Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, U.S.A. (Day 1, August 18, 2013)

My girlhood friend, Pam, told me, "Don't put the address (of her cabin on the lake) into your GPS.  You won't find it.  Put in (the name of a nearby road). . .and drive on the road beside the Baptist Church.  It's #16, the one in the middle."  Oh, sure.  The 'cabin' has been in Pam's family since 1958.  This is 2013.  The road is on the map.

Nope, she was right.  I thought wrongly.  The address is not is the GPS system.  This is remote!  I need to add, delightfully remote!

Pam's from Louisville, Kentucky, on the Ohio River, and I'm from Lexington, in the central part of Kentucky.  We grew up in Louisville, living several blocks apart, going to the same grade school and high school, being bridesmaids in each others' weddings, not visiting frequently but keeping in touch.  We were even pregnant with our last children together at age 40.

So this visit, only possible since we're both retired, is very, very special.  We met at the 'cabin', which is really a good-sized house, in the afternoon.  After unpacking, Pam gave me a quick tour of the house.  The best feature is the living room with its wall of windows facing the forest.  Built on the side of a hill, it's like living in a tree-house! 

This two-story, three bathroom, two bedroom house, was not what I had expected.  It lacks none of the usual amenities.  It is not 'camping.'  This is living rather well, on the lake.

First view of Lake Cumberland, Sunday, August  18, 2013.

The lone, newly launched boat on Lake Cumberland, Sunday.

Pam and I drove around the lake area close to the cottage. Lake Cumberland itself is just as picturesque as I remember it. It is a huge lake, 101 miles long, one mile across at its widest, built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1952 for flood control.   The lake's shoreline is longer than that of the entire state of Florida!

There is nothing commercial of any nature here, no stores, no gas stations, no signs, not even a plane overhead.  This is quite refreshing!  There is a golf course upon which no one is playing.  We enjoy looking at all the lake 'cabins', some humble, some gated and grand, all different and interesting.  Nearly all the dwellings are built on the side of a ridge, two-stories on the lake front, one five stories tall.

While Pam fixed an incredible dinner of cabbage/tomato/turkey over mashed potatoes, tossed salad and cornbread, we chatted.  We shared joys and concerns about our families, our churches, our country and our world.  We lingered at dinner and relished every crumb.  For a time, we looked out on the forest.  There were several busy squirrels finishing up their daily runs.  The living room windows are so high off the ground that Pam leaves the blinds open to the forest view.

For a while, we channel-surfed on the giant TV.  We stopped to watch "Duck Dynasty."  I had never seen it but many in my family recommended it as really funny.  At times, we laughed ourselves to tears! It is good to hear folks talk just like us Kentuckians! 

The both of us probably ought to be tired from driving, especially Pam, but we don't feel sleepy and talk till 1:30 a.m.  Good night!