The ASPers experienced a beautiful start to their day at The University of Kentucky's Arboretum.  Even traveling through some heavy rain later in the morning couldn't deter them from making the traditional stop at a Wal-Mart for final necessities and the usual impulse purchases. (Giant green ball and beef jerky, anyone?) Everyone is settling in to the center in Jeff, Kentucky which is located in Perry County.

The group's home base for this week has an interesting history. Formerly an abandoned high school, the facility later housed a middle school before being purchased by the local coal mining company.  Now used partly for company offices, the second part of the building still has classrooms and a cafeteria.  An addition to the building houses the band room which is where some of the group is bunking.   The wallpaper in the room is "vintage" in the very worst sense of the word.  You'll remember from Saturday's email that the building is air-conditioned (hurray!) but has no showers (boo!).  The showers are located in a recreation center in Hazard, the county seat, which is about 10 minutes away.  I imagine some elaborate van pooling arrangement and shower pecking order will develop over the next few days.  You and I will look forward to hearing about it.