Our Tour departed right on time for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum. As we drove up we saw the traffic and crowd control fences all over the area. We wondered what the “Hullaballoo” was. Well, we found out, the “Hullaballoo” is a 3-day music rock music festival, starting today! We finally got into the dive in front of the Museum after the bus driver moved some barricades. We received a resounding non-welcome, portending bad things to come. They took us out into the Museum garden to see the real thoroughbred they have. This was all very nice, but where’s the “walking tour of the track,” “the signature Twin Spires,” and the famous Grandstand with the Millionaire Rows promised in the Tour promotional materials? They are not happening today or any time this weekend! At this point my blood pressure went ballistic. I quietly asked the Guide about it. She said Good Sam/Affinity was informed some time ago that the Tour could not go on as planned. OK, speak to the Good Sam/Affinity folks back home. some "Museum pictures and our sole view of Churchill Downs are below.
The rest of the tour went as promised. The Museum had fine 360-degree movie on the Derby. There are many historical exhibits and you can se all past races. Katherine did a race on the simulator and won! Good for her. After the Museum we had a barbeque lunch at Mark’s Feed Store. The food was very good although we were really packed in. We had too many people in too small a facility
After lunch we drove downtown where the sights we pointed out. Our final stop was the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum in Louisville. Unfortunately we were packed in the Theater. Two full buses at one time are too many people for them to handle, just like lunch. Formerly, bats were turned by hand, now it’s all automated. Some steps are manual, especially for major league players. They get only the top quality wood. The logo and signatures are burned on individually as is the finishing where they are hand dipped in the lacquer finish.
Well, once back at the Rally I headed directly to the Tour desk where they appeared to be completely unaware of the Churchill Downs fiasco. They said they were never told of the change and agreed it was significant. I suggested a partial refund to all tour participants was in order. We’ll see what happens. My major gripe is we do not get to see Churchill Downs, which was the single most important site I came to see! Had we known we could have gone any day prior to today!!! Put this together with a call from my brother about my sister-in-laws health put me in somewhat of a foul mood. It’s amazing what a couple of “T-N-T’s” will do!
Tonight’s entertainment was Tanya Tucker. She put on a great show featuring many of her past hits. She also did several from her newest album that features county classics of the past. Her daughter also did 2 numbers without mom. She too has that great voice. After the show we ran into Walt and Lilli H. who were with us on the Great River Road Caravan.
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