Louisville and the southern drawl

Coal barges under the Big Four Bridge

It is a beautiful day today as we set off to explore, a short drive brings us to Big Four Riverside park and bridge. The path to the park winds round in a circle getting higher and higher towards the Big Four Bridge. The bridge itself is an old railway bridge converted into a pedestrian walkway and park, across the middle area of the bridge there’s classical music playing and underneath on the Ohio river 2 huge tugs push 15 enormously long flat boats filled with coal upstream. This is the same river we first saw in Pittsburgh at Point Park and will continue its journey to meet the mighty Mississippi.

Water Playground in Big Four Park

On the far side of the bridge we cross the state line from Kentucky into Indiana and enter Jeffersonville. This town is very much southern American, there appears to be a much slower way of life here and slower speech with a southern drawl. At a stop in a coffee shop we’re be friended a local southern gentleman who extols the best bits of Indiana and America, it takes a while to end the conversation! A further stroll takes us past, clap board houses all raised up on steps and front porches with rocking chairs on them, very gone with the Wind.

Back over the other side we attempt to find the town of Louisville and after parking the car in a dodgy looking car park and inserting coins into a parking meter (strange individual slot numbered affair) and wander into town. The court house we pass is enormous, there must be a lot of naughty people here, Dave says. We finally find the restaurant area and enjoy Sliders and a salad at Gordon Biersch then walk back to the car, mmm if only the blocks didn’t look all the same!

Restaurants on Forth Street

On our drive, back we stop to collect a bottle of wine and are nearly part of the set of the black version of EastEnders, a black woman is screaming her displeasure at a tow truck driver. I’m waiting for the guns to appear! Dave hurries me to the car and we make a quick exit to find Walmart which seems to be a safer option, however, Dave’s not happy to be spending money in Stan Kroenke’s store due to his dodgy Arsenal connections. Phew! After all this excitement, a night in with wine seems the best choice.