One thing Kentucky is known for is its extensive system of caves, and in Bowling Green we are sitting on top of some of the most impressive of these limestone wonders, which extend in all directions. The most noted and well-known is Mammoth Cave National Park, a 25-minute drive north from our place. My folks drove down to visit over this long weekend and we made visits to both Mammoth and Lost River Cave parks to do a different style of hiking.
An osage orange, which we thought was peculiar looking
This lends an idea of how damp it is in our area... beautiful moss/ lichen
Coming up from visiting a Blue Hole (explanation of one is a bit further below)
Click on these photos to make the image a bit larger. These informative markers are at Lost River Cave right on the edge of town.
The deep, deep Blue Hole
The following day at Mammoth Cave. Preparing to enter via the Historic Entrance. Goodbye sunshine.
Back in the 1800's and early 1900's this part of Mammoth Cave was used for dances, sermons, mining of gypsum, hideaways for soldiers and early tours given by slaves who new the underground passageways well. Many people left their names scratched into the limestone walls, and because of little effect from the elements, the names are well-preserved. The one above dates from 1839. Even then people were wanting to make their mark.
People also used candles to "smoke" their names into the rock
A huge drop. We had the ease of walking across this via bridge, but the first explorers used a ladder laying horizontally to crawl from one side to the other.
My folks and me. The route on our tour was lit, and quite passable. But we were offered a few opportunities to experience what a more hardcore caving experience might feel like as we squeezed through "Fat Man's Misery" and at another point when the pathway lights were turned off. There are 365 miles of discovered routes through Mammoth Cave, and according to a friendly man in the gift shop, he believes there are over 1000 miles of passageways.
After Mammoth, we stopped in nearby Pig, Kentucky to visit none other than Porky Pig's Diner for their recommended pulled pork sandwiches and catfish.
My folks marveling at the Porky Pig decor, in front of bottles of homemade BBQ and tarter sauce.
On the way back down to Bowling Green.
As I write, my folks are driving 15 hours back to northern Minnesota. I wish them safe travels and that their GPS doesn't fail them.
One thing Kentucky is known for is its extensive system of caves, and in Bowling Green we are sitting on top of some of the most impressive of these limestone wonders, which extend in all directions. The most noted and well-known is Mammoth Cave National Park, a 25-minute drive north from our place. My folks drove down to visit over this long weekend and we made visits to both Mammoth and Lost River Cave parks to do a different style of hiking.
An osage orange, which we thought was peculiar looking
This lends an idea of how damp it is in our area... beautiful moss/ lichen
Coming up from visiting a Blue Hole (explanation of one is a bit further below)
Click on these photos to make the image a bit larger. These informative markers are at Lost River Cave right on the edge of town.
The deep, deep Blue Hole
The following day at Mammoth Cave. Preparing to enter via the Historic Entrance. Goodbye sunshine.
Back in the 1800's and early 1900's this part of Mammoth Cave was used for dances, sermons, mining of gypsum, hideaways for soldiers and early tours given by slaves who new the underground passageways well. Many people left their names scratched into the limestone walls, and because of little effect from the elements, the names are well-preserved. The one above dates from 1839. Even then people were wanting to make their mark.
People also used candles to "smoke" their names into the rock
A huge drop. We had the ease of walking across this via bridge, but the first explorers used a ladder laying horizontally to crawl from one side to the other.
My folks and me. The route on our tour was lit, and quite passable. But we were offered a few opportunities to experience what a more hardcore caving experience might feel like as we squeezed through "Fat Man's Misery" and at another point when the pathway lights were turned off. There are 365 miles of discovered routes through Mammoth Cave, and according to a friendly man in the gift shop, he believes there are over 1000 miles of passageways.
After Mammoth, we stopped in nearby Pig, Kentucky to visit none other than Porky Pig's Diner for their recommended pulled pork sandwiches and catfish.
My folks marveling at the Porky Pig decor, in front of bottles of homemade BBQ and tarter sauce.
On the way back down to Bowling Green.
As I write, my folks are driving 15 hours back to northern Minnesota. I wish them safe travels and that their GPS doesn't fail them.
2 comments:
Glad to see you didn't visit Dinosaur World yet http://www.dinoworld.net/ in nearby Cave City. Save that one for my visit please. (also please ask Josh to wear a Noke t-shirt next time he strikes his model poses for you)
Fun pics!! Isn't it Mammoth that was discovered to connect to cave entrances in southern Ohio?? I went to the Ohio side when I was little and remember thinking it was SO COOL.
And who told you that was a black walnut?? It's an osage orange, or I'll eat it! :)
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