You know you’ve been in too many caves when you start pointing out different formations and explaining how passages were created to total strangers on a tour. After two days at Mammoth Cave NP, I have had my fill of underground tunnels for a while. On the second day of my visit, I took a tour called Grand Avenue – a walk of four miles through some of the neatest parts of the cave. It took four and a half hours to walk and even had a lunch break scheduled in the middle. The tour guide – coincidently named Richard – a retired geology and botany professor, was the most knowledgeable and interesting guide I’ve ever seen.
From there I traveled to Daniel Boone Nat’l Forest and spent a few days hiking the trails by the Rock Castle River. On one trail I came upon a huge snake laying across the path. I reached out and poked it with my hiking pole, assuming it would scurry off into the bushes, but it turned toward me and coiled like it was mad and would strike. Even though it didn’t look poisonous, I let it have the path and detoured way around.
On Friday, I stopped at a cinema outside of Chattanooga and saw the movie Water For Elephants. It was a good movie and I would recommend it. I had read the book a while back and wanted to see if the film remained faithful to the story. It was pretty close.
I spent today at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia. It is the place where the Appalachian Trail begins in the South. In the early part of next week, and if the weather looks good, I will hike the approach trail to Springer Mountain and the official, southern terminus of the AT. Then it will be off to see the Great Smoky Mountain Nat’l Park.
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter! I also saw Water For Elephants on Friday night with Glenda. I had just finished the book on Thursday, and was eager to see the movie. I agree it followed the book fairly well, with some changes required to keep the story short enough to fit the movie time slot, and I thought it was well cast. The book was better, but I liked the movie, too.
Is the portion of the AT you’re planning to hike a loop so you will come out by your van, or will you have to take some public transportation back to the trail head? How I envy your adventures.
My toe surgery is scheduled for May 5, so I should be up to hiking by fall.
The trouble with the AT is that it is linear. There are some loops that use part of the AT, but for now I will most likely just hike up and come back the same way. I may check into shuttles but I think they will be too expensive.
Glad you made it back east. Are you still hoping to be in Florida for the shuttle launch?
Hope you haven’t been in the area of the tornadoes. Stay safe!!