We left home a bit after 11AM on October 1st under gray skies and in a drizzling rain. The rain let off to just falling mist for a little while until it came time for lunch. We stopped at the Timbers Restaurant in Indiana for lunch. And while we ate, outside it turned into pouring rain. We sealed up our rain suits and soldiered on.

No sooner did we get out of town than we had our first problem. The engine started to cough. It had run fine all summer up until now. So immediately I suspected the full tank of gas I had just got the local station on Butternut Road right near our house. The trip odometer read 17 miles since that fill up at about the third engine cough. So before we’d even left Holland I pulled off at another station to put some STP gas treatment into the tank. Then crossing my fingers, took off again. A few coughs further and then it ran smoothly. And kept on running smoothly for the whole trip. I think I’ll avoid that Butternut Road station henceforth.

Passing through Walnut Creek in Ohio, where a large Amish community resides, we were both pleased to see an actual free-range poultry farm, with all the birds enjoying space in the great outdoors. Also a little funny it looked, since they were segregated by age into different fields: chicks all together in one, older birds wandering other fields. The reason why we were both glad to see it is that where we live, there are a great number of industrial poultry barns. Every day I pass by a couple on my way to work. And through the grid of each barn, all you can see are turkeys packed in like sardines, none of them able to move, and the lights also on all the time. Here abouts I’ve heard it said, that being downwind from an industrial chicken ranch can bring tears to a pig farmer’s eyes. On searching for a house together, we both made a point to use Google Earth to certify that no home we considered were within a mile of either a long, signature barn with big ventilators on every side, or any kind of agricultural waste lagoon. The industrial farmers prefer calling them “ponds”, but waste lagoons is what they are. No fish can live in there I am sure.

While trying to thread my way to US 224, I stopped for gas in Tiffin OH, asking instructions for where best to pick that up. The directions given led me somewhat astray. And then a detour led more astray still. So that on the map you will see a crazy jag south, followed by a switchback northeast to Bellevue and onto US-20 again. By this time it was already dark. A local warned us away from the local motel. And so, finding US-250, we made out way in the dark to Ashland OH and the Holiday Inn Express we found there.

Nice riding though, dark or not. The rain had stopped some time back. Traffic was sparse and roads were good. I was able to keep the headlight on high beam most of the time. Also, in preparation for this trip, as one of my passing lights had burnt out, I had replaced the no-longer-available 35W sealed-beam lamps with same power, but narrower beam xenon spot lamps from Sylvania. These I aimed so as to hit the road just barely ahead of the headlight’s much wider low-beam cone. Comfortable viewing then, even at night.’The Holiday Inn Express invited me to leave my bike parked under the portico by the front door.

Ashland OH

Upon leaving in the morning I brought out the tripod and we posed for the first picture. Then we headed east for the Ohio River. In Wheeling WV we found the whole town all but closed down for Sunday, all but for the Panda Chinese Kitchen on 1056 Market Street, where we enjoyed a very fine lunch.

The bridge leading across the Ohio River, as you see below, is old but updated. Just a bit creepy to be going over after having watched the movie The Mothman Prophecies about an old bridge which collapsed into the Ohio River a bit further south. The upgrade looked good, however, and I maintained my duly posted 50-foot following distance behind the car just ahead.

One thing that I saw there did disturb me. Very near the center of town was a very large, very ancient, brick storage tank. The warning placard which this tank bore had the numeral 4 in it’s red quadrant at top, denoting the highest flammability rating. Kerosene and diesel fuel only rate 2, while 4 is for gasoline and the like. A huge tank like that, almost in the center of town.

Wheeling WV Wheeling WV Wheeling WV

On our Rand McNally road atlas, the green dots (denoting scenic view) were all along Ohio’s side of the river. So we crossed back over the interesting old bridge to take the pictures shown just above. Then we followed Highway 7 south where we I took the pictures below.

Hwy-7 OH Hwy-7 OH Hwy-7 OH Hwy-7 OH

Here are two pics taken by Karin with her Nikon Coolpix.

On the Ohio River On the Ohio River

Point Pleasant WV is our first major way point planned for this trip. We’d seen a show on TV entitled “Mysteries of the Museums” wherein was featured the Mothman Museum, and here’s where you find it. And as turns out, it was a very good thing that my deadline at work delayed us an extra whole week. We just barely missed their big, annual event, the Mothman Festival and its crowd of 15,000 plus people crammed into that tiny town. We never would have found a room in the historic Lowe Hotel had we come the week we had planned. One week later, however, and the town was practically empty. So we got our room with no problem. And no problem either, lining up shots for my 3D camera.

We arrived a bit into the evening just before dark and had our dinner at Bravo’s Mexican Restaurant just up the street from the Lowe Hotel. Going back to the room it soon was dark and we went out to view the famous, stainless steel statue of The Mothman. At night it looks very imposing, with its red eyes.

The Mothman The Mothman The Mothman The Mothman The Mothman

At Point Pleasant WV there is more than just one attraction. For revolutionary war buffs there is a monument in honor of a battle fought there: Tu-Endie-Wei State Park Link.

Tu-Endie-Wei Tu-Endie-Wei Tu-Endie-Wei Tu-Endie-Wei Tu-Endie-Wei

Along the river side of the flood wall they have murals and yet more statues in stainless steel by the same artist as did The Mothman downtown. We were told as how the artist was a welder at the power plant (presumably the one just up river), that he was 80 years old and had recently died. Clearly he was a very good artist. These below are of figures famous from Revolutionary War times.

Mad Anne Bailey Daniel Boone Lord Dunmore Gen. Andrew Lewis Chief Cornstalk

I went back after dark the next night to re-take photos by night. So these below are shown out of order. Those five statues were not nearly as well lit, however, as The Mothman downtown. Mad Anne Baily had no spot lights at all. Thus no re-take of her. Looks spooky in 3D with the shadows and all.

Daniel Boone Lord Dunmore Chief Cornstalk & Gen. Lewis Gen. Andrew Lewis Chief Cornstalk & Gen. Lewis

Earlier in the day we had taken a walk first around town, then along the flood wall by the river. From the Mothman’s blvd I got a photo of our hotel with the RSTD parked in front.

Flood Wall Mural Point Pleasant WV Train Trestle Lowe Hotel

Cater-corner from the Lowe Hotel is the Coffee Grinder and just past that the Harris Steakhouse (aka Mothman Diner). The first is good for breakfast and the other for lunch/dinner. Charming and old fashioned, the Harris Steakhouse. It’s probably exactly the same as from sometime back in the 60’s. There is also, some few blocks away, a BBQ joint which we went to our second night. Quite disappointing, it was. Had we to do it over, we’d have had that meal too in the Harris.

The Coffee Grinder Harris Stakehouse Lamp Post

Returning back to the river side of the flood wall there is plenty to see. Of particular interest is the former site of the Silver Bridge, which collapsed on December 15th of 1967, dropping cars full of people into the freezing waters of the Ohio River as they returned from Christmas shopping. I remember it well, even though I was only 11 years old at the time. My parents recounted how that, every year on our summer vacation we ourselves had crossed that bridge. And, of course, it was in all of the papers and much on the news. Forty-six people were killed. The bridge collapse figures prominently also in the movie The Mothman Prophesies which we made it a point to watch not long before going away on our trip.

I remember reading, when it occurred, that some were blaming synchronized traffic lights at the ends of the bridge. The idea was that cars all starting and stopping together had set up a sympathetic wave which brought it down. That story, however, was bunk. The bridge had a flaw from from its day of construction. A major inclusion in the otherwise high-strength steel (new alloy at the time) which slowly rusted, introducing a major stress riser at a critical point. It was doomed from the beginning. That particular eye-bold snapped, then the rest could not hold the load. It came apart like dominoes falling in less than a minute.

Wiki — Link to article on the Silver Bridge collapse of 1967.
Wiki — Link to article on eyebar failure in the Oakland Bay Bridge in 2009.
HTML — Link to resource on eyebar suspension bridges in the US.

Silver Bridge Monument Train Trestle Train Trestle Train Trestle

Note the barge in the background above and below. Later we see it turn and head up a tributary river to the Ohio. In the background of that one you see the Silver Memorial Bridge, built to replace the one which collapsed. The trestle just makes for interesting 3D views, should you care to click through twice and see those.

Train Trestle River Barge & Tug River Barge & Tug River Barge & Tug

Karin and I much enjoyed a beautiful day along the Ohio River.

My Wife Karin Karin and I Different view of same Trestle Bridge

Trestle Bridge Trestle Bridge Bridge over the Kanawha River

We had planned to leave after one day, but there was a River Museum with a scale model of the collapsed Silver Bridge and various remnants thereof which I wanted to see...closed on Monday. So we stayed over a second day just to see that. Prior to opening in the AM, a morning ceremony was going on at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park just down the street. Here is a link to the museum: Link

Tu-Endie-Wei River Museum River Museum River Museum

River Museum River Museum River Museum River Museum

Here is a scale model of the collapsed Silver Bridge. Note the flag showing location of the flawed eye-bolt C-13 on Pier 3 in the model.

Silver Bridge Model Silver Bridge Model Silver Bridge Model Silver Bridge Model

Here are artifacts of the collapsed Silver Bridge itself, salvaged out of the river. The eye-bolt section shown is not the fatal one, but another just like it. Failure occurred in the eye itself. A rust inclusion was found on number C-13 just where it snapped. There is a pretty good CGI of the failure on video in the museum itself.

Silver Bridge Artifact Silver Bridge Eye-Bolt Section

Here are stills from my Kodak Zi8 pocket video camera. We start with Tu-Endie-Wei State Park.

Front of Obelisk South side of Obelisk North Side Obelisk River side of Obelisk Magazine Monument Mission House

And here are some from Karin’s Nikon Coolpix 20.1MP camera

Silver Memorial Bridge Tu-Endie-Wei Park Bench Spider Web Kanawha River Bridge French Leaden Plate Obelisk Silver Memorial Bridge Placard Water Panther Stone Cheif Cornstalk Memorial Placard Karin and I

Next two rows are pics from downtown Point Pleasant taken by Karin. The US Navy poster museum is open only on weekends. So all we did was look through the glass doors. I’d have been interested to visit, having myself served in the Navy. Karin would have enjoyed the historic flavor of those old-time styles.

Point Pleasant West Virginia Silver Bridge US Navy Poster Museum Point Pleasant Mad Anne Bailey Lord Dunmore The General About Point Pleasant

If Karin should win the Lottery, she’d restore an old theater like that shown below.

Mothman Museum Old Theater Silver Bridge Memorial Feral Cat Karin being silly Me being silly Silver Memorial Bridge Karin & The Mothman Us with The Mothman Me with The Mothman Point Pleasant

A few still shots from my Kodak Zi8 of the Lowe Hotel’s outside.

Lowe Hotel Lowe Hotel Lowe Hotel

The next two rows are more shots from Karin’s Nikon Coolpix 20.1MP camera from our suite of rooms inside the Lowe Hotel.

Door to Room 226 View into Hall 3rd Room of Suite The Bath View Out the Back

Practically everywhere we had gone while Point Pleasant WV, people told us of a must-see location further south called Hillbilly Hotdogs. So, of course, we stopped to see. It is about 30 miles south of Pt. Pleasant on WV Route 2. We’re glad we stopped. You should too. The pictures, I think, tell the whole story.

Hillbilly Hotdogs Wedding Chapel Karin at Hillbilly Hotdogs Hillbilly Hotdogs

Karin at Hillbilly Hotdogs Hillbilly Hotdogs Hillbilly Hotdogs Hillbilly Hotdogs Hillbilly Hotdogs

We Didn’t Pose Hillbilly Hotdogs I Had a Hot Dog Hillbilly Hotdogs Hillbilly Hotdogs

These are from Karin’s Nikon Coolpix 20.1MP camera.

Kissing Cousins? Not really sure... TMI Hillbilly Hotdogs I want this sign! Good to know! Teenie Weenies? Hillbilly Hotdogs Hillbilly Hotdogs Medical Terms Mine was good!

We followed Route 2 down along West Virginia’s side of the Ohio River then switched to US-52 following up along the the Big Sandy river until crossing a bridge into Kentucky. From there we took US-23 almost into Virginia. From there I switched to US-119 through mountains and toward Harlan KY.

You probably know about the cable TV show Justified, about a US Marshall rooting out crime and corruption in a backwater town in Kentucky. That town is Harlan, and the show is shot on location. Karin had long wanted to see the town itself, if only just to take a few pictures of the place we’d seen on TV. I was determined that we both should.

Arriving at the exit for Harlan, a sign indicated Harlan via 72, which I took. This however proved my biggest mistake of the trip. Hardly long after that turn, KY-72 veered right and stopped at construction. A worker was standing blocking the road and I had to stop. I asked directions and he gave them, but then became very chatty. A friendly guy just trying to be helpful. But I was needing to make a U-turn. And the road was not very level. Also it offered very poor traction for my feet due to a layer of white dust and small, pebbly gravel on top of the pavement. With him standing near, and posing an obstacle, what I should have done is to ask that Karin get off while I turn the heavy beast of a bike around.

Instead of that, though, I decided to negotiate the slow U-turn at one or two MPH on the unlevel road. Big mistake. Things got wobbly and it started to tip over left. Nor could I get my foot down for being too short with the decline on the left side. That plus the surface was tooFr dusty and gravel strewn for tippy toes. So the bike fell all the way over. And my poor wife hit the ground hard on her left side, jamming her arm into her ribs, causing severe bruising to both. He left shoe came off when she managed to squirm her way out from under.

I meanwhile was trapped with my own left shoe pinned just hard enough under the bike so that I could not pull it out. My own injuries were very slight. Just some road rash on both elbows that bled only a little. The helpful road worker tipped the bike just enough so that I could pull my foot out, and the two of us got it back up so that I could put down the kick stand. The bike itself suffered almost not at all, the engine guard and saddle bag crash bar having done their jobs very well.

Poor Karin, however, was in some pain. Her arm hurt to take any weight and for a while she wasn’t sure if she had maybe broken a rib. After some minutes she decided the ribs were likely just bruised, although severely. The arm she wasn’t sure about, as it hurt to take any weight for the next couple of days. Harlan KY though, did not seem a place to be seeking expert medical attention. So she decided that she would rather just get back on the bike. Which she did a few minutes later.

Having already come this far just to see the town of Harlan, we then took off and followed the directions given. It wan’t far. And as turns out, not at all with the side trip to see. If anything, the TV show makes it look good. The place was an absolute dump. But not as remote as seemed in the show. Highway US-421 skirts it right along the edge, almost inside of the town itself. You don’t see that part at all on TV. There were some stores that looked to be open, but no customers at all we could see.

We stopped in front of the Bank of Harlan for Karin to take here requisite picture. She also got one of Harlan’s main drag. I will include them in this post later, after I get copies of her pics and sort them through. Anyhow, we got back on the bike and back onto US-119 until coming to US-25E, where I filled up with gas, then turned south.

After some while, we came into to Middleboro, where there was a Holiday Inn Express. Karin’s injuries were troubling her, and also it would not be very long before dark. So there we decided to spend the night. There wasn’t any crosswalk on US-25E, of course. And Karin did not fell like getting back onto the bike in search of better restaurants the other side. So we just walked to the only one on our side. This was a Hardee’s. We got burgers and took them back to our room.

In the morning, Karin decided that her injuries, although still hurting, weren’t enough to delay going on further. Her arm felt a little bit better, enough so she did not think it was broken. Likewise her ribs, she did not think were broken. I offered that, if she wished, that we might seek the nearest clinic. Also that she could fly home from any nearest airport along the way. Both of these she declined, preferring to soldier on.

Here are pics from Karin’s Nikon Coolpix 20.1MP camera.

Kentucky Kentucky Harlan KY Harlan Ky

From Middleboro KY to our destination in Somerville AL did not look far on the map. So I figured that we could make it easily enough in less than a day. Not far along we came to a 4,600-foot tunnel crossing under (through?) the KY/TN border at Cumberland Gap. This, Karin has just read to me from the Wiki, replaced a 2.3-mile switchback pass over the top which earned the name Massacre Mountain due to the number of traffic fatalities. This road, she says, has been turned back into a wagon trail and some kind of park. There is a Bat Cave which is completely rugged and undeveloped. Might be worth seeing, if we pass through that way again.

Continuing along US-25E into Tennessee we switched over to US-11W. I got a bit lost inside of Knoxville, the signs being not very clear. Or maybe I missed one for the obstruction of overgrown trees, or on account of a truck. I managed to blunder my way through to the other side and ended up TN-62, which led to TN-61 and thence to US-127/TN-28. I had wanted to keep on with TN-28 but missed that fork and kept by mistake on US-127 which took me into Chattanooga, where once again I got lost amid the streets of that big town.

US-127 into Chattanooga proved a very twisting, although well paved, road which first up and then down Signal Mountain. It had a single lane on my side with sparse traffic but two lanes jam packed with cars on the other. Not bad going up, but going down was another matter. Some of those cars liked to swing wide on their turns and into my lane, which was a bit disconcerting. It was a very pretty road, though. Nice views for Karin, but only during such brief instants as her attention was not fully occupied by the threat of heavy traffic coming our way just to the left.

Arriving at the bottom of that, all we wanted was not to get lost amide the bustle of Chattanooga proper. My first hope of this was when we came to I-24. But the time was near rush hour and it was totally packed with cars and trucks just barely creeping along. I got off at the next exit and found my way by dead reckoning to US-41. This follows the Tennessee River along it’s south side. Very pretty, that road. I recommend it well.

In Tennessee on US-70 we came to a turn-off for a scenic outlook on Mt. Roosevelt. This wound its twisty way up to the top and was just a bit narrow. Happily, I met only one car coming down while on my way up. We took a video from the top, but named it wrong in the audio, because at the time I wasn’t too exactly clear on just where we were on the map. So it’s Mt. Roosevelt, and not whatever I called it instead.

We proceeded southwest into northern Alabama on US-72 for a ways, and followed the Rand McNally green dots to AL-279, then AL-79, entering Guntersville just as it had turned dark. That route is a very pretty drive, and not very much traveled. The roads were good too.

Then crossing the water on AL-69, we made our way to AL-67, by which time it was now fully dark. Didn’t like this part very much, as on the 2-lane road there were too many on-coming cars with overly bright xenon headlights that all too often did not dim them anywhere near soon enough. There were also a number of hills and a few curves. And by now we were both very tired, my poor wife Karin most of all.

We got to Somerville where lives my sister. I was looking for a certain Phillips 66 gas station which had always marked my turn before. Also I was used to approaching from the west instead of the east. So I mistook one gas station for another and turned off too soon. It had been a few years so I was only mildly surprised to see a big church where there had been none before. But it was the wrong turn and so I got a little confused. Returning to the gas station I asked directions from the attendant who had now clue. He did, however, have a local map. I had to wait patiently while he tried to do the search for me. A young guy, and middle eastern, he kept trying to use a magnifying glass and sought in vain. Finally I dismissed his assistance, took off my driving glasses and had a go with bare eyes alone. As happens, I’m very nearsighted and (which is a big help at work) and with my nose a six inches away, could read the map plainly enough. I found my error and went back outside.

Karin was exceedingly tired and very much wanted to be off the bike. We had had a very long day. The longest day yet. Far too long. It had been dark for some time, and her injuries from the tip-over in Harlan KY were causing her pain. All this while she had made no complaint. Nor did she complain even then. She was, however, clearly done in. Our destination, I was happy to report, was only just 3 miles away.

Back on the bike we got to my sister’s house straight from there. The gas station/convenience store which marked my turn-off was no longer a Phillips 66. Nor did it look so very much like the one I’d mistaken. But I recognized it easily now. I made the turn, then a few more, and found my sister’s house just as remembered. It was now late and all lights were off. I rang the bell, and my brother-in-law came out, then also my sister. Waiting for us were luxury accommodations. For our exclusive use during the stay was their Tiffin motor home, pretty much a full-featured apartment on wheels.

Stills from my wife Karin’s 20.1MP camera.

From Mt. Roosevelt Mt. Roosevelt Overlook

I’ve owed my sister and her family a visit now for some little while. The last time was when I road south to Marion VA for family reunion on our mother’s side. This ride, it seems, I have somehow neglected to post on this site. I know there were pictures. I’ll have to find those and see if I still can. Anyhow, since then she has been up to visit me twice. So my turn is long overdue.

My sister Patti is the matriarch of a large, and still growing, clan. As such, her social calendar is always full. First item on her calendar is the Priceveille High School homecoming parade. As I was standing with my video camera on tripod while also working the 3D Fuji one-handed, my chair between my wife Karin and sister Patty was left empty. A quite delightful little girl, stranger to one and all, came up and made friends, snubbing her family just behind and assumed my chair, to which she was welcome. Her high spirits entertained all.

Priceville HS Homecoming

In the parade is Patti’s grandson Ethan. Afterwards he also played as #55 in the homecoming football game and made a tackle. In the parade, though seating arrangements did not favor my camera position. He’s in there, but I will not here point him out. I have video of the parade and also the game. These I’ll add in at some future time. I’ll try to do it in HTML-5.

Homecoming Parade Homecoming Parade Homecoming Parade Homecoming Parade Homecoming Parade

Homecoming Parade Homecoming Parade Homecoming Parade Homecoming Parade Homecoming Parade

Scott gave me pick of where to eat, listing off three steak houses among other restaurants. I choose the Longhorn since both of the other two have franchises also in Holland MI and we had never been yet to that one. It’s very obviously up-scale, as you can see. And the food was likewise on par. I stole a coup on Scott by heading off the waitress and nabbed the check. The longhorns make pretty good 3D pics.

Longhorn Steakhouse Longhorn Steakhouse Longhorn Steakhouse

At Karin’s request, Patti took is for a look around in downtown Decatur. We were hoping to find something with local flavor appropriate as a gift for Linda who was minding our three cats while away. Nothing jumped out at us, though. So we shopped on.

Decatur AL Decatur AL Decatur AL

Below is the Old State Bank in Decatur AL, which some military commander famously called A tough nut to crack. Odd he should say that, since he was a Confederate officer, and it was the Union army occupying the bank. The Union solders must not have found it so. There’s propaganda for you.

Old State Bank Civil War Bullet Dents Memorial Placard

In Priceville at a veteran’s memorial, they had these on display. I had Patti stop so that I could nab pics with my 3D Fuji. Remember that in order to see the cross-eye 3D pics, first you mush click on the thumbnail, then again on the half-size blow up.

TC Mentor M60A-1 Tank

A still from my wife Karin’s 20.1MP Nikon camera. That same girl making a critical decision over candies tossed out by the passing parade. Weighing perhaps, the controversy of it being, at least in the technical sense, candy from strangers. What kind of lesson is the school teaching?

Priceville Parade

Long ago, when Patti and I were still kids, our folks took us to visit Cathedral Caverns. I had wanted for a long time to see it anew. Between then and now it has since become a State Park. It has been fixed up a lot. This cavern is a must see. They lighting inside is very good for taking pictures...if you happen to have a tripod, which I did bring. The tripod, in fact, I had bought special, it having five telescope sections and so was able to cram into my saddle bag on the bike.

Karin at Cavern Entrance Entry Tunnel Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

I can tell you that Cathedral Caverns, while not as large, were a much better display at just 1.3 miles, than we later found the Domes and Dripstones tour which we later took at the more famous Mammoth Cave up in Kentucky.

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

At the furthest point in open to the public, they project blue laser points onto the ceiling and walls while turning off all other lights. It’s a very cool effect. Be sure to click through so as to see it in 3D. Likewise where there are reflections on water.

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL Cathedral Caverns AL

Stills from my wife Karin’s 20.1MP Nikon Coolpix camera.

My Sister & I My Wife & Sister Cathedral Caverns Cathedral Caverns Cathedral Caverns Cathedral Caverns

My nephew John manages a restaurant called Cajun Steamers in Huntsville, so we also had a terrific meal there. Prior to dinner, Patti took us to a few places that Karin looked up on her smart phone.

The Huntsville old train depot claimed to be open according to its website and the sign on the door. But we found the buildings locked and the lights also off. Most of the interesting stuff, however was outside.

Huntsville Depot Huntsville Depot Huntsville Depot Huntsville Depot Huntsville Depot

Huntsville Depot Huntsville Depot Huntsville Depot Huntsville Depot

We also looked into some interesting stores, and Patti found a rocking chair which she very much liked.

Halloween Decorations Patti on Test Drive Interesting Store Ducks saying howdy. Ducks love Karin

Originally I had meant to be taking a road called simply The Trace up through Tennessee into Kentucky. But it was getting dark by then and we could find no hotel. My interest in that particular road was green dots on the Rand McNally map. And I had honestly thought I’d not yet ridden it before. But just before dusk we passed an imposing edifice called the Great Western Furnace of which I remembered taking a picture. So it wasn’t new ground after all. Only so many routes north and south between Michigan and Alabama.

More to the point, it was going dark and we could find no decent, big-chain motel. Passing by a few mom-and-pop’s, we veered away from The Trace toward Clarksville TN in the surety of a hotel. Unknown to me, Karin on the back of the bike was terrified at my clipping along US-79 at 65 mph in total darkness. But she made no complaint while I enjoyed the very fine road and almost total dirth of any other traffic at all.

Yet even in Clarksville there were only somewhat dodgy, mom-and-pop motels to be found. When riding alone, I am never shy of staying at these. But Karin very reasonably points out that the Holiday Inn Express and Quality Inn have hot breakfasts ready for you in the morning. Also the Holiday Inn Express has twice invited me to park the bike just outside their door, under the roof and out of the rain. Easy packing up in the morning. In Clarksville these were notably absent, as we were also informed when stopping at a Ruby Tuesday for our very late dinner. Via WiFi on her smartphone, Karin located the nearest. Just across the boarder in Oak Grove KY. So after dinner we headed there.

Via WiFi on my Kindle Fire, I also looked up my prior write-ups for earlier trips and thereby confirmed having already ridden The Trace once before, that time heading south. And there was my picture of the Great Western Furnace which we had passed going north. No point then to do it again. We had talked about maybe visiting Mammoth Cave National Park. And as turned out, we were just a few hours away. So instead we went there.

Pick and Grin Cafe 3D Model of Mammoth Cave Diorama at Indoor Exhibit Natural Entrance

We got there not long after lunch. Outside the park a few miles away, we saw the charming restaurant pictured a left above. The Pick and Grin Cafe on Louisville Road in Park City. Very colorful local establishment. Clearly popular with the locals.

When we got there, however, every last tour was sold out. Likewise the tours for tomorrow, save only one. So I booked two tickets for that one, the Domes and Dripstones tour, so-called. Also we chose to stay in the Mammoth Cave Hotel, which was horribly expensive. Also they made us wait until 4PM to get the keys to our room. The room was very nice however, and who knew if there were rooms anywhere else.

Stairway down Karin in Silhouette Karin Closer Up Stix River Spring

The next day when we went to go to our tour, what did I see but that all the tours which they had said were sold out now showed as open. Turns out they lie about that. They always keep a few openings open for drop-ins. Our tour was already booked, though, and so we went through with that, even though the others looked more interesting by their names.

Stix River Overlook Stix River Overlook Stix River Overlook Stix River Overlook Stix River Overlook

If you have a chance, take one of those other tours in preference to the one named Domes and Dripstones. That one’s okay, but I’m sure the others must be a lot cooler. Assuming, that is, in any of those the lighting is better. As you can see, compared to Cathedral Caverns in Alabama, the lighting at Mammoth cave is very poor. Also they make trouble for wanting to use a tripod. This I did not find out until later. These early pictures are of the original, natural entrance. Tours were done for the day, but still you could go down the steps as far as the bars.

Mammoth Cave NP Mammoth Cave NP Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones

Above shows our Domes and Dripstones tour beginning. Two rangers guided, a new guy at front on his second week delivering the park’s well-developed comedic spiel with hardly a flaw. Kevin (he of the hat above) was a ranger of 40-plus years standing. Good natured he seemed enough with the kids. You see him smiling at a kid in the picture above. With adults, however, he was a major sourpuss. It was he who, upon seeing my tripod delivered a stern order that there’d we’d have no problem provided I not unfold it.

It’s not for that alone, however, we name Kevin a sourpuss. I lagged to the rear so that I might, when time a picture might offer, so that I could press my un-telescoped tripod legs firmly against the stainless steel railing, thus to hold it still in lieu of standing it on the floor. To this Kevin did not object. Karin and I were within earshot however, of Kevin’s displeasure at a woman a bit older than us was having trouble after the 280 stairs behind that door. Keven left her behind at one point, and when Karin asked where she had gone, Kevin’s response was that she died. He did go back after her some minutes later, but we thought the remark very rude.

Then later on in the same tour, Kevin raised his voice to give a stern order to someone he saw standing off from the path upon a rock. Turned out that this other was yet a third ranger. A ranger also wearing the hat. At this, Kevin had to apologize, but very mildly, to his own fellow ranger. Back on the bus, though, Kevin was once again charming, to a degree, with one of the kids. Seems he just does not much like adults.

Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones

Anyhow, here are my pictures of Mammoth Cave, for what they’re worth. Maybe I’ll get better ones on some future visit on one of the other tours. Without a tripod however, and with no flash permitted, I don’t see how any one gets any good pictures at all. The other ranger told me that, on certain very special days, they encourage photographers with special tours. Tripods and flash would be allowed then. Can’t see though, as how I could plan around that. The other ranger, though, did very much like my 3D camera and the few pictures which I did get.

Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones

Maybe later I will try to touch these photos up for better contrast with GIMP (a Photoshop-like program for Linux). Maybe, or maybe not. For now, they are what they are. Check them out in 3D regardless.

Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones Domes & Dripstones Mammoth Cave NP Mammoth Cave NP

From Mammoth Cave homeward we got as far as Owensboro KY and crossed over into Indiana on US-231. But not before stopping first at Sonics for ice cream, then at a very classic looking Denny’s for lunch.

Beaver Dam KY

We had figured to find a decent motel in Bloomfield IN but nothing availed. We ended up detouring for the larger city of Bloomington IN where there’d surely be some. This was someone’s recommendation. On arrival, though, we had some difficulty locating anyplace due to all the construction. A fair amount of just plain milling around on highway exchanges in the dark until doubling back to a Candlewick Suites. This proved very expensive, but they informed as how it was a football weekend and likely most other rooms would be booked. We took the room.

The next day we continued north. I chose a route which looked only a bit curvy on the map, but turned out very twisty and slow. In places there was no shoulder, or even a drop off, and the twists and turns were littered in places with round walnuts which I had to dodge. Speeds were 40 mph and less in a few places. On the other hand, it was quite scenic. This would be IN-39 where it tees off from IN-67 which would have had us among the big trucks on the not-at-all scenic I-465 around Indianapolis. At Lebanon I took a jag east to get onto US-421. Thence to IN-29 then I-25 and from there US-31 nearly all the way home.

US-31 had some really rough spots where seams the size of tree-roots ran across the whole road. I was hoping from there to take the Blue Star Highway from Benton Harbor MI on straight home to West Olive just north of Holland. But that was closed at a bridge and so I had to wend our way home on back roads until I got at last to M-40. This was all in a pouring cold rain. But get home we did and much enjoyed arriving home to a warm house.

A still from my wife Karin’s Nikon Coolpix camera. While I was documenting our trip after getting back, Karin spotted this just outside our bay window.

Chipmonk