October 24, 2025 (Fri.) – Troll Hunts, Bourbon Trails, and Campground Burgers.

Lynn was up early at 6:45 AM, greeted by a brisk 36°F morning. The chill was worth it, though—by 7:45, she was rewarded with a beautiful pink sunrise. Kirk rolled out of bed around 9:00 AM, and the plan for the day was to meet up with the Ritters and head to Bernheim Forest & Arboretum to track down the three Dambo Trolls scattered across the grounds and see the Tin Man sculpture.

We had planned to meet at 10:00 AM, but Rozanne wasn’t feeling well—dizzy and nauseous. Lynn, all too familiar with those symptoms, knew the best remedy was rest and minimal movement. So the Ritters decided to sit out the morning activities and focus on recovery, with hopes of meeting up later in the day.

We headed out around 10:00 AM for Bernheim Forest & Arboretum in Clermont, KY, just a 20-minute drive away. It was still chilly but sunny—perfect weather for a walk. Admission was $15 per car, though the attendant nearly forgot to give us our $5 change from a $20 bill. He kept cheerfully wishing us a great day (about 3 times!) until we gently reminded him. With that sorted, we grabbed a map from the Visitor Center and set off. The map marked all three trolls, plus the Tin Man installation Lynn was excited to see. The trolls were within a 2-mile walking loop, while the Tin Man required a short 2-mile drive. This trip would make our 14th troll (11 Trolls, 3 Magic Mirrors/Portals).

The walk through the arboretum was beautiful—lakes, colorful fall trees, and charming little bridges made it a peaceful and scenic outing. We wrapped up around 1:00 PM and decided it was time for a little bourbon adventure.

Luckily, James B. Beam Distilling Co. was just five minutes down the road. We didn’t have tour reservations, but the next available one was at 2:40 PM—just enough time to grab lunch at their on-site restaurant. Kirk skipped a drink with lunch, saving himself for the tasting tour and a visit to the tasting room afterward. The tour itself was excellent—informative, engaging, and full of history. Even Lynn joined in on the tastings. She’s not a bourbon lover yet, but she didn’t hate it either! The tour included quite a bit of walking, and to top it off, Kirk got to bottle his own Knob Creek 9 Single Barrel Reserve. After a little too much shopping in the gift store, we were officially worn out.

Later in the afternoon, Cary reached out—Rozanne was feeling better, and they stopped by around 5:30 PM with all the fixings to make burgers. Cary manned the grill, and we enjoyed another evening of great food and even better company. Gigi came along too, once again proving to be the sweetest, most well-behaved little dog.

We wrapped up the evening around 9:30 PM, full and happy. It was another great reunion for Kirk and Cary, and we’re already looking forward to the next time our paths cross—hopefully somewhere else down the road.

Weather – High 62*, Low 35*. Winds 3-9 mph. No rain, no humidity.

Traffic – None.

Food – Jim Beam and Cary’s burgers – excellent.

Notable – Bernheim Arboretum, Dambo Trolls, Tin Man, Jim Beam Distillery, Bourbon, Reuniting with friends.