Day Three

Day Three started out beautifully uneventful.  I decided to leave the Mammoth Cave area a day early.  Two reasons.  First, it was cold!  I only have limited warm clothes with and frankly, I want to be in shorts catching rays - not bundled like I am still in Wisconsin.  The second reason, I wanted to go to Cumbrland Falls State Park and thought it was a little stupid to travel 3 hours east only to turn aorund and drive back to Mammoth Cave.  So I set out on an adventure.  It is really a good thing I can read a map.  The falls are not 100% able to be GPS mapped.

The falls are is beautiful.  The drive was even amazing.  I wish I could have taken pictures as I drove.  Okay I won't lie - I tried. They look like crap so I will not be showing them!

 Here is a view of the falls from the lower observation deck.  So worth the three hour out of my way trip. 

 Down stream frm the falls the view is even better.  I can not imagine how awesome it would be to see sites like this daily! 

Here is the drawback to the three hour side trip.   I had pretty much mapped out my trip straight from Mammoth Cave to Florida.  I knew the route fairly well.  I knew it well enough to trust my GPS and, I had a map!  Well, when you take a side trip that leads you 150 miles east of your "planned" route.  Everything changes.  I neeed to trust my GPS.  Fastest Route selection on a GPS can take you on some pretty odd "back" roads.   And, it can take you through Atlanta, GA which no one in their right mind wants to do.


So here I am In Eufalau, Alabama on US 431.  Had a minor meltdown on the way here but made it.  I was/am tired and all the hotels I was seeing looked like something out of Pycho.  No Bates Hotels for me please!  I found a great Quality Inn with nice people and I am about 3 hours from my final destination of the sandy beaches of Florida.    The sunset photos are the plus side of Rural Route driving!

The hotel clerk gave me a room with a view of the lake and told me it was the most beautiful sunrise.  I can not wait!  Well, if I am awake!


Tomorrow is another day. Look out beach, here I come.
 Written October 7, 2012
Quality Inn Eufaula, Alabama

Day Two

It’s Dark in that there cave!

Today was full of underground adventure. I took the self-guided discovery tour of Mammoth Cave.   Did you know that Mammoth Cave was actually name by a reporter in Ohio?  I think it was Ohio.  I was eavesdropping on a tour guide.  He said that the reporter had been visiting the cave and when he got back to write his story on the cave ran short of time for a clever title to the story and came up with Mammoth Cave in Kentucky.  I may have research this to find out for sure.

This is the entrance to the self-guided tour.
The walk down (and back up) reminded me of Japan and the walks near any of the temples or well, pretty much anywhere you walk in Japan.  Always with the stairs too!  I should have counted them but I was too busy trying not to fall down them!  If I had to take I guess it is about 100 steps (each way)  You have to come back up.  The hill & path down to the cave, while beautiful, was steep.  Good thing I was wearing my Tevas!  I paced my self back up the hill with some old lady.  I figured if the grandma can do it, so can I.  Man and I out of shape!  Round is not a good shape for this adventure.   

Once inside the cave you follow paths that lead you to the great dome room.  I think that is what they call it.  It is a huge cavern. 

It is very hard to photograph but I tried. 

I continued to walk around looking at the massive underground maze I was inside.  The ranger told me there are 392 miles of cave so far mapped & discovered.  There are people there every weekend still mapping new tunnels & formations.  Can you imagine?  Another ranger stated that inside the caves was the best place to be during an earth quake.  Underground!  The caves are that stable. 

The whole day was not spent in the caves.  I did a side trip to Bowling Green to find a Best Buy.  Of all things to forget or rather mess up – I grabbed the wrong battery charger for my camera.  What a wonderful drive.  It has inspired me to follow through with plans to go to Cumberland Falls tomorrow.  To the best of my mapping skills it is about 120 miles east of where I am.  I am excited to see the falls.  My goal is to get there by noon.  There is a brochure that states if it is a sunny day you can see amazing rainbows in the mist of the falls.  Wish me luck – my GPS can not find the highway the park is on….

Breakfast and a late lunch we here at the hotel.  Breakfast in the actual restaurant, lunch was in the diner.  It killed me not to hit a drive thru when I was in Bowling Green.  They were all there, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Hardee’s and Taco Bell.  I may have to make an exception to my no chain rule however.  I need to go to a Waffle House – just because it is a Waffle House – it is kind of like a southern must eat.  And, even though I have a Sonic about 6 miles from my house, I have never eaten there and I think this trip I may have to.

It is cooler today.  A lot cooler.  I actually had to put on longer pants.  I think everyone must know I am from the north though.  I was in shorts most of the day and I am still only in capri’s with flip flops and I think real shoes might be more appropriate!  

These are from a roadside scenic overlook within the park.  It is a small example of the beauty I am surrounded with this weekend and what I have to look forward to for another day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written Oct 6, 2012 from Mammoth Cave Hotel, Mammoth Cave, KY, Day 2

Day One

Day one turned out to be both eventful and uneventful.  I managed to leave the house about 3:45am and head out.  I guess I made good time because I made it to Mammoth Cave by noon.  Stopped three times to pee J  Twice for gas & ate my munchies on the way instead of stopping for breakfast or lunch. 

Thankfully my hotel room was ready early!  I unloaded, called mom & dad and tried to get some sleep.  Alas – sleep was not my friend so I headed to the Diner for a quick lunch.  My first meal lone.  In a restaurant, This trip.  It was not a chain so I have kept my promise!  I was not super adventurous – stuck with a grilled cheese.  It was fantastic though!  I have a feeling I will be back there for lunch again. 

Food must have been what I needed because I made it back to my room and slept like a baby for about 3 hours. 

I just got done walking the Heritage Trail here at the park.  I am always amazed by the beauty of nature.  This walk was no exception.  This photo was from Sunset Point in the park.     It is kind of hazy right now so I am pretty sure there will not be a ton of color in the Sunset.  I will check again tomorrow.  It is a great path. 

These deer are about 10 feet from me.    I think they are very used to humans!  They didn’t even flinch as I approached.  I have about 5 more deer photos but I won’t bore you with them.  The plan for the rest of the night is to relax, read and relax some more.  I am sitting on the balcony of my hotel room and just enjoying the views, the fresh air and the peace & quite. 

Oh and, no internet.  No phone usually.  This is definitely a off the grid experience for me.

This was written October 5, 2012 – Mammoth Cave State Park & Hotel.

Twenty Four More Hours

Vacation time is almost here!  I am both excited & nervous about the next 9 days.  Tomorrow I leave for my first ever long solo road trip.  I am headed to Panama City Beach, Florida via a 3 day stop in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky.  Alone! 

I will be posting along the way.  As for right now, I have to get through my last day at work until October 15th, fill up my gas tank, get home, finish laundry, pack, load up the car & try to sleep! 

The plan is to leave by 4am....I want to get through Chicago before rush hour and have a late breakfast/early lunch somewhere in Indiana.  Any suggestions?  My original plan was to go to Jersey Cafe in Carmel, IN but they do not open until 11am and I think I should be hitting there around 10.  I really do not want to loose an hour waiting for them to open.  Kentucky before nightfall is the plan.

The only goal of this trip beside total relaxation is no eating at chain restaurants - other than the drive there & back-  This is tough for me...not exactly adventurous when it comes to food :-)  Baby steps!  I have a list of a few restaurants from the Food Channel & The Travel Channel that may fit into my plans.  The Jersey Cafe is one of those.  Diners, Drive Inn's and Dives is what is inspriring the try new restaurants goal.

Check in often & I will do my best to keep you entertained with my travels.

Politics Nuetral

I have noticed this year more than ever this country is so divided politically.  I fear it will be the ultimate ruin of America.  No event, no gathering no moment where two or three are gathered seems to go without some underlying political atmosphere. 

I am of the opinion that there are some things that should remain political neutral.   Take for example last night.  I was a my usual Wednesday night trivia game when the hostess decided it would be a good idea to have song suggestions based on what songs should follow a certain campaign. 

Let me preface this with a couple of things.  One - the bar I play trivia at tends to be a very liberal minded crowd.  Two, the current hot "idiot politician" Representative Todd Akin, the Republican Senate nominee from Missouri, trying to support his stance on abortion by saying that in instances of what he called “legitimate rape,” women’s bodies somehow blocked an unwanted pregnancy was a huge underlying theme of the evening in trivia team names.  Three - Rage Against the Machine & Dee Snyder both have come out asking the Romney/Ryan campaign to stop using their music. 

Now, back to songs that should follow campaigns.   The idea was to come up with songs that would be appropriate for current political candidates.  Last night was Romney/Ryan night and next week, in the spirit of giving "equal time to the other candidates" will be President Obama/Biden week.

Here is where I have trouble.  All the songs that the hostess decided to play were bashing the Romney/Ryan campaign.  Songs like Rape Me by Nirvana, I'm an Asshole by Denis Leary, Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne, Eat the Rich by Motorhead just to name a few.  I know that a positive song was requested (because I requested it) Kryptonite by Three Doors Down.  Should I therefore assume that there will be no positive recommendations for Obama/Biden week and they will all be negative?

Is it really giving equal time to both campaigns if everything you select is negative towards Romney/Ryan? Is it really too much to ask to have one public event be as political neutral as possible?  Shouldn't by all professional standards a hostess of such an event remain as political neutral as possible?

The real question is, will the hostess stick with the plan to give equal time to the Obama/Biden campaign next week or will like most things, the Romney/Ryan bashing be the solo event and all hail Obama/Biden?

Should I be getting my hymnal out to pick songs like Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art and Jesus Christ Super Star ready for the suggestion box.... all while vomiting in my mouth just a bit considering I would like to recommend songs like Been Caught Stealing, Before He Cheats and Going Under.  

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

My Dad used to always say, "don't sweat the small stuff."  The older I get them more I understand this phrase.  I say understand with a bit of trepidation.   While I understand it, I still fail to live by the concept.

In the never ending saga of small stuff starting to get to me, my sixth plumber will be coming to fix yet another round of plumbing issues involving my kitchen sink & laundry tub.  This, Lord willing will be the last.  I still have a mess in the back yard, have painting to do on the garage and of course cleaning & sorting.   All this just to put my house on the market.  I can only imagine what mt realtor & the potential new inspector will want me to do.

This is the time to though.  So while I strive to keep my Dad's words of wisdom, I will purge the petty stuff and petty the sweaty stuff.

The Art of Being Shy

Being shy is a skill.  It is an art.  I am skilled at this art.  If they gave out awards for shyness, I would win first place.  I am not sure where the awkward shyness came from but it is here.  I am trying to over come it but it doesn’t seem to be working.  If it worked, I wouldn’t need to be someone’s shadow when I am out.  If it worked I could do a presentation in front of my co-workers without getting nervous.  If it worked, I could call someone on the phone instead of using email.  I need some help on this one.   If I wasn’t so shy it would not have taken me eight years to tell the man I have a crush on, that I have a crush on him.  If I wasn’t so shy, I wouldn’t over hear comments like, “hey look it’s Sue and she isn’t with (insert name of person I shadow A LOT here).  She actually came alone”!  If I wasn’t so shy, I would tell people that I have a blog and they should read it.

More proof of my shyness?  Halloween, 2007 or 8, I decide to go as a chicken.  People say on Halloween you dress as your alter ego without even knowing it.  My alter ego is apparently a chicken.  I think that was my alter ego's way of saying I am shy. Still need more proof?  My favorite animal/reptile/collectible is a turtle.  I have four turtles tattooed on my foot.  Why a  turtle?  Because they can go into their shell when they feel the need to be safe.  The ultimate move of a shy person.

People that really know me know I am this shy.  People who first meet me probably wouldn’t notice because if I really met someone new it is because I am with all my friends and very comfortable. 

Being shy sucks.  Perhaps, I am too self conscious, not too shy.  Or are they the same?  Merriam-Webster defines shy as 1. Easily frightened, timid 2. Disposed to avoid a person or thing, 3. Hesitant in committing oneself, 4. Reserved, 5. Secluded, hidden.  All of those don’t fit me, do they?  Timid yes, reserved, yes, secluded, maybe?  Disposed to avoid?  Is that the same as passive-aggressive?  I am definitely passive aggressive, but I think that goes hand in hand with shyness.

Back to Merriam-Webster for a definition of self-conscious.  Conscious of one’s own acts or states as belonging to originating in oneself: aware of oneself as an individual.  Talk about using a word to define a word…I thought we learned not to do that in third grade.  I don’t think it is self-consciousness. 
I am not sure what to make of my shyness.  I don't think I was always this way?  My brother used to call me a social butterfly.  Social butterflies are not shy, are they?