Prior to leaving for vacation two weeks ago, I expressed my absolute certainty in this space that somewhere along the route we would pay $4 a gallon for gasoline. As it turns out, my certainty was only 80 percent accurate. We paid $4.50 ($4.49.9, to be precise) at a Mobil station on the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut. Yeah, I know there's a name for people who buy gas on the Merritt, but please don't call me that.

Elsewhere, prices ranged from $3.89 (in Eastern Kentucky) to $4.07 (just about everywhere along the route home from Kentucky through Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island).

As for the song in heart that an earlier column noted I always bring home from these trips to the Kentucky hills, it's not there. In its place is a noise remembered as something like the distant sound of a siren on a new police car. The 17-year cicadas had returned, and returned loudly. On reflection, I suspect that I also came back from Kentucky in 1991 and 1974 with buzz in ears rather than song in heart.

For all the beauty I find in these trips to Knott County, Kentucky - deep in the foothills of the Cumberland Plateau or, if you prefer, in the heart of hillbilly nation - I have been reluctant to recommend the area as a tourist destination. There has been far too little to do, unless you share my affection for sitting on a front porch watching the coal trucks drive by.

But that has been changing. The annual Knott County Trail Ride, held for the second time last month, brought in several hundred horses and an estimated 4,000 riders and spectators. An abundance of abandoned mining roads also make the area popular for four-wheeling. Meanwhile, elk relocated to the area in a government program several years ago have multiplied into the largest herd east of the Mississippi, bringing hunters in season and elk peepers out of season. To be watched closely for possible applications in the Attleboro area is a craftmaking initiative in Hindman, a city of about 800 that is the seat of Knott County. The local branch of Hazard Community College has been transformed into the Kentucky School of Crafts. One abandoned store on Hindman's main street has been turned into studio space for artisans, while another is a gallery for their wares. There are plans on the boards to transform another store into a center for Internet craft sales.

For the past 10 years I've taken the opportunity to attend Appalachian Family Folk Week at the Hindman Settlement School. It was quite amazing this year to note that children who I watched with amusement in 1998 as they acted out the old folk song "Froggie Went A'Courting," have grown into teens and young adults who are now competent players, singers and cloggers in their own right.

Remembering J.J.

Closer to home, word just came in this afternoon that a benefit concert will be held 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at City Oasis in Norton to aid the family of John Jeffrey Sr., who died May 28 at the age of 43. A $10 donation will be requested.

A guitarist and drummer, Jeffrey fronted Johnny J. and the Turmoils, and had been a member of the Hackers.

Members of those two bands are on the lineup, along with the Blue FOs and Itchy Fish. Drummer Dave Raposa also tells me several special guests are expected to come to pay tribute to Jeffrey, who in his day was always one of the first to volunteer to play at a benefit.

The concert will be preceded by a memorial motorcycle ride, meeting at the Oasis at 4 p.m. and leaving at 4:30 before returning for the concert. Other details about the ride are available from Jeff "Turtle" Todaro at 1-508-824-5518.

MARK FLANAGAN (mflanagan@thesunchronicle.com) is Opinion page editor of The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0335.