Friday was such a nice day I decided to take a vacation day and ride the bike.  The next few days looked to be cold and wet so it was a good decision.  I rode with a few bikers to Cumberland Falls State Park in Kentucky.  We took the back roads to the park which provided more curves and some interesting scenery.  As we entered the Kentucky coal fields I was shocked to see houses still being erected on flat spots carved from the mountainside just as the miners have done the last 100 years.  It was like going back in time when I was a young boy playing on the creek bank up Algoma Hollow.  Coal trucks made their way up and down the hollow, hauling coal one way and slate the other.  Clouds of dust billowing from beneath the weight of the overloaded trucks.  Bill Parnell was a legend as he roared his way from the tipple to the slate dump; double clutching his big truck as young boys idolized him and his shiny red truck.

  The Lodge at the park provided a nice lunch as we enjoyed the scenic panorama from the restaurant.  Conversation was lively as we discussed the ride.  After lunch we took pictures of the bikes, the lodge and the view of the Cumberland River from the restaurant.

  We then rode down to the falls where more pictures were taken.  The ride home was just as nice with wonderful back roads providing plenty of curves to practice our riding prowess.  A two hundred plus mile ride in the middle of winter was a welcome respite.  The pictures below do not do justice to the beautiful Cumberland River and the falls.  A beautiful day and a safe ride made a memorable day for a group of over-the-hill bikers sharing something very special on this very special day!
Bernie