Today was full of THE 4 H’s –
Hills – we’re in Appalachia now. Very hilly
Humidity – 80%+ again today
Heat – got up to 93 degrees
Hounds – we were charged at by at least 12 dogs today. A record for the trip. The whistles and horns worked, but their attacks are scary and disconcerting. At one point we cycled at least 6 miles with our whistles in our mouth the whole time!
The most upsetting part of the day started when we went through Sand Gap in Jackson County, KY. The scenery leading up to that point was really pretty
Then we started seeing this:
The miles between Sand Gap and Booneville in neighboring Owlsey County were filled with homes adorned like these, or in varying states of major neglect. Note – people LIVE in these homes. Some didn’t have doors or had windows missing. One was half burned down – but inhabited in the other half. I was too self-conscious to take photos. We are sooooooo lucky and blessed.
Owlsey County, which is 98% white, is the nation’s poorest white-dominated county in terms of average income. AND, over 50% of the personal income came in the form of government benefits. Unemployment here is more than twice the national average. This is just so sad.
We finished the day at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park. A nice gem of a lodge, beach, pool, and COPPERHEADS!! Yikes! Lodging in this area is surprisingly really difficult to find so we felt lucky to land on this one.
We are blessed. I never will understand what appears to be hoarding.
The pool looks relaxing.