Mammoth Cave in Cave City, KY

Our drive to Cave City started out drizzly but fortunately the rain stopped before we reached our home from February 28 to March 7--Cave Country RV Park.  It's a very nice campground, nicely landscaped with gravel roads and level sites.  It's very quiet here because there are only about 5 rigs.  One good thing about this campground is that it's within walking distance to several restaurants and a SONIC!  In case you don't know, I love Sonic!

On the road to Cave City

Cave Country RV Park

These happy robins serenade us all day long!

We came here to tour Mammoth Cave.  The park service offers a variety of tours from short, easy tours to a strenuous tour that covers 7 miles in 7 hours and includes 700 stairs! We decided on the Historic Tour.  It is a 2 mile 2 hours 440 stairs tour (moderate).  So off we went...

After a short safety talk, we were on our way

Down, down, down

The park ranger turned out the lights to show us how dark it is with only a lantern for light.  It was so dark you couldn't see your nose!

Looking into a deep pit

Smoke from lanterns turned the white gypsum black.  Does this look like Santa and his reindeer?

Part of the tour took us through Fat Mans Misery.  It's a narrow, skinny, wavy passageway.  You had to watch your step and the low ceiling so you wouldn't bump your head.

Lots of bending...

...and stooping

...and twisting.

Narrow at the bottom...

...with rocks jutting out into the walkway

Almost done.  But first, we have to walk up the tower!

Up one final set of stairs!

After the tour I inexplicably had some extra energy so we decided to take the 1 mile Historic Walk.  We walked by Old Guide's Cemetery.  Among the graves there is the grave of Stephen Bishop.  He was a self-educated slave who became a legendary cave guide and explorer.  He began guiding visitors at age 17 in 1838.  He was the first person to explore many miles of the vast cave.

Boy! Was I tired the next day!

A few days later we drove back to the park to try one of their bike trails. We chose an 8 mile trail that begins at the visitor center and mostly goes alongside the main road into the park. It is a gravel path with quite a few hills.  We only rode 5 miles because the hills were too much for me!

At the top of the last hill we rode up...

...because this was waiting for us.  Steep grade?  Don't think so!

The road back home the park took us by many rolling hills.  That's what I think about when I think about Kentucky...

We've enjoyed our stay in Cave City, KY.  Next stop is a 1 week stay in Georgetown, KY, just outside Lexington.  Looking forward to riding some of their rail to trail bike paths.