After 2 full days of driving, we’ve settled into the downtown Louisville Towne Suites, once again under the care of Mother Marriott. We’re apparently in a “bad” part of town but near the Louisville Slugger Museum, the ultimate goal of our stay here. Last night, we were initially supposed to have a River House dinner with 6 of our fellow Nile River Cruise passengers. However, two tested positive for Covid and two others weren’t feeling well, so it ended up with just four of us plus a raccoon on the banks of the Ohio River. 

We had driven in from Atlanta where we watched the Mets beat the Braves in Truist Park, a first for me on my list of ballparks. One of the highlights of Day 1 was a stop at Buc-ee’s for fudge and a brisket sandwich, even after a Cracker Barrel Old Timer’s. A 2-mile run through our niece’s eclectic neighborhood, where we spent the night, started Day 2. By lunchtime, we had been in the car for over two hours when we began our search for another Cracker Barrel. Instead, we spotted a billboard for the Big Bad Breakfast at the Lodge Cast Iron Skillet Factory in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. 

This afternoon, Day 3, we have appointments for a tasting at Evan Williams and then the Slugger Museum. This evening we’ll probably go to Senior Night (wine tasting) at Slugger Stadium. The AAA Louisville Bats (Reds) play the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers). There is also an Angels Envy distillery near the ballpark that sparked my interest. The next morning (Day 4) we drive to Indy with a short consultation stop near Brown County with my wife’s spiritual advisor. Right now, as we relax in the hotel room, I’m taking the time to recap the trip, so far, before we head to lunch at Jimmy John’s, just a short walk down the street – another traditional  road trip favorite like Cracker Barrel, McDonald’s breakfast, Freddy’s, Texas Roadhouse, PF Chang’s, and Arby’s (not so much now that they’ve discontinued their potato cakes). Eventually, we’ll get to all of these on this drive.