Uhhhh. Good morning guys. How are you today? I hope you are doing well. I'm doing just fine. My body feels kinda sluggish. I'm not used to the weather yet. It's better today. Turning the heater on made so much difference. I did not know about its' existence until Noah mentioned it yesterday. Anyway, new day, new trip, new outfit and the same new coat. I'm so excited for today. Meet you after breakfast and coffee.
Hello guys. So much difference and energy after breakfast. Who am I kidding? People say: I woke up like that. I go like: I caffeinate and hope for the best. I found Noah setting with the owners. They are such a good people. He introduced us. They invited me to go riding tomorrow. "If she woke up earlier." Noah added, which I totally gladly accepted. Now we (which includes me and Noah in his truck) are going on our little adventure to Lincoln state park.
Brrrr, it's pretty cold here. Surprisingly Noah is saying that this is a good day for a hike. In a matter of fact I can't totally agree as I'm not used to this weather yet, her I'm out and about and funny enough, ready to hike.
Wow, this place is massive! It's absolutely astonishing to me that this white layer covering this green carpet is keeping what's beneath alive for the next spring.
"From Earth to Eyomy. We are going to start hiking. We need you here with us." Said Noah.
I was totally in my own head. 'Ya, sorry. Brain freeze, I'm back to earth now. Where to go?' I replied. "Straight ahead solder."
'Hi Hi caption.' I replied seriously in a high manly pitch.
"It is suppose to be yes sir." He said laughingly.
'I make my own rules.' I said.
"Fine miss independent. Watch your steps."
We are now crossing a bridge, going into a slope. I won't deny, I'm kinda scared.
"I won't kidnap you. I promise." He said reassuringly. Does it show on my face that much...
I'm slightly nodding and following him.
This place is so pretty. Really a perfect place for a hike. It literally has every think to be done during a hike. Walking, looking at the woods, lake, white and browns, the beautiful mansions here and there, climbing up and down stairs, trees and stones too some times and the beautiful scenes. Ignoring the slippery ice, this is the best hike I've ever gone on.
"Can you believe this once was a private property?" Noah said out of the blue.
He is one of the best people I've ever hiked with. He doesn't talk much when we walk. His pace is synchronized with me to give me time to catch my breath. From time to time he tells me about the place we are in, like now.
'Well, isn't it a park?' I replied.
"It's a park now yes, but it belonged to people once and they lived here."
'Like a garden for a palace? I've been to some of these in Istanbul and Rome.'
"Well, ya."
'It's really amazing. Who owned it?'
"You do not know?"
'Should I?'
"Come on, let's take this way. If we take this route we will be in Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home and National Museum."
'OK, ya.' I replied to him but something doesn't seem right.
"Not clicking yet." He asks. I don't exactly know what it is he wants to hear.
Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln. Why is this name so famous around here and why should I know him. Wait did he said Abraham? Wasn't that one of presidents of the United States. The one With a temple like Zeus in the animated Disney Hercules movie??? I asked Noah.
"YES!! Finally I was starting to lose hope of you ever knowing him. That statue you are talking about is in Washington." He continued after a small sigh. "He was raised here and his family owed all of this."
'Wow,, Well, would we be able to see his home?' I asked
"Not exactly. The houses from the 18 hundreds wasn't that well built enough to withstand time. Yet there is a model. They tried to replicate what was here once."
'Amazing...' I said that as we are walking.
I have to admit, Santa Claus town is one of the best.
"You do know that we are out of the town right?" Noah asked. I can see someone is reading my mind again or is it that I'm that transparent?
'I'd lie if I said I have an idea,,, where are we?'
"Make a guess."
'Why are you treating me like a resident?'
"Well, just guess, it's just funny, that's all."
'Abraham Lincoln town?' I said mockingly.
"Close enough." He said shockingly. "Lincoln city."
'It turns out I'm smart.' I said with a laugh.
"Well, that is out of question." He said with a smile which made me blush a little.
We are now on the Lincoln state. it's very nice here, it has a different air than the part we were hiking in. There are more people here and I can see a wooden house over there.
Is that lady outside?!
Noah is telling me more about this place. He is saying that this is not the real house Abraham Lincoln lived in when he was young, it's simply a mere replica and there is another one in the museum, which we are going to enter later.
(Again, Please pardon the not in-season photos as the winter ones were so scarce.)
He is saying that they made it to allow visitors to experience early life on the Lincoln farm.
Replicas of the Lincoln cabin, smokehouse, chicken coop, and barn were all built using original material from existing homes in the area from the original period. They were been built using traditional hand tools and original materials. Actors are dressed in period clothing, portraying life in 1816 on the farm. Live animals roam the area and crops can be seen, re-creating a sense of that it was like to live or visit the Lincoln farm when he was just a boy. Isn't that amazing?!!
Now we are going through a grave area I assume. Noah is pointing at one of the headstones
saying that this one belongs to Abraham mother. Along the way there is Trail of Twelve Stones each refers to his boyhood. They explain the events in Lincoln’s life at the site of each stone. Oh, there was a monument marks the site where the original cabin once stood a couple of miles away. We are now about to enter the museum.
The outside is outstanding yet the inside is quite simple. There is the other cabin. Dunno why I thought it would be a small one at last half the size. This one is true to size!
'If you think I can take another step, you must be delusional.' I said to Noah.
"Oh my! I didn't realize it's this late. Come on then, let's fuel up before the main event of the day." He said as he is making his way to the truck.
Foooood. I'll talk to you after lunch then.
I really like the menu here. In all my travel trips I look for a WOW show stopping, elegant places to eat or a local place as a form of change. It's astonishing that Noah takes me to these nice local places, like today we ate burger and hotdog and I'm very content. No resort, no spa nor fancy place. Maybe the company has a great onus. Anyway, I'm fully recharged and ready to continue. It's starting to get dark now, It's kinda depressing seeing the day ending so soon.
"Come on." Said Noah as he is moving in the opposite direction of the truck. "Our next destination awaits us."
Moving forward, I'm seeing a square with two statues facing each other. I think,,,,, oh! This one is Abraham Lincoln.
"These two statues are of Abraham Lincoln. One of them you may easily recognize. The other one is when he was younger. You may remember him from the museum we were in" Noah said cutting my thoughts.
Now we are entering the building right in front of the square. It's another museum.
"I dunno if historical events or wax figures are your cup of tea or not but hope you enjoy it here." Said Noah.
Well, between me and you, it's not a secret that I have no interest in the past or dead people yet I do enjoy good art so I simply smiled to him. I think he took it affirmatively as now we are going inside. I really do like it here. If we left aside the history part of it, It's nice to wander through the pivotal points in Abraham Lincoln's life. It feels like I'm living a movie. Walking through halls of a series of life-size dioramas, period artifacts, and a superb collection of wax figures brings to life the major events in Abraham Lincoln's life. With Noah's narration acts as a background music, I'm wandering in a life action movie.
From the "Cabin Years" to "Ford's Theatre" and the years between, It's really enjoyable to have this close-up experience with (as they claim) one of the world's greatest leaders.
It's not that interesting going though this part but, the galleries we are now entering include civil war memorabilia, a collection of original Lincoln art, a funeral train exhibit and many many more.
This history session is over due. I'm kinda glad it came to an end. Will we go back to the ranch now? Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the museum a lot, just the last part of the galleries and the intense history lesson was too much for me.
"Did you enjoy it?" Noah asked.
'Oh, ya, yes!' What an idiot would answer that way?! Are seriously you trying to be convincing?!
"Ya,, go figure." He said with a sarcastic laugh. "Our last stop for the day is a show stopping destination. I think you'll like it more."
'I did enjoy the museum' I said objectingly but I don't seem convincing enough. 'So,, where is our next stop?' I asked, simply going into the next point.
"You'll see. Get in the truck."
We are stopping... at a winery!!!! Holy......
"Come on in." Noah said as he is holding the door for me. This guy really knows how to do stuff around here!
This is the perfect hideaway. It sets in a peaceful country atmosphere. I like the band and the county music too. (Surprisingly!)
It's too loud here, I guess I'll be talking to you after getting out.
OMG, where do I start? First of all, no, I'm not wasted even though I'd have loved to.
Pepper's Ridge Winery was more than amazing I loved loved loved wine sampling. OK, maybe I'm a little bit wasted. We had our dinner there along with some wine slushies too. I have to say, the wine made the noise way a lot tolerable. I liked that the staff there were walking us through the wine history. Are all the people here this nice? This day so informative I think. I didn't feel that cold on our way back. Oh yes, I'm talking to you from bed. Speaking of which, I think that's all for tonight. See you tomorrow?
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