Orlando Bound


After a week (October 2011) in Harrisonville, MO we traveled home with our first stop in California, MO at Burgers' Smokehouse where we ordered hams sent to our two Florida sons.  Of course, we had a ham sandwich.  Ever so good! 

Taken from Hermann Wine Trail Site

OakGlen Winery  Picture from Hermann Wine Trail Site

In Hermann, is a delightful German wine village where on another trip we had stayed two nights at a B and B and spent the day visiting wineries in the area.   Hermann was settled in 1837 by Germans along the Missouri River and evidence of their culture is seen in the architecture, food and people. The wine trail is 20 miles with 7 wineries to visit. We are not big wine drinkers.   I like rather sweet white ones and my husband likes the reds so we found when we first visited wineries we tended to purchase one bottle of everything we liked.  Soon we had a closet full of one bottles.  Our rule now is to pick one and buy two so it can be served to guests at a meal.

All the wineries are fun and  a trolley for $15 a day offers a pick up and drop service.

From trolley website

  

Taken from Stone Hill Website

This trip we stopped for lunch at the Vintage Restaurant at Stone Hill Winery where an old carriage house has been remodeled into a charming restaurant serving German and American food.  I love their cheese spread.  When I order appetizers the waiter always thinks I'm going to share - ha!  I usually order their smoked pork chop with apples, and David gets the German plate offering sausages. 

From Swiss Meat and Sausage

We always stop on Highway 19 south as we leave town for sausage. Swiss Meat and Sausage Company in business since 1969 has tasting stations to find the ones you like best. Some are smoked and will travel with you.  Of course, the car picks up an odor but it's a good one.  

From Holiday World website

We did a wide circle around St. Louis having been caught in their traffic several times so like Atlanta we avoid the city, driving extra miles to do so.  We ended up on Interstate 64 and got to Mount Vernon, Illinois for the night.  The next day we zoomed down the road and picked up brochures in Indiana around Holiday World remembering a most wonderful stop there.  We didn't know about the park at the time but had a 10 year old granddaughter with us and thought how much fun is this?  A and I jumped in line for the first ride.  As I stepped inside the cart I realized I was 30 years older than anyone else in line.  I thought "What are you doing?" as the cart whizzed away.  Three minutes later I got off with my stomach intact.  They have a wonderful water park as part of the ticket.  Each area is identified with a holiday.   We rode in Halloween Land.  Kids need other kids to ride with though.  And my son thinks I am too old to take his 4 children. 

We promised to return to this lovely area where Lincoln spent his boyhood years, where Santa Claus lives and cabins rent on the Ohio River.   I just need for a grandson to get older while I stay the same age.  This is on our route to his home. 

By lunch we are in Louisville, Kentucky digging through Hadley Pottery seconds for bowls to match pieces I have picked up on other trips.  When our children had children, I wanted these dishes to use when grandchildren came.  Fact is I love them.  Each time we drive through I add to my collection of seconds.   You can buy the new also but I like their slightly off shapes.  They recommended a late lunch at a North End Cafe within a block where we had the most delicious squash soup which was so right that rainy fall day.  

From Bluegrass Museum Site

We got to Winchester in time to visit the Bluegrass Historical Museum which was decorating for a  holiday preview.  I purchased a lovely quilt which become a Christmas gift for granddaughter E.  It looked just like a quilt should - not a fancy design but more like your grandmother's aprons all pieced together.  Wonderful blend of colors.

We headed to the genealogy room at the library where we paged through books checking on the name Wade for they first came here in 1780's.  Didn't find what I came for but loved the town and want to return.  I like places that have nice museums and care about their history with  libraries wiith good genealogy rooms.  Had all three. 

We had dinner at Gaunces Deli and Cafe but found it did not live up to the recommendations given.

The next morning we stopped at headquarters for Ruth Hunt's Candy Company, started in 1921,  where they are famous for bourbon-chocolate balls.  Interesting fact for me, Elijah Craig, the first to discover how to cure whiskey into bourbon is my sixth great grandfather (eight generations removed).  Sampled a few and mailed some to grandchildren - without the bourbon.  Check online as they do not allow pictures to be copied.  Too bad, would make your mouth water. 

In Mt. Sterling we parked and had a wonderful lunch right off the courthouse square Terry and Kathy's.  While I didn't find a website, they are listed on food sites such as Yelp.  Do try their beer cheese while you wait for all the homemade entrees and pies.  The courthouse had the will of the man I sought, Dawson Wade.  David is eight generations removed from Dawson.   With a good lunch and the will we left happy, headed to West Virginia.

We visited the West Virginia Archives in Charlestown and find hints but realized we needed to move east into the state.  We found Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, W VA as dark fell and the motel sent us into town for dinner.  The streets were alive with people and all the stores and restaurants open.  They celebrate First Fridays (November).  We ate at Julian's and had the best meal of our entire trip.  The Chef provided his great recipe for Apples.  First know that I am not overly fond of apples.

Preparation:  For every gallon of peeled, cored and quartered apples, use one lemon which is quartered to remove seeds but leave peel and pith intact.
Simmer apples with a touch of water.  Once apples have softened, remove about half a cup to blender and add the seedless lemon quarters - blend until fused.  Add lemon/apple liquid to simmering apples.  Adjust sugar to taste.  Simmer until apples fully cook.  Chill.

The next morning we ate at the General Lewis Inn for breakfast which was lovely then visited the genealogy archives where volunteers were most helpful and I find good Wade material as they lived here prior to moving through Virginia to Cumberland Gap and into Kentucky. 

We drove out to Greenbrier Resort for a quick-look before heading south into Virginia.  I want to go back to this area.  We didn't have enough time to enjoy it all.

We drove through Virginia into North Carolina and south of Charlotte to a good television set for the night to watch a most disappointing Alabama - L. S. U. game.  It took the National Championship Game in January for the Tide to redeemed the team.   We are both graduates of the U. of A. and found each other on the campus at the Big Pumpkin Party.

The next day we drove to Orlando as it was time  to decorate for the holidays.   It is always fun to go and nice to return to your own bed.