2.11.09 Mammoth Caves NP to Nashville

2.11.09 Mammoth Caves and Nashville       

Swoosh!  Blustery winds threatened to overturn Ciao as we drove to Mammoth Caves National Park.  Ned provided telephone weather updates as we approached the thin squall line of powerful thunderstorms.  We raced the storm, listening to tornado warnings and news reports of the nine Oklahoma deaths of the previous day from that storm. 

We ran into the Visitor’s Center and bought the next cave tour that started in ten minutes.  They drove us down to the cave in a van since the high winds threatened to dislodge the hanging tree limb remains from the ice storm previous weeks.  I figured an underground cave is the best location should a tornado hit. We made it into the cave in time! 

Report after our tour was that it was a doozy of a storm.  The rain was so thick that you couldn’t see fifteen feet in front of you. Fortunately, no tornados appeared to strike and Ciao was still standing when they shuttled us back up to the parking lot by van afterward.

The Broadway Tour was $38 for the 4 of us and included the history of the caves which are the longest in the world at over 300 miles.  There are also about 5 layers, or floors, and we really enjoyed the two hour tour.  We all preferred the amazing Carlsbad Caverns more, but admit that we did not choose one of the six entrances that apparently had more of the special shapes.  Still, all our National Parks are worth seeing and we were glad for the opportunity.

Then we drove in the blustery 30 mph wind that remained after the storm toward family in Nashville.  We had a terrific visit, staying overnight in our rig parked on the street in front of the house.  Ciao is well-insulated and we slept soundly.  While friends and family always generously offer facilities in their house, we have everything we need and our own beds in the RV.  Plus, we can get our cereal and my coffee and then go visiting, making us easier company than if we stayed in side displacing the kids, etc.  Ciao makes visiting so convenient!