I unexpectedly had to make the drive to Knoxville, Tennessee, from our home in Madison, Wisconsin, to attend a funeral. I left about 6 a.m. Friday, as the funeral was at 230 p.m. Sat. and I can't drive the whole way any more without stopping for the night--and making lots of stretch stops along the way. It's about 750 miles each way.

Because I have made this trip many times over the years, I am always looking for something different to see.do. I didn't have much time, but since I was stopping somewhere in Kentucky Fri. night, I had some leeway.

I have finally wised up and instead of driving south on I-39 to I-88 to I-80 (which skirts, but doesn't entirely miss Chicago) I have been going I-39 south to I-55 to I-74, which is what I did Friday. No traffic, no construction, and only one toll. When I entered Indiana, one of the first exits I came to said "Newport" and knowing that Newport, and not Milford, was the most common town on the Welsh Place Names in the US list, and knowing I had not been to this particular Newport, I turned off. (So, yes, Swansea Jack, it was for the points!) Being mapless, I was not sure how far it was (17 miles) or exactly how best to proceed after I took my photo, so I just figured if I went south far enough I'd come to I-70 and could get to I-65 that way. So that is what I did. (BTW--I included my little green dragon in most of the photos to prove I was actually at these places. I think someone else is using a red dragon in much the same way, so I decided to go green. He is NOT a squirrel!!)

NEWPORT, INDIANA Post Office

Once on I-70, I had another pleasant surprise, when I saw a sign for Chataeu Thomas Winery--and remembered the Chicago Tafia extolling the Thomas Family Winery somewhere in Indiana, so I turned off, thinking this may be the place. It wasn't, but it was owned by Dr. Thomas, the father of the man who owns the Thomas Family Winery. We had a nice chat, I bought some cheese curds and a monogrammed wine stopper for a gift, and he drew me a map to his son's place. Now, THAT was out of my way, but in the general direction--not so much out of my way, as along slower, windier roads than the Interstate.

Above and below: Chateau Thomas Winery

I ended up i Madison, IN, and found the winery, which was more pub-like than the sophisticated Chateau Thomas. I met Steve Thomas, prop., and sampled both the Gales Hard Cider and the scrumpy--I preferred the hard cider--the scrumpy was too fruity for my taste. I bought 3 bottles of hard cider and 2 packs of Walkers shortbread. And took photos. Steve gave me directions to I-64, which involved staying on Hwy 421 all the way and being sure to make all the turns 421 did, while avoiding cavorting dogs in the road. Very windy and narrow, and a speed limit of 55 with semi trucks, too. Certainly kept me alert. Also it was getting dark. I was glad to hit the interstate and stopped in Lexington for the night. I was also glad it was warm, as there was ample evidence of icy conditions earlier in the month. (BTW--it was minus 2F when I left Madison and in the 40s by time I hit Indiana. On the way home, it got close to 60!)

Three photos from Thomas Family Winery, Madison, Indiana--Gales Hard Cider, named after Steve's grandfather; tasting the hard cider; and the ladies' loo--decked out for Valentines Day.

I arrived in Knoxville at 9:30 Sat. a.m., in time to view the body at the funeral home and go pick up a non-driving cousin, go to lunch and make it to the graveside services at the country church. Later, several of the family went for a late dinner and then enjoyed one of the bottles of hard cider until about 1 a.m.

I left Knoxville about 9 a.m. Sun., made it as far as Indianapolis (passing Walesboro on I-65 on the way). also stopped in Seymour, IN, for lunch--no Welsh connection that I could discern, but it is the home of John Cougar Mellencamp, in case someone has need of that bit of trivia. They also have a decent Mexican restaurant--based on the chicken fajitas and Dos Equis beer I had for lunch. My only problem was the waitstaff would speak Spanish to me (I have a Spanish minor,) but I would answer in Welsh: Como estas? Da iawn. Etc.

Walesboro, Indiana Exit

To keep me awake on these long road trips, I always travel with sufficient coffee (seen in Indiana--either I-74 or I-70):

So, yes, this is how I travel and how my road trips lead to fabulous discoveries--see my previous blog post about Definitive Madog and the Mandan Indians Proof, if you don't believe me.

I've also found a beagle, Gracie, on a Kentucky backroad:

and a kitten, MiKi, in the middle of traffic in Michigan:

Both Gracie and MiKi are 1000 times healthier and more gorgeous in their photos than when I found them!

Stay tuned for my next road trip--probably in March-April.