Lexington Kentucky

As well as spending time on group weekends, in Universities and at churches i have been able to get to see a bit of the countryside as well. I enjoyed going to see the races, a tradition in Kentucky where they say they are the horse capital of the world.

I also got to visit some great huge houses out in the country, things like i've never seen, maybe this is the place to retire to. View from the back 'yard'

I also got to visit Mammoth Cave - unsurprisingly named after the fact it's a big cave, the world's longest cave in fact which stretches 365 miles and they continue to discover more every year. Me and the Hughes headed over for a tour of the cave a really impressive 300 or so step spiral staircase down into huge Caverns many full of the greatest Stalactites and Stalagmites i've ever seen. I learnt a bit about Kentucky history and saw some of the tackiest looking areas i've seen including Dinosaurland, numerous crazy golf courses and Big Mikes (Kentucky's largest small shop). The caves though were incredible and certainly a very memorable place to see.

Later in the week i visited a place here they call The Gorge, which was as the name suggests a gorge, are you noticing a trend in their naming of things yet (they also have a london and a paris not too far away). I went climbing with 2 great guys and as we arrived at the cliffs we were gonna climb we enjoyed watching some amazing young kids climbing up the walls, its amazing how small you can feel after being shamed by a young girl. These kids were part of the USA climbing squad who were away training with friends and made things look far easier than they were. My forearms are still aching the next day, probably because i took about an hour hanging on to get up the wall. It really was too hard for me but after falling off a few times i did make it eventually to the top of both climbs we did. It was a lot of fun and we saw some great views from the top, it really was a cool place. We ate at a restaurant called Miguel's which is a true climbers hangout, it has a huge campsite out back and people will come and spend their whole summer's there and whilst they do serve pizza they also sell all manner of climbers gear. I don't know if it was coz i was so tired but that pizza was goood. Interesting fact for you Brits out there, this place was in a Dry county, and no that doesn't mean they don't have any rain here, i'm serious no alcohol!!!!

But no bother coz they have a great drink here Ale 8 as they say around here. The drink of the God's a mystical drink fusing fruit and ginger flavours along with secret ingredients to create an authentic family made Kentucky original beverage and all served up in a beautiful green beer bottle. Ok they paid me to say that, but it really is good stuff.
My last night at the campus it was Chicago night, every monday the halls at UK housing 50 or so students have their food cooked for them by someone who comes in from the outside. This week one of the girls parents came in to visit from Chicago and cooked Chicago food. Hot dogs, italian beef sandwiches and traditional deep dish pizza, after this they held a service to bless the seniors who were graduating. It was a great evening and a nice way to finish my time there.
I am now an honorary Chicago cubs baseball fan and with my record whilst here standing at 13and 1(for non americans that means 12 wins and 1 loss) they are threatening to keep me here till october.

I also was lucky enough to play in an indoor soccer match which was good fun and also enjoyed a load more good food and a beautiful sunderland bon voyage cake.

Off i go again on a bus, the greyhound express is on its way to Columbus along with some interesting travel buddies (i feel like i was on a Jerry Springer set). Goodbye Lexington and all my friends there, may we meet again one day.