Last Day with a wonderful surprise!

Our last day, we went to the Cincinnati Train Station. .a working rail station  with museums.  The the scrapple, goetta (a Cincy version of scrapple) and eggs breakfast saw us off for the day.   Al and Gary took off for the Train museum.  Pam and I lucked out.  The Diana Exhibition was there.  Cincinnati is its last stop before returning to Althorp to be on permanent exhibition.  No pictures were aloud :-(.  But the jewels were magnificent.  And THE WEDDING gown was there.  Just gorgeous.  Along with childhood mementos - report carts, clothes, toys.  And then clothes Diana wore to varied functions.  The family tree was outlined.. she was more royal than the current royal.. her Seymour ancestors became barons in the late 1300s.  She is a direct descendent of King James I and King Charles I.  A relative was the 5th Duchess of Marlborough- ancestor of Winston Churchill.
So impressive. A great girls' day with Pam.

Darth trying to photobomb a wedding

Darth needed margaritas after seeing all all the museums but paid the price

Gary finished the weekend with charcutierre - yummy.  He is one great chef.

We can't thank Pam and Gary enough for their hospitality and look forward to seeing them in October in NOLA at my nephew's wedding.  Watch for the blog on that party.

See you all soon for further adventures!

July 4 to 9
Our American Queen Steamboat Cruise starts.  Just like the ocean ones- muster with vests. Then a libation at the River Grill with calliope concert.

And then Fourth of July fireworks at the Point in Pittsburgh- spectacular!

Cincinnati - food, fun and friends

July 9 to 13
We docked in Cincy right next to Riverfront stadium - home of the Reds (who did not respect the Pirates while we were there :-( ).  We did so enjoy our time on the American Queen.. stateroon 524- the Lenore K Sulllivan suite - she was credited with rescuing the Delta Queen when it was mandated to have metal infrastructure.  The DQ was wooden.

And no, that is not our missing paddle wheel.

Gary grew up in Hollidaysburg PA and is one of my brother's best friends and my "other little brother". He is also Al's third cousin- go figure that one.  We toasted good times with sherbet herberts.. a really good slush with lime sherbet, gin and ice cubes that is beaten into submission in the blender.  Here's to fun times with Gary and Pam and my parents in the past.  Pam claims Mom taught her to drink while I believe Gary and Dave took care of that.

The Meadows scrapple - a Blair county delicacy.. breakfast of Blair Co champions.

 
Pam made us feel so welcome - a nice touch by one very sweet person. Gary is one lucky man.

Our first night there was spent planning the remainder of days there:
Thursday - USAF Museum in Dayton.  Highlight was walking through retired Air Force One that carried JFK's body back from Dallas. Saw other amazing planes as well.

Location of JFK's coffin was inside behine where the door is open.

 Plane below and between Al and Gary is one that brought many POWs home from Vietnam - awaiting new building to be exhibited.  Guide said the returning POWS signed the inside of the plane with thoughts of their captivity.  Interesting to see such history up close.

Friday we took Darth, Leia, Wookie and Ewok (Pam had the last 2) on a tour of KY Bourbon. Managed 3 that day.

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Buffalo Trace (Sazerac owned- also owns A Smith Bowman distillery in Fredericksburg - formerly of Reston VA)

was first stop.  They were not distilling as the KY River cools their tanks and - well. it was a trifle hot. Still walking thru the warehouses we could steep our senses in the angel share.  Fully aged (~16 yrs) bourbon yields anout 1/2 of the 53 gallons barrel filled.   The disappearing vapor is the angel share.  Gary is still trying to figure how to capture that to sell..LOL

 Darth was trying to decide what to sample

Next was Woodford Reserve... beautiful reception hall and guided your on a bus (a nice touch after one sampling previously with the hills)

 Fermenter tank with what is ultimately sour mash.. blend of corn (at least 51%, wheat and rye)
Copper stills- not your brother's moonshine ones!

Darth liked Woodford Reserve 

The Edison.. from Ft Myers, has purchased their own Woodford bottled under their label at 10K per.. 15 in total- We will have to ask when we go next time.

Darth inhaling Angel share at Woodford.

Aging barrels

Original home at Woodford

Darth resting after Woodford.... trifle sleepy.  Leia however was ready to taste the Bourbon balls chocolates at Rebecca Ruth's... YUMMY!!!!! SHe tested out the horse.. not like a starfighter or Millenium Falcon.

Final stop was Wild turkey.  I do have to say the Jackson, our guide was the most entertaining.  He is majoring in museum studies at Appalchian State in Boone NC.  Perchance the summer job will look good on the resume and does have benefits <wink>.  Wild turkey was not distilling.. also uses KY River water. But excellent angel share as Darth can attest.

 Darth checking out the corn, wheat and rye

Darth is a happy camper along with Pam and Gary

We need this chair for our lanai

America Queen Steamboat cruise

July 4 to 9 (Pittsburgh to Cincinnati)
Safety muster just like other cruises....

Then the fun started - calliope concert by the Riverlorian- Travis.  A multitalented man.

After dinner - complimentary wine and beer!  And all I can say is the food was fabulous.  Concert in the Grand Salon -patterned after Ford's Theater

 Show ---then fireworks at the Point in Pittsburgh.  Impressive display

After the fireworks, we left the wharf on the Monongehela River to head into the Ohio.  While we slept they removed the paddle wheel shaft as it was having issues....so very powerful engines propelled us.  As the night passed, we went through 3 locks.  Without lock system on the Ohio, travel and commerce would be impossible.  All in all, we went through 12 locks by the time we arrived in Cincinnati.  Some dropped us anywhere from 12 to 30 feet.  Most locks are 1200 feet long to allow coal and other barge traffic.

Just like the song.. people in the town we docked at came out in large numbers to welcome the boat.

Marietta OH

New Richmond OH- bicentennial week

The cruise offers special trips and we went to the Wilds near Marietta.  Incredible wildlife conservation preserve. We saw African and Asian Rhinos, giraffes, zebras, varied deer and antelopes, camels, painted dogs, cheetahs, and red dogs.  Also a very persistent ostrich who tried to peck out the rivets from the bus.  Al has some observations on rhino reproduction which he can share in person.  

We arrived in CIncinnati and were greeted by my "other" brother, Gary Burket.  He took us all around downtown Cincy.. bacon maple glazed blueberry cake donuts... a gourmet treat.  We toured Rookwood Pottery- got to be with the workers.. gorgeous pottery!  then lunch in the kiln in the original pottery.. now a restaurant.

Our adventures continue with Gary and Pam... posted soon.