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| Campsite Mammoth Cave National Park |
After so many days dry camping its always a good thing to have hook-ups at your campsite. Leaving Oliver Springs, TN. was bitter-sweet as we had made new friends and had a great time on the trails. We got wet, we got muddy and we got mosquito bites. With only spotty solar or charging our batteries by driving, there are a lot of chores involved with dry camping, including packing in water for cooking and cleaning. Heading up to Kentucky was a welcome change (electrical hook-ups so we thought), Mammoth Cave National Park, is a beautiful drive while exploring the Kentucky back roads. Lush and green, tree covered winding roads we traversed through ranches and farmlands. Trying to reserve a campsite through Reserve America, is like pulling teeth in so many ways. Restrictions on when you can actually reserve a site (even when available), so what ends up happening is that you take your chances. That's what we did after driving 4hrs to the ranger station at Mammoth Cave National Park. What seemed like very few sites available, was first come first serve.
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| wooded path after rain |
Pulling up early that afternoon we hurried to the ranger station to secure a site. The ranger directed us to 2 different camp ground loops. We felt relived and pissed at the same time. Reserve America made it sound as if there were only 1 or 2 sites, however, in reality there were over 50 sites available "without power". We selected one close to the rest rooms. Water was a short skip away. $1.50 hot showers, laundry and general store were a turkey trot away. Sweet!!
After making camp in our non-electric site and pulling out our soaked gear from the Smokey Mountains we began to dry out. Washers and dryers were welcome and we made great use of them. Then it started to rain, just as we were drying out, we got wet again.
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| Only cave pic with enough light real rock ceiling |
Mammoth Cave National Park is all about tours whether self-guided or guided tours. They have a plethora of choices, all with their own brand of challenging limitations. We chose the "Historic Tour" a 2 hr, 2 mile walking tour with a total of 440 stairs including 150 at the Dome. Our Kentucky Park Ranger guide was knowledgeable, funny and a great story teller. We enjoyed his theatrics as he told stories of old about the cave and people who ventured into the depths of this Mammoth Cavern. Mammoth Cave was fully established as a National Park in 1941. Only 40 miles of passage way was mapped at that time. Today its the largest cave system in the United States with over 430 miles mapped and more each year as new places of interests are explored.
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| Old Hickory tree |
The Historic entrance of this cave was thrilling on its own as you approached it you were suddenly bathed with a cool rush of dry air as it engulfed your entire space. The constant cold dry air emanating from this cavernous tomb was enough to get your mind ready for what lie ahead. Donning jackets we entered with about 50 people and were schooled on what and how to act if an emergency happened. The deep space was enormous, cut out from ancient under ground rivers that flowed for thousands of years. Spectacular in its formation and intriguing in its vast unknown end, Mammoth Caves is a place to visit for sure.
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| Doyel Valley lookout |
We needed to get our exercise in, so the next day we went on a bike ride. Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike Trail was well marked with hills, valleys and trotting wild turkeys. It led us to a wonderful over-look of Doyel Valley. From there we headed to Furlong Cemetery. We never made it. Rain started and it dumped. We tried to wait it out. The rain never stopped and once again we were soaked to the core. Taking our lumps we headed back wet and disappointed that our ride ended so short. Of course we took some weather precautions at base camp but being wet sucked!
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| Little guy eating grass |
Memorial Day weekend was quickly approaching and we had to get our butts into gear. We had our sights on going north to
Kentucky Horse Park just outside of
Lexington, KY.
Dang, Reserve America again!!
See Y'all on the road.
🚙.......
