Day 27 Mammoth Cave Day

With our base in Cave City we headed out for the long 15 minute drive to Mammoth Cave. We arrived about 30 minutes before our tour started, so we got the kids started on their Junior Ranger books. Before we even started the tour our topic was about ghosts in the cave. Sora was thinking that she might see a ghost. Nakai says "what if the ghost sucks your soul?" They talked about ghosts for a few minutes until we got to the cave. Our tour started at 10:00 and it was different than other caves we have been in for various reasons. First of all there were 120 people, a lot more than others. Second, there weren't all of the stalagmites and stalactites and other formations like other caves. Third, it was an old mining area for saltpeter (ingredient for gunpowder). This third element made it look like a huge mine tunnel and similar looking to a subway tunnel. The Mammoth cave system has over 400 miles worth of tunnels. It was really cool because of how big it was. It was amazing. The tour was cool. There were a few spots were even Sora had to duck. Her favorite part was a space called Fat Man's Misery. It was a spot that was very narrow for about 100 yards long that snaked through the rock.

After the tour the kids finished their Jr. Ranger books and received their 10 badge over the past few years and 5th of this summer. After finishing Junior Ranger Book we went to a program for Junior Rangers. We thought it was going to be packed, but Sora and Nakai were the only 2 kids there for it, They did a game of win, lose or draw/Pictionary game about the park. They got some stickers for playing. It was cool to have that one on one attention.

 

 

After that we had lunch than went on a short hike through the forest area. That was pretty cool because we were walking through the tall poplar and maple trees. We saw a couple of fawns hanging out near the trail. We also walked down to an area called the Mammoth Sink. This area is full of sink holes that drain down into the cave area. As we drove away from the park we saw about 12 turkeys along the road back to Cave city. We stopped at a Fudge shop before the hotel and they have Bourbon, Irish cream, Tequila, Rum, Coffee Brandy, and Orange Tequila fudges. We bought an Irish Crème and a Tequila Fudge. They are good.

fawn

Sink

 

Turkeys

Liquor chocolate. OH YEAH!

 

For the first time on this trip we have a plan for more than just the next day. We are headed to Chattanooga, TN. to go to dinner with our new  step sister and her son. Then we will be headed to Atlanta and the Aquarium there. The Aquarium is supposed to be one of the best in the world. It should be exciting.

Funnies for the Day:

Nakai heard a joke from Looney Tunes-- "Why didn't they call the Grand Canyon the gargantuan Canyon? Because Gargantuan made it sound fat."

Nakai bought a fruit candy and after eating it for a while he looked at me and said " I think I'm getting addicted to these things."

"I think I'm getting addicted to this thing."