Clyde Outside

Sometimes the universe lines up just right and you find yourself in the middle of something extraordinary. That’s what happened to me in Frankfort, Kentucky.

I’m Clyde Outside, and I’ve been car camping across America in my trusty Honda Accord, I call it my Hondaminium and within it I am on a mission to experience the hidden beauty of this country.

This past week in Kentucky was unforgettable.

Car Camping in Boone National Forest

For three days, I lived among the oaks, hickories, and maples of Daniel Boone National Forest. Nestled in the heart of eastern Kentucky, the July weather was hot, but the deep shade of the trees offered some reprieve. I cooked my meals under the trees’ green canopy, breathed in the damp forest air, and wondered at the red sandstone formations all around.

The Red River Gorge is a hiker’s paradise. This is a wonderland of towering cliffs, narrow hollows, and sweeping vistas. Trails wind through the forest, leading to massive natural arches carved over millennia by wind and water. Natural Bridge was my favorite. Natural Bridge is a sandstone span standing 65 feet high and stretching 78 feet across. Walking atop it felt like stepping across the back of some ancient sleeping beast. I reached the top of Natural Bridge just as the sun was setting. The golden glow lit up the sky causing a rainbow after the recent thunderstorms.

Through the Nada Tunnel

Leaving Red River Gorge required passing through the legendary Nada Tunnel. Nada Tunnel is a single-lane, 900-foot-long former railroad tunnel carved straight through solid sandstone rock. It’s dark, damp, and more than a little nerve-wracking to drive through, but it’s a rite of passage for anyone exploring this part of the state.

Arriving in Frankfort: Kentucky’s Capital Surprise

My journey took me west to Frankfort, Kentucky’s often-overlooked state capital. Most people guess Louisville or Lexington when you ask them about the capital, but the correct answer is, always, Frankfort. It’s a charming town, perched along the Kentucky River, and steeped in political and pioneer history.

The Kentucky State Capitol, built in 1910, is a Beaux-Arts masterpiece modeled after French neoclassical design. Although its grand rotunda was hidden under scaffolding during my visit, I could still sense the pride and architectural ambition behind its marble columns and sweeping staircases.

The Sacred Stillness of Frankfort Cemetery

No visit to a historic city is complete for me without a walk through its cemetery. I’m drawn to these quiet places, not just as a researcher but as someone fascinated by the stories carved into headstones. Frankfort Cemetery did not disappoint.

High atop a bluff, the cemetery overlooks both the Capitol building and the muddy flow of the Kentucky River. Here lies Daniel Boone, frontiersman and folk hero, whose monument watches over the capital city he helped shape. The view from his resting place feels intentional, even poetic. It struck me as a gentle reminder of the enduring legacy of those who carved paths through the wilderness.

Kayaking the Kentucky River and a Bridge Collapses

I launched my kayak from the river’s edge with hopes of spotting wildlife. Particularly, I was hoping to find a water snake or queen snake or maybe even a copperhead.

The current was swift, the sun brutal, but the world was calm, until it wasn’t.

I paddled past an old sunken houseboat, rotting in the shallows. I imagined its glory days filled with friends laughing on the deck, music echoing off the water. But now it sat crooked and submerged, a ghost of its former self. Pride turned wreckage. A story as old as time.

JUST as I turned my kayak away from the sunken houseboat, I heard a loud “BOOM”.

A thunderous crash echoed across the river. I watched in disbelief as an entire roadway bridge collapsed into the river right before my eyes.

This was the Broadway Bridge in downtown Frankfort. Rust and concrete exploded into mist as it fell. Waves surged toward me, lifting and dropping my kayak like a bath toy. It was disorienting, surreal, even terrifying for a moment. But as I paddled closer, I realized I hadn’t witnessed a disaster. Instead, I had stumbled into a planned demolition. Emergency crews lined the riverbanks, calmly monitoring the situation. I just happened to be in the exact right place at the exact right time.

A Shoutout and a Reflection

Before heading back, I raced a passing riverboat to the launch dock, just for fun. As I hauled my kayak from the water, I met three new friends, Danny, Trevor, and Juan. They were fishing at the edge of the Kentucky River. We traded stories about snakes and the heat, and I wished them well on their adventures.

All in all, it was a week filled with wild timing, unexpected beauty, and small, serendipitous moments that I’ll never forget. Sometimes, my timing isn’t so bad after all.

Until next time,
This is Clyde Outside, signing off.