KY

As the sun set on our first day we drove into Kentucky.  We had a quick camp stove dinner at Blue Lick Battlefield State park then spent the first night in the truck.  We parked the truck in a field near Boonesboro State Park when it was cold and dark and went to sleep.  It rained the first night and was a little cold but we were dry and comfortable.  Then next morning, January 11th,  we tried to go to Fort Boonesboro Park but came to find that it was closed for the season, oh well.  Next we drove to Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home but it was also closed for the season.  We visited Mammoth Caves National Park and took the Historic 2 hour guided tour.  At our deepest point of the tour we were 350 feet below the earth. We were herded along with a bunch of tourists but our 2 guides both had beards..bonus.  The one guide seemed a little bit "by the book" and didn't know a few key facts about the geology of the cave but the apprentice guide added a little magic to the routine and got my vote for creativity and lantern light tricks.  I'm always very critical of ANY tour guide especially if they could be considered a naturalist.    Good tour overall, and the caves are AMAZING.  For dinner we made an outrageously long drive to Corbin, KY to the original Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum.  It was just a KFC with a little museum and a replica of Harland's old dining room....however, I did enjoy my 2 piece with 2 sides and a biscuit.  Jon and I made a pact not to eat any more fast food after that.  After that long drive, I fell asleep and Jon drove straight through to Nashville.

* A side note about places with the word Lick in them.  ” Lick” is a place where salt is found on the surface of the earth, to which wild animals resort to lick it up; — often, but not always, near salt springs.

  Me and the Harland Sanders Statue KFC Cafe

Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood home....Jon thought it was interesting that he had a wood fireplace.

Jon's ghost

Entrance/Exit to the cave