Trip 5: Day 15 (Louisville & Bloomington)

View from the 12th floor of the Galt

 It was a rough morning. But it was a bit of a rough night. The rain kept going. I stood out on Bardstown Road in the rain chatting with a guy while probably about as sloshed as the street was. I never need that last beer, but I got it. One more Great Lakes draft. I was bought a beer by a Victory Brewing rep. I guess they've only recently entered Kentucky. I talked the business side with him for quite a while, and he was nice enough to humor me (and to buy me a beer). But I don't think it was even those three beers at Holy Grale that did me in; I think it was the bourbon. Pappy's, to be precise. I randomly walked into Highlands Tap Room, a new bar for me, and discovered a very formidable bourbon selection, which included two varieties of the coveted brand: 12-year & 20-year, priced at $15 and $25 per glass, respectfully. I figured that I may never come across this again. It's become so rare that there's quite a black and gray market that's developed for it. There was a case that made national news in October 2013 where several cases were stolen straight from back of the Buffalo Trace Distillery where it's produced. Bottles can sell for over $1000. $15 may sound high for a glass, but it's about par for some of the higher-end bourbons.

Bourbon selection at Highlands Tap
Room. Pappy's is on the top shelf at
the right.

And it was worth it, I think. The bourbon I ended up buying at the liquor store will probably be good, but this is what I was really looking for. Everything was perfect about it.
I finished off with style, with a $1.75 can of PBR, and moved on down the street.

View from the Galt House

Blooming cherry tree in Highlands

The bus was easy enough. I rushed over there after I had noticed my ticket said 10:15 instead of 10:30 but, when I got there, there was no bus. Quite a few people in the bus station, most of them taking Megabus to Cleveland. There were also likely Greyhound passengers. It's a pretty small station.
Aside from two Amish who got off in Orleans, everyone seemed to be going to Indianapolis, which is silly since this is a very indirect and more time-consuming route between the two cities. When the Amish got off, two more, similar in age, got on, though the woman was much more talkative than the first. In Salem, the Amish man had gotten off at a Mc Donald's pit stop. I thought he was going for a bathroom but, when he came out, he had two strawberry milkshakes in his hands.
I have a picture of the bus, but it's on my phone and I can't get it to the computer right now.