Mammoth Caves - snooze you loose!

The drive time these days seems to take a lot longer than we think.  Perhaps it is the back roads or maybe the size of the rig that is slowing us down, but we were mighty glad to arrive.  I would hate to ever think it could be simply our age that has us so relieved when we get somewhere!

Our last weeks travel route. From the wedding at Tanglewood Park, to Smokey Mountain National Park and onto Mammoth Cave National Park.  The driving  seemed to take forever. 

Next stop is Mammoth Caves National Park.  Norm found a campground just outside the park ( really) called Diamond Caverns RV and Golf Resort that was highly rated.

Diamonds Caverns RV Resort and Campground is part of the Encore Resort conglomerate.  Encore is always at the conventions touting their wonderful camping resorts, as they try to snag us into buying a membership.  No thanks, I already owned a timeshare and barely got out of that with my life!  Besides, this particular campground was not particularly nice.





We discovered when we checked in that it was “first come, first serve” as far as campsite selection goes. Although we were told there were dozens of choices, in actuality, there was one.  It wasn’t bad, but trying to level the coach took a lot of doing, and marital disharmony.

It took several frustrating attempts to get this rig level.  It took quite a few leveling blocks.  Ideally the front end is lower, but the sites were not designed that way. What are we supposed to do? 

As soon as we got it level we jumped into the car and drove the 7 miles to the Visitor’s Center.

We had heard so much about Mammoth Cave National Park and it was always on our list.  Norm has a “thing” for caves.  Me?  I find them awesome, but feel if you have seen one, you have seen them all.

The woman at the information desk, in her heavy, southern accent, didn’t really have a clue what was going on.  Every question we asked was answered “ I don-know” or “I have no idea” or if she was really inspired she said “ The info is on the board, find it yourself.”  Yikes! Thanks, lady.

The visitors center here in Mammoth Cave National Park was quite nice, but the woman at the information desk definitely didn't know what was going on or care to find out. If we weren't so frustrated, I might have laughed!

When I was in the ladies room I discovered a sign on the mirror noting there was a "boil water" notice. Well, I have quite the history of intestinal problems, and have learned that not all camp grounds are forthcoming that their water might kill you.  I asked the same woman if the campground we were staying at ( right outside the park ) also had to boil water, and that I had immune problems, and I must say she was wonderful!  Her apathetic attitude did a complete turnaround as she took it very seriously and made the appropriate calls and assured me that we did not have tainted water.  Thank goodness! I used the water to bath in but did not drink it, regardless.

There was a strenuous cave tour that Norm really wanted to do, but unfortunately they were booked until the end of the year as were other long tours.  Some tours would have over 100 people in them, and we have no intentions in participating in a cave tour when the people outnumber the bats!

Since we could not get any info about the ranger-led programs nor what the topic would be at the amphitheater that night, we decided to try to find a river to kayak in. We checked the map and found a boat ramp in the park that looked promising, so we decided to check it out.  Well, I have got to tell you, it was an experience!

  The steep dirt road was so narrow only one car or truck could fit and the deep ruts had us wishing we had a 4 wheel drive. We just prayed no one would be driving in the opposite direction. With absolutely no place to turn our small car around we had to white-knuckle drive for about 40 minutes until we came to the park's day use area. There we  found stairs leading down to the Green River, which was actually green. ( In a nice way, not an algae, slimmy-way ).

"Posted"? Posted for what? No trespassing? No Hunting? Or do folks in Kentucky just cover all the bases? Maybe if the landowner shot someone on their property they would say " Yes sir, Judge, my property sure is Posted!" We saw many of these signs on one section of land. 

We were thankful (albeit a little nervous) that it was nearing dark- thinking that the chances were smaller that someone else would be crazy enough to be on this road as we headed back.

 Often a good resource for places to kayak are the local rental companies, and we love to be shuttled upstream to then paddle down when there is a swift current, so I called around.  One such company wanted to charge as much to just drive us with our two 30 inch by 30 inch folding kayaks as they would to rent us their entire package including canoe, paddles, life jackets,etc.  I refused to do that just on principle. I would be thrilled to pay perhaps $20 each, but $50 per person when they are going anyway?

The second or third company I called was very nice.  They would shuttle us at a reasonable charge even though they were technically closed for the season.  But she also advised that the river is so low that the fallen trees, just under the surface, might very well damage our kayaks as it did one of their own 2 weeks ago. After hearing that, we gave up the idea of kayaking the Green River.

Because we had trouble with the hot water heater, we checked out the showers in this "Resort". Oh, yuck! I've been too spoiled by our private shower in the motorhome to be willing to get into this disgusting shower! Norm opted to take a cold shower, and I was going to boil some water for a sponge bath by in our sanitary home-on-wheels. 

Discovering we had a leak in the plumbing to the water heater which deemed it inoperable, we checked out the showers in the camps facilities.  Oh my!  Even if we dared enter this disgusting shower, there was no hot water!  This place just gets better and better!  Norm decided to take a cold shower, I took a sponge bath with water from my electric tea kettle.

We did play a round of golf on a course that was really quite nice.  The gas golf cart sputtered and jumped its way around the course as we played.

Darn! Norm and I have always pre-planned our trips, but so many people we talk to don't.  They live life spontaneously.  We thought since it was after Labor Day it was safe to join the ranks of those free-spirited folks who take "one day at a time".  Well, it has not worked well for us at all. Campgrounds were full as well.