From Indy Speedway to Louisville Kentukcky and Clarksville Tennessee

Monday morning I made my way to the Indy Speedway where for $25 I took a 1 1/2 hour guided ground tour that included a lap around the track (in a bus), a stop at the brick strip finish line, and visits to the media room, the race commentators booth, the victory podium, pit row and the museum. Our guide and the bus driver were both very knowledgeable and they kept up a most informative commentary and answered questions from the twenty or so in our group during the tour. Here are a few pictures from Indy starting with the museum which is in the infield, the winners podium (there was no milk for this first place finisher, nor a $2 million cheque), the car that Jacques Villeneuve drove at an average speed of 153.616 mph to win the 1995 Indy 500, and a view down the straightaway into turn 1.



After this great stop I headed to Louisville where I had reserved a room for Tuesday night. After a quick change of clythes I took a taxi to a place called Doc Crow's Southern Smmokehouse and Raw Bar where I had a half dozen oysters with a glass of California Sauvignon Blanc and a half rack of dry rubbed ribs while sitting at the bar where I met a lovely young couple who were out celebrating their ninth "together" anniversary. Seth and Tanya are a remarkable pair.  They left home at the ages of 17 and 18. At 19 she was the manager of a fast food joint working over 60 hours a week for poor pay and no benefits. They have travelled a fair bit in the U S but never to the East Coast. Having now tried oysters, and liked them, they will try to make it to New York to experience the Grand Central Station Oyster Bar, a place I recommended and which was supported by the guy on my right, a representative from Dell computers from upstate New York who now lives in Colorado. But before then Seth and Tanya will hold another yard sale to get rid of their earthly possessions, intall the futon that they've trimmed to fit in the back of their car, and head west. Their current employer, Hard Rock Café, has promised them jobs in San Diego where they will continue their benefits and get a nice increase in their hourly wage.  I wished them well. The meal and the company were great.

After dinner I walked to the riverside and around the downtown core. From what I saw it is a pretty city.

Today I rode from Louisville to Clarksville with a very brief stop at Fort Knox. The further south you get, the higher the corn. After Russellville where I stopped for lunch and had the fried chicken buffet at the Colonial Inn Restaurant thatwas jam-packed with people, I rode by some huge fields of corn and grain.

A few miles after I passed this field I went by another where the farm machinery was already bringing in the crop of grain. June 3 and already harvesting, isn't that early?

My favourite sign so far is the following one that I saw next to a secondary highway.

The message is plain, but short on specifics. I was expecting another one up the road that would clarify where the hell HELL might be but to no avail.  I'll keep watching and let you know if I see anything.