Gettin' Lucky in Kentucky...

We drove 6 hours to Kentucky to meet up with some friends to see all that Kentucky had to offer! We started out in Louisville and made our way to Lexington along the Bourbon Trail on Friday. I'm not much of a bourbon drinker (I know that's a crime in the south!!), but we had an awesome time. I would definitely recommended going to a couple distilleries if you are ever up that way! (Please excuse my college sorority anorak. It was raining and although I graduated several years ago, I still have not bought a rain jacket!!)

Heaven Hill Distillery 

Woodford Reserve

Lexington is definitely a basketball town. We got to the bars on Game Day and only saw Gator fans! I do have to say that the fans were probably some of the nicest fans that I have ever met. Very gracious!!

The bar we went to even had a beer pong table in it and drinks were unbelievably cheap! I forgot what it was like to live in a college town. (Although I don't know if you can technically describe Lexington as that. The town was pretty big!!) 

We made our way to the stadium and had a great time at the game!! (Unbeknownst to us, it would be our last win for several weeks!!) 

We ran into my dad and his friends (it was their guy's trip for the year) several times and I don't think I took a single picture with him. Sorry dad!!

What have we been up to...

Fall for us means LOTS of traveling! We have been to Kentucky, Gainesville, Auburn, and Jacksonville for games. We love our Gators even when we are having a couple of down years :) Our goal is to visit every SEC school and we are getting pretty close to doing that. (Now we have to add Texas A&M and Missouri ?!? to that list--I'm not sure what I think of that yet)  Lots of posts to follow...

Best Time of the Year!!

Football season has begun and that means lots of time around the TV at the Shelton house. We are excited to see what this season brings!!

  Go Gators!!!

Rednecks?

Mike is from Chapel Hill, Tennessee, a small town outside of Nashville. We go back every year for The Super Pull of the South and to visit with family and to catch up with old friends. His brother and cousin came up with their spouses and we spent all of our time BBQing and visiting.

Me & Mike

Whitney & Brandon

The tractor pull attracts about 10,000 people annually and is held just outside the high school. "Pullers" from around the country fix up tractors and 4-wheel drive trucks and try to pull a weighted sled 300 feet. This is probably the loudest thing I have EVER been to...earplugs are a must!! 

By the end of the night we are usually covered in dirt. (We have to sit up close so we don't miss all the action!)

We even ended one night watching a couple in matching Hooters shirts get in a fight with another couple (one girl even getting thrown down the bleachers) all while their little boy sat and watched not frightened at all. :) We love this little redneck adventure! 

Goodbyes...

We have been saying a lot of them lately. The hardest one for Mike, probably, happened this week.

Old Blue finally died. (Sorry for the blurry pictures, Mike took them!)

We knew this day was coming, but we weren't expecting it so soon. We were hoping to wait one more year! I guess 12 1/2 years is long enough!!

In May, we replaced the transmission. June, the battery and some belt. And last week, the power steering went out and the truck began to overheat and a bunch of lights on the dash came on all while Mike was driving to work.

So, let me introduce you to the newest member of the Shelton household...Whitey? (We're still working on a name!!)

We are very excited and looking forward to lots of adventures in this car. (Hopefully, not 12 1/2 years worth!) 

Here they are side-by-side!

More pictures to follow...

Bahamas: Part 2

While there we managed to find the Bahamian S.W.A.T. team. Kind of scary because they had on bullet proof vests and sawed off shot guns. We managed to stay FAR away from them!!

We enjoyed the view of the lighthouse, "live music" (a Bahamian DJ), and dinner at Captain Jacks.

After 3 days of hassling by the golf cart company, we gave up our and switched to bikes for the remainder of the trip.   

We decided to a Tour-de-Abaco on our way back to the house..

First stop- On Da Beach 

Notice the wind starting to pick up...

Next stop-Abaco Inn

 By now it was threatening to rain and the wind and waves had increased drastically! (Always fun when you have at least a mile left on your bike ride!)

 The rain let up enough for us to go to the Goombay Festival at Sea Spray that night.

 We had entertainment by the Shake n' Rake band and KB

It's hard to tell, but he is playing a saw.

The main event was the limbo man...

Warming up!

Safely making it under the
 lowest bar.

And now comes the fire (and lighting a cigarette while limbo-ing!) 

 Shelley and I ran into the guys as they were getting ready for the parade!

 The Junkanoo Parade!!

The weather our last day was not very nice at all!! But it is hard to complain when you are in the Bahamas!!

We went to breakfast and came out to see our bikes had blown over from the wind and a passing storm.

I was getting stir-crazy, so I convinced Mike to ride down to Tahiti Beach.

Taking our bikes back (or practicing for a future tri?!?)

Even with bad weather, these are my favorite views in the world!!

 Dinner at Sea Spray on our last night :(

Saying good-bye to Peace 'n Rice..

Co-pilot Mike taking us home.

 It was great to have a break from every day life! We look forward to many more Bahamian trips!!