We're back, and it's time to complete the course!
Once again at Grant County Park in Crittenden, Kentucky, our competitors are meeting for the back nine at the Pinhook Disc Golf Course. We've previously covered the course during the front nine. If you'd rather the nine-hole variety, there are a couple of options. First, the tees for hole 4 and 14 are very close to each other, though it will only get you eight holes. We did find another player who seemed to like to play holes 1 through 3 several times in a day, and if you were to do that three times, though showing a lack in variety, it could also be a good choice. However, our players are on the back nine, hoping to have a better showing than the front. How will they do?
Course Result:
Halved: 4
Her Holes: 5
His Holes: 0
Course Record: Him 7 - 4 - 10 Her
Holes Record: Him 52 - 64 Her
Holes 10 and 11 were halved by our competitors. Hole 12 was on a fairly steep hill that she was able to use the support mount for the basket to stop the disc while his rolled down, losing him 3 shots and giving her this one. Missed putt woes came back for him on 13 and 14, the latter costing him a chance to halve as she took both of them. Although she had a missed putt on the 15, he had a terrible time in the rough that he could not overcome, giving her a fourth score in the match. Hole 16 was halved. On the 17, her long third shot got into the basket and bounced out, nearly giving her a par, but a missed tough putt gave him the chance to halve the hole. The very long 18 was incredibly tough, as a shot in the rough and a missed putt put him at double digit strokes and gave her the Hawaii win. The shots on the back nine were 51-61 in her favor, as he had quite a lot of difficulty with the trees.
The draw may have been a fluke, as she's back in form. Can he figure out his issues? Until next time, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
"But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee." --Genesis 6:18
Welcome to Williamstown, Kentucky, home of the Ark Encounter. The Ark Encounter is an historical tribute to the first eleven chapters of Genesis, in which a life-size replica of Noah's Ark has been built with much of the inside showing how life may have been for the nearly one year our ancestors spent being saved from the judgement against the Earth by flood. In addition, this museum also discusses life before and after the flood, as well as different kinds of animals that went along for the ride from extinct to least concerned. In addition to the ark itself, the Ararat Ridge Zoo may also be explored while on the property, along with other activities including ziplining, a virtual reality tour of life in the days of Noah, and an auditorium that regularly features lectures and Christian Rock concerts during the season.
Upon entering and parking, hop on a shuttle bus to take you down to the ark itself. Don't bother trying to walk from the lot, as they do not permit this. There may be a little wait depending on when you go as this is quite the popular attraction. There is an "entrance" to the ark itself, however you're also able to get in from the gift shop if you don't mind a little backtracking to the start of the exhibits, or if you want to pick up where you left off in the middle, as we did on both occasions. Just be mindful of when you go, because you may find yourself getting pushed through the designed serpentine of exhibits and missing something you may have wanted to see, especially if you're two or more people trying to stay together in the midst of a large crowd.
The price point for the Ark Encounter, along with parking, may seem a little steep. However, at the end of the day, when you consider what is offered, it is very much worth the visit to this place. Our excursion included a free concert as part of their "40 Days & 40 Nights" series, with some of the top vocal groups in the genre. If you find yourself to be in the area for an extended period of time when this series happens, the concerts alone may just make a one-year pass worth the price. Whether or not you consider yourself to be a believer in Christ, even if you once were a follower but seemed to "lose the path" somewhere along the way as many of us have done, this is most certainly worth the visit. Everyone is welcome to attend, and you may end up learning a thing or two.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you to the Cincinnati area, make a stop down in Kentucky at the Ark Encounter for an awe-inspiring sight.
Many of you will know of our brew reviews, but that's not all that's available to imbibe.
Welcome to the Finger Lakes of New York State, otherwise known as the Wine Country. Nestled between Syracuse and Rochester, the Finger Lakes bring many tourists to west-central New York for their wonderful products and beautiful scenery. Some of the primary lakes from which to choose, among the several other that make up the area, are Cayuga, Seneca, Keuka, and Canandaigua. Each are surrounded by rolling hills and wide outlooks that will take the breaths of visitors, which is why the area is also a popular location for destination weddings. Rieslings and white wines are some of the best in the area due to the soil, but the reds and rosés can be just as good.
While in the Finger Lakes, consider one of the several area-wide events in the region, such as the Seneca Lake Wine Trail's annual summer kickoff event. The trail member wineries, sometimes numbering a couple dozen, sitting on the east and west sides of Seneca Lake will participate. Starting at one of the random locations, visit each winery, tasting what they have to offer as both a wine and food pairing. Do try to bring a non-participating driver with you, as it will become quite intoxicating, even after spreading the trip across the full complement of days. The cities of Geneva to the north, and Watkins Glen to the south, can provide good resupply or stopping points. Even if some of the wineries don't participate in the trail event, they can still be great places to visit for a short wine or even beer tasting, depending on the location.
A trip to the Finger Lakes would not be complete without a visit to the Windmill Farm and Craft Market. Situated outside of the village of Penn Yan, the Windmill is where vendors from around the area of many different walks of life come together on Saturdays during the summer season. First started by the Gunderman family in the 1980's after a trip to a similar outfit in Pennsylvania, the Windmill caught on quickly and saw several mile-long lines of backed up traffic. Although today's market days are not as popular as they once were, the wonderful environment cannot be denied for those seeking local purchases.
So if your Internal Compass takes you to the central or western parts of New York, be sure to stop in the Finger Lakes and the Wine Country.
Shall we have another match?
Coming to you from Grant County Park in Crittenden, Kentucky, our competitors are meeting at the Pinhook Disc Golf Course for today's match. Pinhook is a free-to-play, professionally designed 18-hole course. The map offers multiple baskets and tees, and while the multiple tees still exist on holes 1 and 17, the long baskets are the only ones available for play. The signage at some of the holes themselves are fading, but the map at the beginning of the course is very well detailed to help the players along, along with a few signs at some of the holes as to where the next tee is. Our first match is at the front nine: How did our players fare?
Course Result:
Halved: 1
Her Holes: 4
His Holes: 4
Course Record: Him 7 - 4 - 9 Her
Holes Record: Him 52 - 59 Her
The first hole found him still in that slump, as a missed putt gave her the point. Second hole saw a couple of missed putts from him, once again allowing her to take a bigger lead. He pulled it back from the third on a missed putt of her own, and tied it on a difficult four. Bad tree luck from him meant a halve of hole 5. The missed putt woes continued for him on hole 6, allowing her to take it with a convincing 4 strokes, while bad tree luck for both of them on the 7 gave her a two-hole lead. It wouldn't last long, as she had not one but two missed putts on the 8 giving him the hole despite some incredibly bad tree luck, and another missed putt cost her the victory as he took hole 9 despite his continued bad tree luck. Stroke play saw a difficult course go 52-53 in her favor, as the better showing did not come.
It looks like he might be getting into a rhythm; can he pull it out in the back 9? We'll find out, but until then, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
O RV Park, O RV park,
Your football fans have pulled out.
O RV Park, O RV park,
Your football fans have pulled out.
For four whole months you raised your rates,
Now season's gone and you have space.
O RV Park, O RV park,
Your football fans have pulled out.
O RV Park, O RV park,
You are our winter haven;
O RV Park, O RV park,
You are our winter haven.
Though sometimes frozen nights await,
It's better than a northern state!
O RV Park, O RV park,
You are our winter haven!
O RV Park, O RV park,
We wish your pool was heated.
O RV Park, O RV park,
We wish your pool was heated.
We think it would improve our stay,
Because the beach is far away.
O RV Park, O RV park,
We wish your pool was heated!
What? Another match you say?!
Coming to you from Walton Community Park in beautiful Walton, Kentucky, our competitors are back for another disc golf match. This is a free-to-play disc golf course with 9 holes. A map is available online as well as at the start of the course, and you'll need it because hole 3 is misnumbered as hole 4, and some of the signage is missing. However, our players are going to power through it. They did decide to modify hole 6 because of their lack of distance by crossing the deeply sloped creek with two strokes, dropping a marker on shot number 3. Other than that, it was fairly normal. How did they do?
Course Result:
Halved: 2
Her Holes: 5
His Holes: 2
Course Record: Him 7 - 3 - 9 Her
Holes Record: Him 48 - 55 Her
Our players were both battling much more than each other this time, as he is still in his slump, and she had some illnesses plaguing her, and it started right away in hole one. She took a penalty and missed a putt, but a miss of his own led to them halving the hole. Holes 2 and 3 showed how much physical and mental pain were on her, as two missed putts on each one allowed him to take a two hole lead. It wouldn't last long, as she gets one back on the 4, followed by a par on the 5 to even up the match. Hole 6, although modified, saw him miss not one but TWO putts, giving her the lead. She wouldn't look back on 7, tapping in a par as he continued to struggle with distance. They would halve hole 8, and then trade missed putts with her winning hole 9 and the match. The strokes this time were a dismal 46-50 in her favor, and both of them are really hoping for a better showing next time.
It seems she is gaining quite the edge, especially in the driving game. Can he start to drive better, and maybe improve on the short game to pull it back? Or will she get over her short game woes and put these matches away for good? Until next time, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
Welcome back to another of Freedom Rolling's Brew Reviews! Today we will be heading up and down the White Mountains of New Hampshire to see what this area has to offer. As with this and all the other brew reviews, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
Off we head first to the tourist city of Conway, New Hampshire and the Tuckerman Brewing Company for their Headwall Alt Brown Ale. After many different offerings reviewed that have excited the taste buds whether by hops or malts, this particular brew seems bland in comparison. The brown color makes this at least somewhat appealing to the eye, with a slight hint of caramel to the scent. The fact that this is a neutral beer makes it acceptable to have with almost any sort of pairing, but we look forward to finding something else in the category that's a little more exciting.
On our way down the White Mountains, we make a stop in Ossipee, New Hampshire and the Hobbs Brewing Company for their Black Sheep German-style pilsener. However, there certainly isn't much that we can say that would make this seem odd, as this seems like the light, refreshing malted brew that many of us have come to enjoy. The light golden color will remind you of the sunshine outside as you enjoy this, but be ready for a hint of hops in an aftertaste that may catch you by surprise. Although we haven't had too many pilseners in this series, this brew seems a bit average, and perhaps something more exciting will come from elsewhere.
Once again back up to the Mount Washington Valley at the tourist area of North Conway, New Hampshire, this time at the Moat Mountain Brewing Company for their Kearsarge Kölsch ale. Don't let the golden color of this particular brew fool you, though, as this one isn't going to have much of a scent or taste to it. It will remind you of the average macro-brew that you find at the grocery store. Some may have adjusted their taste buds to enjoy this sort of a thing, but there are better beers out there in this country to try.
Your Internal Compass may take you to a very lovely area of New England, but if you're looking for a good brew, you may have to dig a little deeper.
Yet another menagerie is upon us!
Welcome to the City of Seven Hills, home of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. This zoo dates all the way back to the 1870's, and while it is not the oldest zoo in the nation, they do claim to have the oldest zoological building that still stands today, though once housing primates, today houses a number of reptiles. Today, this zoo has grown to 75 acres of wildlife preservation in the northern part of the city, and their hundreds of different species leaves this to be a place where many flock from around the country to visit.
Because this property is within the city, visitors will find that parking comes at a cost in addition to the entrance fees, but several of the lots are covered with high roofs. That being said, it is not recommended to have your RV in tow at this location. Consider taking a picture of the map as you walk in, as this is a fairly large park with many different things to offer, whether you take a walk through Roo Valley, experience Giraffe Encounters, or see the growth progress of the smallest surviving (at the time of writing this) hippopotamus ever recorded in history. Give yourself a couple of days to really enjoy everything this zoo has to offer, as it is an extensive collection. Just be aware that prices do change based on attendance for the day, so plan ahead.
The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is highly rated by several media outlets, and at the end of the day, we can certainly see why they were. We had come to the area in the anticipation of visiting other attractions, along with another zoo not too far away, but we are very glad that we stopped by this location. Even if you're a little ways outside of the tri-state area along the corridors of Interstates 71 or 75, whether a group, a family, or even just yourself, it will be worth the drive to see this collection.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you to the Cincinnati area, be sure to put the Zoo and Botanical Garden on your list of things to see.
What do you know, we're up to four!
Interestingly enough, we have spent a relatively massive 1,213 days on the road. This year has had much more than just a fair share of drama, to put it nicely. Whether it's rushing to find a new soul, seat of our pants planning in the northeast with a rush out to the midwest, or how where we were going to be right now went completely awry, we are thankful to all of those who have helped us out through these trying times, and here's hoping each and every one of you are doing well for this Thanksgiving.
We hope to continue to Follow our Internal Compass and be able to send a similar message at this time next year.
Time to return where we last left off!
Welcome back to General Butler State Park in Carrollton, Kentucky for the back nine at the Three Rivers Disc Golf Park. We have previously looked at this course during the front nine match. If you prefer the nine-hole variety, although there isn't a nine available, there is a modified eight that can be played, as the tees for 3 and 13 are very close to each other. Simply skip 3-12, and go right to 13 to finish out the short version of the course.
As previous, the yellow baskets were used. She dominated the front nine, but our competitors are getting a bit tired without any sort of a bottle refill at the maintenance building between holes 13 and 14. Will they even be able to make it through? Who will come out on top?
Course Result:
Halved: 4
Her Holes: 4
His Holes: 1
Course Record: Him 7 - 3 - 8 Her
Holes Record: Him 46 - 50 Her
Starting on hole ten, an unfortunate missed putt led to him getting his first and only hole win on the match. She was able to come right back on the 11. A long 12 saw our players halving the hole, while the 13 saw her take the lead once again by one stroke. He had a chance to halve hole 14, but a missed putt led to her taking this one as well. The long 15 saw another halve. Hole 16 on the downward slope gave her a chance to make par, but a missed putt meant the hole was halved at 4 strokes each. She had another chance to win a hole, but yet another missed putt meant a halving of the hole at 5 strokes each. The very long 18 saw some terrible fairway shots by him, and she was able to take this final hole. The shot total was 49-53 in her favor.
On what seemed to be a long and difficult course for our players, she has now taken the course record. Will he be able to pull it back, or has her improvements to her game going to propel her to run away with the competition? Find out next time, but until then, Follow Your Internal Compass.
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