday. We are traveling east and north.  There were several farms that breed stallions for racing. One of which offered a tour of the grounds and stables.  It was called 3 Chimney's Horse Farm.  This breeding thing is a very technical process and they have it down to a science. I never knew that it sometimes took up to 6 people to breed these horses. DNA tests are done, blood tests, and some of these "standing fees", that's what the breeding fees are referred to as, can run as high as $1,000,000.00  ......wow...and they don't even lay down..   : - O ...    Smarty Jones who ran and  won the Kentucky Derby was raised at this farm.  There were many horses there and they all have their own field to graze in and each one has their own stable...some as large as a small house.  They are groomed everyday by their groomsman, washed and brushed. Beautiful horses and some live to be well in their 20's.    Our tour guide Juan  was excellent and knew his "stuff" concerning horse breeding.
Our next stop was the best part of the day... a Bourbon and Whiskey tour. Our tour guide was a 3rd generation family to work at this brewery called Buffalo Trace..where bourbon has been produced since 1787. He is now doing his Dad's job from 50 years before.  Buffalo Trace is on the Bourbon Trail,  and this brewery is the oldest continually operating distillery in America. We picked up a bottle of their  Cream Liqueur. I have to say this Liqueur beats Bailey's for sure. We toured the distillery room and saw where they make Bourbon that will sell  for $400.00 a bottle. 
The Kentucky River forms an "S" curve as it goes through the Bluegrass region. Frankfort, being the capitol of Kentucky, the north and south sections are separated by water. There is alot to do there and if you are ever close it deserves a stop....if nothing else to get a drink of whiskey.....by the way..you can tell American whiskey from Scotch and Irish whiskey.American whiskey has an "e" in it  and the other two are just spelled ...WHISKY. 

VETTES AND TOBACCO ...August 10, 2010

We traveled to bowling Green Ky and stayed at the KOA while there. The park was just ok. The Corvette factory is there in Bowling Green and what a treat that was. Anyone that knows me knows how I love" Vettes" and was sad when I sold my 1989 cherry red one in 1991 when we moved from Tucson, Az.  I think that my kids thought it was one of my  children. General Motors Bowling Green assembly plant is the only production plant for this classic American made sports car.  The Chevrolet Corvette and the Cadillac XLR are the only cars produced at this plant.  Every Corvette produced since 1982 was produced at this plant which meant that's where mine was built.... and every car produced there daily has already been sold to a dealer for someone. The people that the cars are made for can come and pick it up at the plant but it has to be sold through a dealer. They offer a 1 hour free factory guided  tour Monday - Friday. We were looking for a freebe, like most factory tours offer, but we were out of luck this day. No freebee's.
We also visited the National Corvette Museum while we were there and saw over 70 actual models including the original 1953. There is even a Corvette Diner inside the museum where we had lunch.  Kentucky is largely known for its tobacco farming, dairy and livestock, but this state well deserves its name as the Bluegrass State.  Its beautiful...