Laurel Branch Campground is located on the shore of Rough River Lake in south central Kentucky. The 5,100-acre lake is a hometown paradise for visitors who love the outdoors and more than two million visitors camp, picnic, fish, swim, boat and relax on the lake shore each year.
After our less than pleasant stay at Blue Heron Campground, Laurel Branch Campground was literally a breath of fresh air! When I arrived at the gate to check in, I was greeted, by name, by the Camp Hosts, Angie & her husband, Greg! 😊 I was the only tent camper still due to arrive that day, so they knew it was me. I always read the reviews for a campground before making my reservations. Many of the reviews mentioned Angie by name because of her friendly, welcoming personality & the pride she takes in the maintenance of the campground. The reviews were accurate! The campground is well maintained, the restrooms are kept spotless, the HOT showers were fabulous & they monitor the campgrounds by driving through several times a day. It was nice to feel safe again after our previous NO Camp Host, exploding hot glass/bear/copperhead snake experience. 😳
This was the view from our campsite. We had a huge open area between us & the lake. Behind us were several large campers & mobile homes, so it was nice to have this view.Our tent (Thank you, Lowell 🤗) is 7’x8′, so this photo shows the size of our neighbors. This wasn’t even the largest one. Some of the mobile homes we’re camping with look like rockstar band buses!In between enjoying the fresh air & sunshine & researching future destinations, I’m having fun making crafts. I was craving fresh corn on the cob, so I bought 1 ear to try steaming it. It was delicious! I’ve been using my small pot for a lot of things. I heat water for my coffee & rice in it. I also steam canned corn & green beans in it.While the corn was steaming, I made a cornhusk doll! I learned how to make them at a Native American powwow many years ago, so it only took a few minutes.I was hoping to buy fresh produce from farmstands on a regular basis, but they’re almost non-existent. 🥺 Some areas run farmers markets every Saturday & a few on Wednesdays, so I guess they don’t bother with roadside stands. In my quest for fresh produce, I drove an hour to Trunnell’s Farm Market in Utica, KY. https://www.trunnellsfarmmarket.com It’s a fairly small place, but they carry a good selection of fresh produce, some local meats & cheeses, honey, local jams & jellies & garden plants & gifts. I had a long chat with the gentleman that greeted me upon arrival. He’d noticed my license plate, so he asked if I was lost. 😉 After a lengthy conversation about my journey, my background in the 4-H Club & owning a flower shop, he asked me if I’d consider working there! They were looking for employees to work in the farmstand & accompanying amusement area. He said they’d probably even let me live on the property, if I had my own RV! Wow! I politely declined his interesting offer, bought my produce, ate a delicious fresh peach 🍑 slushy & drove back to the campground, smiling all the way. 😊I thought I was in a Time Machine! The price of gas here was the lowest in the area AND they had a payphone! I took the photos quickly, just as I was pulling out of the parking lot. I didn’t realize until later that the payphone was no longer functioning. 🙄I bought a freshly made Monkey Bread at Trunnell’s. It was delicious with applesauce & iced coffee for breakfast the next morning. Maddie’s pleading eyes eventually broke me down & I shared some bread with her. You try saying NO to that face! 😍Little Dave’s Restaurant was too close to the campground 😁 & I became a semi-regular for breakfast. This breakfast plus a large coffee was delicious & less than $7.00 total! There are 2 eggs & 3 strips of bacon buried under the perfectly cooked home fries. By the 3rd day, I called to place my order & was asked if I wanted “the regular”? Yes, please! Disclaimer: I didn’t go there every day. I think I went 4 or 5 times in the almost 2 weeks I was in the area! 🤷♀️We had a few miserably hot, hazy & humid days, so I made a shelter for Queen Maddie. 💕 On the really uncomfortable days, we both sat in the car for an hour or two, running the air conditioner. It wasn’t very fuel efficient, but I wasn’t going to risk heat stroke for either one of us. ☀️For some reason, we didn’t have many fabulous sunsets here. I think it was because there were almost no clouds, which always make for a better sunset.There weren’t many outstanding sunsets at Laurel Branch, but this one was colorful & different! My last stop as we were leaving the campground was at the dumpster. I almost stepped on this Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, flapping helplessly on the hot sidewalk.It’s wings were all tattered & torn.When I picked it up to move it to safety, I thought about putting it out of it’s misery. 🥺 I walked back to my car with it on my hand, trying to make a decision. It was a very hot day & I didn’t want it to suffer. As I sat there with it in the air conditioned car, I put a little water on my finger & it drank it! After a few minutes, it perked up & crawled from my hand onto my top. At that point, I realized that this beautiful butterfly was still trying to live. I walked it over to a shady area of the parking lot & carefully placed it on some tall grass. Mom & I both love(d) butterflies. I know this was a sign from her, saying hello. 🦋
On May 2, 2021, I departed from Massachusetts in my 2017 Ford Edge (Breezy Blue) with my 13.5 year young pup, Maddie, to fulfill a lifelong dream of a road trip across America. Our departure was delayed by a month, but we're making up for lost time now! My goal is to be out and about for a year.
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4 thoughts on “Laurel Branch Campground in McDaniel, Kentucky”
Where's Wendy? Livin' in the Edge! 
Butterfly whisperer! 😁
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I’m very happy with that title.
Thank you! 🦋
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Love the care you showed the butterfly, and it’s connection to your mom!
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That beautiful butterfly 🦋 was breaking my heart, but at least with my help, it wasn’t going to suffer longer & die on a hot sidewalk. 💝
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