Day Six (Loving Kentucky!!)

We had a great day! We didn't have to get in the car once! We finally stretched our legs. Everything is so green here. There are these bugs, I haven't actually seen them, but they are so loud. They sound like giant sprinklers. As you walk down a path, the ones right by you stop making the noise, but then they start again as soon as you have passed. They are in the trees above and in the grass. It is a sound I have never heard.

After getting a good nights sleep in our cute cabin, we walked over the lodge and had breakfast and then went to join our tour group for our 4.5 hour, 4 mile cave hike. It was really fascinating. Our guide, Ranger Rick, was one of the best tour guides we have ever had. He told stories, gave facts, and told a lot about the history of the caves, the area, and the national park.

After the tour, we gathered our dirty laundry and headed over to the campgound to wash it. Now we are in our room planning our trip for tomorrow. We have alreade changed our plans and are excited about what's coming next. Stay tuned.

Ranger Rick. There is just something about a guy who spends his life giving cave tours.
Graffiti inside the cave. This was done sometime in the 1800's using candles. They would hold them up close to the ceiling and the black from the smoke would stain the rock. These were found during the removal of the black soot caused by the lanterns they used to use to light the tours.

One hour into the tour, we stopped for lunch in the Snowball room, deep in the heart of the cave.

A view from the tour.

Another view from the tour.

Another view of the tour.

I was starting to think we were the only ones going on this tour. Eventually about 25 other people showed up.

A shot of the cottages. These were built between 1936 and 1940 by the CCC, who rebuilt most of the trails inside the caves. Our cottage reminds us of the cottage where I lived in Salem with the big wood windows and doors.

Taking a break from hiking all around the park (let me tell you that this humidity is great for someone who usually has no body to their hair. I could spend hours at home and not get my hair to have this much body!