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