Kentucky Ferryboat Weekend

[pfloydgad]

2009 COG KENTUCKY RIVERBOAT FERRY RIDE

On the weekend of July 24-26, 2009, six (6) COG members ventured out to do something as a group that might have been done before, but not on a Connie.

Tub Maxon, one of our riders, developed the idea to ride across various water byways, on what are commonly know as ferryboats. After Tub crossed the Augusta Ferry in his car one weekend, he saw the map of the 10 Ferryboat crossings in the great state of Kentucky. So after a two week period of soliciting COG members to join him, 6 Concours riders were ready for the challenge.

The Intrepid 6 were:
Tub Maxon and Steve Thompson from Cincinnati, OH, Bill Hookman from Westerville, OH, Jim Capper from Washington Court House, OH, Greg DeCola from Urbana, OH, and Mike Mason from Alexandria, KY.

The ride started by crossing the Ohio River from the Ohio side on the Augusta Ferry. The $2 fee was for one of only 3 boats that required payment for transport. Cruising through some beautiful countryside and horse farm plantations, the second leg of 100 miles took us to Ferry #2.

The Valley View Ferry crossed the Kentucky River from Fayette and Jessamine County to Madison County, KY. Just about every possible road condition was experienced for this trip. From Super Slabs, state and county roads, to full gravel, wash-out logging and chip and seal, straits, long sweepers and switchbacks, we saw them all.

Weather also became a riding challenge. There were heavy soaking rains, crosswinds and road washouts which kept all of us on our toes.

Our next adventure, 155 miles later, was Ferry #3 (The Turkey Neck Bend Ferry) in Monroe County. We crossed the Cumberland River just a mile or so off the Tennessee border. We continued into Glasgow, KY to find our first night’s campsite. A wonderful husband and wife owned campground which is called Singing Hills. Their Boy Scouts open field tent site was the deal of the trip at $32 for the night which included tents and free firewood.
Day 1 ended with a total 477 miles traveled and 6 tired souls ready for a good meal and a good night’s rest. After some conversation by the campfire, we were ready for shuteye.

On Day 2, we awoke up to threatening stormy skies and our plans of getting breakfast and breaking camp quickly changed to just getting packed and on the road. We were able to get a much needed breakfast and we then found that the clouds had cleared and a blistering sun made its appearance.
The next Ferry to experience was #4 across the Green River in Edmonson Cty. Ky. After debarking, we enjoyed a nice ride on some twistys and long sweepers for approximately 60 miles. The Green River Ferry is located in Mammoth Cave National Park.

Ferry #5 was the Houchins Ferry, just a short hop of 6 miles, also within Mammoth Cave National Park. And the road to this ferry had washout gravel, hillside sloping, and steep upslopes which became a true challenge. We crossed the Green River and traveled 50 miles through some breathtaking hillside forest country to our next ferry.

Reeds Ferry (#6) in Butler County was our next crossing and led us to Ferry #7 (Rochester Ferry). This Ferry proved to be the most interesting. It was quite rundown and was commanded by an individual that was very happy to transport anyone on her ferry. Our River Lady had difficulty giving us change for $5 and $10 for fare, so she decided that $10 was perfect for the trip across a very narrow stretch of the Green River. Our River Lady was thrilled with $10 and probably was her largest take for the day or possibly the whole week.

We did take a side ride to Hopkinsville, KY and visited a replica of the Washington Monument called the Jefferson Davis Monument, after the Confederacy President. The monument towers 351 ft. into the sky and can be seen on the state road from miles away.

Ferry #8, the Dorena-Hickman Ferry, was in the far Southwest corner of the Kentucky. The convergence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers was this boat’s claim to fame. We had an awesome 20 minute ride from the Kentucky side accross the Mississippi River to a drop-off point in the state of Missouri. As we climbed the hill from the ferry, we were greeted with a perfectly straight, smooth, flat stretch of roadway. This road was 24 miles long with unlimited visibility. Needless to say, the 24 mile run was completed in far less then 24 minutes it would have taken at 60 mph.

The Day 2 ride was not as long as the first day, however the weather was in the high 80’s along with high humidity. We quickly realized this was going to be a tough ride, so we decided to take a detour to Paducah, KY through Illinois and cross the Mississippi River near Cairo, IL. over 2 awesome suspension bridges. Hotel reservations were made and dinner at Olive Garden ended the day at 360 miles. The total miles at this point was 837.

Day 3, with 2 more Ferries yet to ride, we started the day with an IHOP breakfast, topped off the tanks, and hit the road. This was to be the longest day of riding for our 3 day adventure. The trip to Ferry #9, Cave in Rock Ferry in Crittenden County, KY, was a great 60 mile ride on a very clean and open state highway. We crossed the Ohio River and stopped for a group photo, then proceeded for the last leg to Ferry #10.

With shortened time left and fatigue setting in, the 300 plus miles to the 10^th ferry was going to be a tough run. We hit the super-slab and rolled down the road. Construction delays and traffic beyond belief greeted us, and a quick exit brought us to country roads for the remaining run up river.

Anderson Ferry, #10, gave us the opportunity to chat with some cagers crossing with us. Everyone we encountered was very impressed with our desire to ride all 10 ferries in a single weekend. All in all, everyone we talked to was very interested in our little adventure. Crossing the Ohio River one last time into Cincinnati and finding a UDF for fuel and ice cream, we said our goodbyes and departed for our respective homes.

Mission accomplished - 10 riverboat ferry rides in 3 days with great friends.

As a group we traveled 8,000 miles between us, averaging between 1,318 and 1,378 miles each for 3 days of travel.

This was a great ride, and a shorter version could have been laid out, but the goal was 10 ferryboats, and the adventure along the way. I commend our team of six, and look forward to another trip with the Intrepid 6.

If anyone is interested in this ride, go to:
(http://511ky.gov/Ferryboat%20Schedule%20Map.pdf)

Ride Reporter: Greg DeCola COG # 7691 ROK # 10099

Ride Safe Everyone!!!

[DeBandi]

Cool!


I like this idea.


I may just try this myself one day.


Thanks for sharing the ride

[dlrides]

Originally Posted by pfloydgad

2009 COG KENTUCKY RIVERBOAT FERRY RIDE

On the weekend of July 24-26, 2009, six (6) COG members ventured out to do something as a group that might have been done before, but not on a Connie.

Tub Maxon, one of our riders, developed the idea to ride across various water byways, on what are commonly know as ferryboats. After Tub crossed the Augusta Ferry in his car one weekend, he saw the map of the 10 Ferryboat crossings in the great state of Kentucky. So after a two week period of soliciting COG members to join him, 6 Concours riders were ready for the challenge.

The Intrepid 6 were:
Tub Maxon and Steve Thompson from Cincinnati, OH, Bill Hookman from Westerville, OH, Jim Capper from Washington Court House, OH, Greg DeCola from Urbana, OH, and Mike Mason from Alexandria, KY.

The ride started by crossing the Ohio River from the Ohio side on the Augusta Ferry. The $2 fee was for one of only 3 boats that required payment for transport. Cruising through some beautiful countryside and horse farm plantations, the second leg of 100 miles took us to Ferry #2.

The Valley View Ferry crossed the Kentucky River from Fayette and Jessamine County to Madison County, KY. Just about every possible road condition was experienced for this trip. From Super Slabs, state and county roads, to full gravel, wash-out logging and chip and seal, straits, long sweepers and switchbacks, we saw them all.

Weather also became a riding challenge. There were heavy soaking rains, crosswinds and road washouts which kept all of us on our toes.

Our next adventure, 155 miles later, was Ferry #3 (The Turkey Neck Bend Ferry) in Monroe County. We crossed the Cumberland River just a mile or so off the Tennessee border. We continued into Glasgow, KY to find our first night’s campsite. A wonderful husband and wife owned campground which is called Singing Hills. Their Boy Scouts open field tent site was the deal of the trip at $32 for the night which included tents and free firewood.
Day 1 ended with a total 477 miles traveled and 6 tired souls ready for a good meal and a good night’s rest. After some conversation by the campfire, we were ready for shuteye.

On Day 2, we awoke up to threatening stormy skies and our plans of getting breakfast and breaking camp quickly changed to just getting packed and on the road. We were able to get a much needed breakfast and we then found that the clouds had cleared and a blistering sun made its appearance.
The next Ferry to experience was #4 across the Green River in Edmonson Cty. Ky. After debarking, we enjoyed a nice ride on some twistys and long sweepers for approximately 60 miles. The Green River Ferry is located in Mammoth Cave National Park.

Ferry #5 was the Houchins Ferry, just a short hop of 6 miles, also within Mammoth Cave National Park. And the road to this ferry had washout gravel, hillside sloping, and steep upslopes which became a true challenge. We crossed the Green River and traveled 50 miles through some breathtaking hillside forest country to our next ferry.

Reeds Ferry (#6) in Butler County was our next crossing and led us to Ferry #7 (Rochester Ferry). This Ferry proved to be the most interesting. It was quite rundown and was commanded by an individual that was very happy to transport anyone on her ferry. Our River Lady had difficulty giving us change for $5 and $10 for fare, so she decided that $10 was perfect for the trip across a very narrow stretch of the Green River. Our River Lady was thrilled with $10 and probably was her largest take for the day or possibly the whole week.

We did take a side ride to Hopkinsville, KY and visited a replica of the Washington Monument called the Jefferson Davis Monument, after the Confederacy President. The monument towers 351 ft. into the sky and can be seen on the state road from miles away.

Ferry #8, the Dorena-Hickman Ferry, was in the far Southwest corner of the Kentucky. The convergence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers was this boat’s claim to fame. We had an awesome 20 minute ride from the Kentucky side accross the Mississippi River to a drop-off point in the state of Missouri. As we climbed the hill from the ferry, we were greeted with a perfectly straight, smooth, flat stretch of roadway. This road was 24 miles long with unlimited visibility. Needless to say, the 24 mile run was completed in far less then 24 minutes it would have taken at 60 mph.

The Day 2 ride was not as long as the first day, however the weather was in the high 80’s along with high humidity. We quickly realized this was going to be a tough ride, so we decided to take a detour to Paducah, KY through Illinois and cross the Mississippi River near Cairo, IL. over 2 awesome suspension bridges. Hotel reservations were made and dinner at Olive Garden ended the day at 360 miles. The total miles at this point was 837.

Day 3, with 2 more Ferries yet to ride, we started the day with an IHOP breakfast, topped off the tanks, and hit the road. This was to be the longest day of riding for our 3 day adventure. The trip to Ferry #9, Cave in Rock Ferry in Crittenden County, KY, was a great 60 mile ride on a very clean and open state highway. We crossed the Ohio River and stopped for a group photo, then proceeded for the last leg to Ferry #10.

With shortened time left and fatigue setting in, the 300 plus miles to the 10^th ferry was going to be a tough run. We hit the super-slab and rolled down the road. Construction delays and traffic beyond belief greeted us, and a quick exit brought us to country roads for the remaining run up river.

Anderson Ferry, #10, gave us the opportunity to chat with some cagers crossing with us. Everyone we encountered was very impressed with our desire to ride all 10 ferries in a single weekend. All in all, everyone we talked to was very interested in our little adventure. Crossing the Ohio River one last time into Cincinnati and finding a UDF for fuel and ice cream, we said our goodbyes and departed for our respective homes.

Mission accomplished - 10 riverboat ferry rides in 3 days with great friends.

As a group we traveled 8,000 miles between us, averaging between 1,318 and 1,378 miles each for 3 days of travel.

This was a great ride, and a shorter version could have been laid out, but the goal was 10 ferryboats, and the adventure along the way. I commend our team of six, and look forward to another trip with the Intrepid 6.

If anyone is interested in this ride, go to:
(http://511ky.gov/Ferryboat%20Schedule%20Map.pdf)

Ride Reporter: Greg DeCola COG # 7691 ROK # 10099

Ride Safe Everyone!!!

Now we can read it !