Memories and a Trip Down Rural Route 54

I returned home from Kentucky yesterday evening. It was a wonderful visit!

A true highlight for me was a trip to where my Grandfather used to live. Growing up my siblings and I spent many, many days there fishing in the pond, (with a cane pole) playing in the woods and wading in the creek. I really do think that this is where I found my love of the country and the desire to live away from it all.
My Grandfather lived in a microscopic town called "Short Creek." But you have to go through the town of Leitchfield (pronounced Litch-field) to get there. I've not been in this direction in many years and wasn't sure I'd be able to find my way there. The road is now 4 lanes and looks very different.

Eventually it became the 2 lanes that I remembered...

Along the way there were many memories...The first one was this little drive-in called "Lakers." We sometimes would stop here on the way back from my Grandfathers. They had the best fish sandwiches! They also used to wait on you at your car--I suppose getting out of your car to eat is okay too!
I always marveled at the height of this bridge that the trains crossed--I wonder if they still do? (YIKES!!!!)
I was glad to see this company still in business. I remember asking my Grandfather what they did there, and he told us "they put the stingers in bees." Of course I believed him and marveled at their ability to do such a thing! This became a family joke for years.

I arrived in Leitchfield. In the south, many of the old towns have their courthouses in the middle of them. Once out of the "big city" it quickly gave way to old barns.

Farmed fields of soy beans... Tobacco (pictured in the front) and corn...

and more tobacco...

A final stop before getting to my Grandfathers was this little general store. It was owned by an elderly lady named "Tula" whose home was in the back of the store. She had small-circled wire-rim glasses, always wore a flowered-cotton dress with a full apron, and her hair was always kept in a bun with a hair-net. We would stop here and enjoy bottled soda and Cracker-Jacks that were usually stale and stuck together. Tula wouldn't allow us to take the bottles (the bottles were worth 5 cents each) so we had to quickly drink them there.
I will end today's post on that note. Tomorrow I will post about my visit to the place where my Grandfather's house used to stand. For me, it was an amazing and touching visit as I recalled many memories from my childhood and chatted with a few people that I'd forgotten about. I hope you'll come back tomorrow, I'd love to share them with you.

I am glad to be home, back to all the wagging-tails of our crew, and high-speed internet! I am also looking forward to catching up on your blogs!