The Plan:
Take our first real vacation in at least two years. K's brother was to be married near Newark, New Jersey. We would fly from Phoenix to Louisville to visit with K's family for a few days. Then, we'd drive a rented vehicle to New Jersey, attend the wedding, and drive back to Kentucky for another short visit and the return flight to Phoenix.
The Devilish Details:
Sometime early in the vacation planning, we decided to take the four grand-daughters (aged 4, 5, 7 and 11) with us. With them in-tow, we'd make the trip an educational tour by traveling historical routes and making a stop-over in, among other places, Washington, D.C.
Next, the PT visits started popping up in our itinerary. I'm not sure how they started, or by whom (ask L.), but before we knew it we'd planned a 7 day route that included stops in Shelbyville, Ky. (PT), Washington, DC. (tourism), Newark, NJ. (wedding), Allentown, Pa. (PT), and Dayton (PT) and Cincinnati, Oh (PT).
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K&L's PT Tour - Prolog:
With an extravagence way beyond our normal life-style we hired a limo to the airport. K knew a Limo owner whose prices were just slightly above those of the local Super Shuttle 's. It was a surprise for the girls and started things off with the proverbial bang.
Our (Delta Airlines) flight from Phoenix to Louisville was uneventful and on time - arriving just before midnight!!! However, our luggage never got off the plane and ended up in Minneapolis! And, Budget Car Rental didn't have the mini-van we'd reserved a month earlier so they 'upgraded' us to a gas guzzling 13 passenger van.
The girls were finally tucked in about 2:00am:
Jump forward 20 hours - we've finally received our luggage and traded in the huge van for an SUV that is barely big enough for the six of us and our luggage.
During the visit with K's family, we visited the Fort Harrod restoration in Harrodsburg, Ky;
and prepared Easter Eggs;
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K&L's PT Tour - Chapter 1: Visiting Catcrazylady
Finally, we hit the road in our overstuffed SUV. Our first destination was Catcrazylady in Shelbyville, Ky. By now we had been away from our gagle(?) of cats for almost a week (and lost Porch as well). We were in dire need of cats to pet.
We pulled up in front of Catcrazylady's home to find Lisa, Joe and a number of cats just inside the front door to their home. As soon as they saw all of us spill forth from the car they closed and locked the doors and ran to the back of the house to call the local cops. Well, not really - but I would have were I in their place.
Lisa and Joe were great hosts who made our visit very pleasant and entertaining. Conversations started immediately, as though we were all old friends. Leroy (the cat) seemed to be the designated greeter cat. He introduced himself to all of us and generously allowed us to satisfy our need for cat caressing and petting:
The famous Magoo was also one of the first to greet us. He was our first experience with a blind cat and to watch him navigate you'd never believe he was sightless. He was as friendly and trusting as any sighted cat we've encountered. The fact that his coloring was pretty similar to our recently departed Porch made his attentions even more pleasing.
Lisa and Joe were great to talk with.
As they related their cat experiences, the similarities to our own were remarkable. Its no wonder cat people so easily converse; they've so much in common via their cats. Well, except for the story Lisa told about how she had to squat in the middle of the street trying to coax a cat by scratching the surface with a stick. Or, the racoon that visits her front porch. Its always nice to hear the local 'flavor' of living among/with cats (and other animals).
They were very patient and trusting to let our girls roam throughout their home in search of other cats. Some cats let the girls pet them, others stayed just out of reach.
Beautiful Stubby
Abigail
And Pete (prudently) decided a peak through the barely opened door was as much as he wanted to do with us:
After visiting for about an hour and a half our schedule required us to leave. We owe Lisa and Joe for their warm hospitality and good company. They're great people and we heartily recommend any other PTer's travelling near Shelbyville, Kentucky should give them a call. We hope some day to be able to host them in our Arizona home.
We'll try to post the next chapter in a few days...
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Be happy there at the Rainbow Bridge 
(I have no patience! 
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