Across Covid America - Tour of National Parks 2020 - Day 2

Day Two

6/2/2020

10951 mileage

Start 8:49 A.M.

15613 steps

Day 2 saw us headed for Mammoth Caves, our very first National Park! It had just posted operation hours yesterday, so we added it to the list. We walk up to find the Rangers had set up a station outside the main building and were wearing masks as they directed us to our entrance times I had to purchase online and where to go. 

One of them asked if I needed a stamp for my passport, and that's how I discovered that they do this National Parks Passport booklet and offer stamps at each of the locations. I was all about THAT! Unfortunately they weren't selling the books so I went for Plan B. Buy a postcard and have them stamp the back of that. Problem solved. 

We walked down to the path and they allowed us to enter two minutes before our allotted time. YAY! It had been 82 degrees already as we walk down the staircase to enter the limestone cave. A curtain waterfall splashed merrily beside the path and I stopped to take a picture. An Arctic Blast took that moment to sweep up behind me. Holy Icicles, Batman! Good thing G suggested we bring jackets in case it was colder underground. 

The first ranger we passed told us through his mask that the temperature was a balmy 51 at the entrance because of a forced flow of air and then evened out to a cool 55 degrees inside the cave. Jackets went on. 

The first part that you come to in a large round room with two off shoots. One to the left would you lead you on a 1.5 walk. The one to the right only 0.8 miles. We took the left to see how it would go along the smooth cobblestone path deeper underground. The ceiling towered above us along the lowly lit path. **Word to the Wise: be careful as you walk as the ground has a tendency to swell up and down without warning in the dimly lit cavern. 

We saw few of the purported stone formations as they had several of the off-shooting paths blocked off to encourage folks not to congregate. Blasted Covid. We did see something that looked like an enormous church organ and Giant's Bolder. At the end of this path are remnants of the tuberculosis huts that were attempted to help those suffering from 'consumption.'

The right-handed path was better lit with signage giving details about the sites in front of us. It would have been interesting to see some of the cave shrimp or albino fish that lived in the water system here, but that wasn't on offer. I did like the sign that gave us some idea of how the water had flowed through the tunnels to carve the paths we saw in front of us. Great knowledge to share with my students on erosion!

After coming back topside we were asked to walk across these soapy pads. I immediately thought it was for keeping Covid at bay, but no. There is a white nose virus going around that is harmful for the bats. I completely feel your pain, Little Ones! 

Next we drove out to Lincoln's Birthplace. We could enter the park but the visitor's center wasn't open. We walked around the grounds looking at the miniature Lincoln's Memorial building that was placed on the supposed location of the hut his parents constructed to live in. We also went and looked at the Sunken Spring that could have very well provided Abraham Lincoln with his first drinks of water. It had to have been easier than digging a well. 

Our day ended outside Louisville, Kentucky in a town called Oxmoor, where our hotel was to be so we weren't in any heavily populated areas such as downtown Louisville. We had contacted our friend, Chad, in the area and met for dinner at the fantastic Steak and Bourbon Restaurant. We all sat outside and admired the sun setting behind us on Day 2.