#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - C

CAVES, COFFEE & CUMBERLAND

Caves & Coffee

JC Hatfield is the female MC in my WIP, All Gallow's Eve.  Her BFF, Sheila Bonner, runs a coffee bar type establishment, think of a cross between a Mom & Pop Cafe and Starbucks.  (And no, I am not getting paid by Starbucks.  *LOL*  I wish!)  Gourmet coffees and pastries, etc.  Maybe you'uns (Kentucky's version of y'all) can help me with something on that count.

When I started actually writing scenes for the book, I called the coffee bar "Springs Into Action".  I have no memory of where that came from.  Then when I was making a list of daily topics for the A to Z, and wanting to incorporate more than a few setting elements relating to Kentucky, I came up with the name "Coffee Cave".  There are many, many caves in Kentucky, several quite close to our home.  Those particular caves are rather small.  There is, of course, Mammoth Cave, with approximately 400 miles worth of chambers etc. in western Kentucky.

Here's a picture of one of the chambers of the cave, with an entrance to the next room:

(picture taken by someone in our family, probably my husband)

Which name for Sheila's coffee bar do you like better..."Springs Into Action" or "Coffee Cave"?

Cumberland

I spent most of my first ten years in Cumberland, MD, so I was really rather delighted to find several 'Cumberlands' right here in Kentucky.  The two most notable locations with that name in our area are Lake Cumberland and Cumberland Falls.

Lake Cumberland is big for water sports, including fishing and boat racing.  

(By Habigrm2 (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons)

Cumberland Falls is the site of the only moonbow in the US:

(from a page about Cumberland Falls)

Mammoth Cave, Lake Cumberland and Cumberland Falls are probably all too far away from the intended setting of All Gallow's Eve in Eastern Kentucky.  But since one of the possible name for the coffee bar is "Coffee Cave", it was kind of relevant.

And after all, All Gallow's Eve will be a work of fiction, so you never know what is going to 'show up' until you read it (or someone tells you).  And I don't even know yet, so all of us will just have to wait!

Have a great weekend, all!

So When You Come to Visit

Since my theme this month is "Friendship", I thought it would behoove me to write a post on some of the things I would suggest doing in the area when a friend comes to visit.

1.  Watersports

Somerset is quite close to several areas of Lake Cumberland, and there are a few business that will rent you anything from a 'personal watercraft' all the way up to a houseboat.  There are even the occasional boat races on Lake Cumberland.  In addition, marinas usually offer holdiay related events such as fireworks on July 4th and drive-through Christmas light displays at the end of the year.  For lots of links and information, you can visit the Lake Cumberland Tourism site maintained by the Somerset/Pulaski County Convention and Visitors' Bureau.

If you have kids, there is always the Somersplash Water Park, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the odd weekend before or after those days.  Attractions include a wading pool for the wee ones amongst us, a lazy river perfect for relaxation, a wave pool and multiple body or tube slides (including a bowl slide and a speed slide) for those more adventurous than me!

If you are into fishing, there is plenty of opportunity for that too.  (I don't usually go, but my husband and his father are avid fishers.)

2.  Cumberland Falls

There are lots of hiking trails around the falls and several scenic lookout terraces.  Probably the most popular time to go is on a night where there is a moonbow over the falls.

3.  Historical Sites

There are several Civil War ear sites around here, but Mill Springs is arguably the most famous.  They have a visitors' center and do re-enactments every so often, as well as some kid-friendly ghost-type activities around Halloween.

Ft. Boonesboro (of Daniel Boone fame) is a little farther away, but makes a nice day trip.  You go into the fort, see a short multi-media presentation and then can walk around and see shops and cabins as they would have appeared in Boone's time.  I liked seeing the progression of cabins (first where it is just a room really, with a dirt floor) showing how living quarters improved from just after move-in until after they had been there for a while and made improvements.  My boys really liked the blacksmith.  It is my understanding that several people/guides etc live there much as they did back in the day ... including having to make their own fire.

4.  Festivals Etc.

Two things for which Somerset is probably most well-known is the Master Musicians' Festival and Somernites Cruise.

I did not know much about the MMF until my brother (who is in music at the University of Utah) mentioned it some years ago.  Being that he thinks it's a big deal, it must be!  Their site hasn't been updated for 2013 yet, but they do have a rather active Facebook page.  And one year, MMF had Nuttin' But Stringz there, which is like one of my favorites.  I'm going to try to embed a Youtube video:

Somernites Cruise is draws the biggest crowds to Somerset on the 4th weekend of each month, April through October.  On Friday night there is a block party downtown for the cruise.  On Saturday afternoon, people park their vintage vehicles along main street and people walk by and they all gab about cars for the entire afternoon.  Parking can be a bear at times, but that's to be expected.  There are food and craft, etc, vendors around as well.  Then, Saturday night, the cars cruise up and down Highway 27.

People are setting up lawnchairs, blankets, coolers, etc etc up and down Highway 27 and setting up in front of the various businesses to get the best vantage point for see the cars cruising by.  This usually starts early Saturday morning, but I've even seen folks out the night before!

Anyway, when folks come to visit, we can always find something to see or do, even if they want a true "vacation" and want to rest.  But how often does that  happen, really?

Tuesday Trips - Cumberland Falls

Cumberland Falls State Park is about an hour south of us. We visited once when it was just us and the boys and once with T-girl. "Great Lakes Waterfalls and Beyond" says:

Cumberland Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the South, and is definitely one to see.

The Kentucky State Parks site has a great page on Cumberland Falls, including accommodations, restaurants, camping and things to do in the area.

I know we have some pictures of the kids by the falls, but DH just redid the computer again and it'll take me a while to find them. Maybe next week....*sigh*.

Cumberland Falls is the only place in the US where you can see a "moonbow", which is a rainbow created by the mist from the falls and moonlight. We've been here more than two years, and I've yet to see one. Of course, the last time we went there, DS2 got sick on the way home, so that maybe has put a little damper on things.

I'd like to go back next summer and explore some more of the trails with the kids.

There is a little snack bar/gift shop area before you get to the main trails. The tables are round and made of stone. Last time we were there, T was about 2-3 years old and wanted to dance on the tables, so we let her! I've never thought I'd say this, but some table dancers are just pretty darned cute! :p

Cumberland Falls is one destination that always makes the "to do list" when out-of-town friends and family come to visit.