Florida Days 30 and 31

March 28 and 29
No biking, no hiking, lots of sitting and David driving!


We had an early start on such a sunny day.


Some interesting signs and sights:


An Amish buggy driving on a bridge over the highway
Two signs across from each other: "Hell is Real" and "The Adult Store"
"Blockbusters" (for Clarke Cardiac Hospital)
"Actors, Models and Talent for Christ" (you can audition!)
Sad evidence near Henryville, Indiana of the tornado we missed
"Christian Outlet" (who or what is cheap?)
"Bigley's Rear End Parts: New and Used" (yuck)


AND, the view from my chair at Angola's WalMart:

Up early again (after an awesome sleep) and north we head.


It was a very easy crossing, then it started to snow just as we were crossing the bridge into Canada. What the heck???? Where's the weather everyone was bragging about?


We just kept going and got home at 5:58 (David said we'd get here before 6:00).


No broken freezer this year, but our floors were COVERED in dead cluster flies (evidence of the hot and sunny weather we missed) AND, apparently, a fugitive from somewhere seen walking around the area with a gun (police had blocked the road west of us). Why do we return to such drama?


But despite those moments, we had an amazing trip. We love these journeys!


Here's a map of this trip:

Florida Day 29

March 27

Hiked (with a little biking) 7 miles (and about 700 stairs!)

A beautiful morning, so, of course, we headed below ground.

Our first tour was the New Entrance tour. These caves are natural (except for the entry to this one, blasted open in the 19^th century by an entrepreneur) and beautiful. This tour led us through different large “rooms” filled with interesting formations. There were stalactites (they hang on tight) and stalagmites (they might make it up). I'll let the pictures speak here:

After lunch, we took a short “Slavery at Mammoth Caves” walk to learn how the original private owners of the caves used slaves to mine Salt Peter for use in gunpowder. Then, when the need for Salt Peter petered out (couldn't help that; it is apparently the derivative), the owner decided to invite Kentukians to tour the caves. At least three of these slaves, in particular Stephen Bishop, became guides and mapped most of the caves. Bishop is buried in the cemetery:

We decided to go back underground for the Historic Tour. This built on what we learned in the morning and on the walk and was more of a historical and less geological tour.

Here was much evidence of the tourists of the early 19^th century (graffiti!):

Including signatures of Slave Guides:

Even an advertisement for a band!:

And of the Salt Peter processing:

And other natural beauty:

We had an exhausting day but a beautiful one. Off we head north tomorrow.

Here's a view of my chair and my sweetie in our campsite:

Florida Day 28

March 26

Biked and hiked 5.6 miles

We left the lovely campground and really started the homeward journey.

The road was lined with my new favourite, Red Bud trees. So beautiful. Near Leipers Fork, we caught sight of a Covered-Wagon Train passing below us on a secondary highway.

We hit Kentucky and a WalMart in Franklin to stock up for the last days on the road. We needed beer, but found that we were in a dry county! Funny, since this is where 95% of the world's bourbon is made. Go figure.

We decided to go to the Mammoth Caves National Park, having seen signs on the way dow.

It was a nice drive in along a bike trail. We decided then and there to stay two nights.

These are nice campsites, large, flat and relatively private. We hadn't counted on the fact that this was Elementary School Spring Break in the area, so later in the day, there were a lot of kids around.

We took the bike trail for a long ride then came back and watched "Bird TV": a Northern Flicker and a Starling were battling it out for nesting space in a dead tree. The ground is filled with robins digging through the leaves. It's lovely.

By the way, the National Park in the dry county sold beer and wine! Go figure. AND I got carded when I went to buy some. Really. My favourite day.

Here's a view from my chair.

Florida Day 27

March 25

Biked and hiked 8.6 miles

So glad we stayed for another day! It's been beautiful. I wrote the last postings at our picnic table this morning, enjoying the sun and birds and total quiet.

Terry and Paul left. It was nice being with them for a few days.

We decided to ride today and headed out to the Meriwether Lewis memorial. He did so many things: was well-educated, became Jefferson's personal secretary, led the Lewis and Clark adventures and was Governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory. All by the age of 35. Then, he killed himself. Sad. The Park Ranger at the site was so interesting and helpful.

We rode on the actual Old Trace:

and took a hike along the Little Swan Creek:

We noticed a strange phenomenon of a cluster of butterflies, of different types, swarming something, we're not sure what. It appeared to be just dirt, and they stopped and stayed and seemed peaceful. Would love to know what this was:

The wildflowers are lovely, and the little waterfalls beautiful. There is not a soul around. We can't understand why not, since this is very near the booming Nashville, and it's free, and it's Sunday. Great for us.

There was a VERY long uphill ride to end the morning.

After lunch and a snooze, we headed out to the final spot for visiting. The .8 mile coast down foreshadowed the crazy climb we'd need to make back! There was a path to the creek (and a warning of a Big Ole Cottonmouth from some locals...but we didn't see it). After the long walk/ride uphill back, we relaxed and have enjoyed the rest of the beautiful day here in Tennessee.

Here's a view of our beautiful and quiet and free campsite:

Florida Day 26

March 24

No hiking or biking today, either

Up early to a gorgeous morning and off to the next adventures on the Trace.

It's nice to drive slowly (50 max) and undisturbed (no commercial vehicles) and stop here and there for lessons in history and beauty.

The roads are lined with Dogwoods in bloom and some light pink blossoms and purple flowers (Red Buds). And there are Blue Bells, red Devil's Brush (I think), and yellow Yarrow everywhere. I can imagine another week of this weather and what else will be here.

We passed through an area which was hit by a tornado in April 2011. For about six miles, the trees on the sides of the road are uprooted (like a clear cut). But the regeneration in less than a year is amazing (Dogwoods again!).

We went in to Tupelo for a view of a Civil War monument and found no parking, so we hightailed it out (after a visit to Harbor Freight). Elvis' birth home will have to wait.

The Visitor's Center featured several artisans in period costume showing their skills, and we enjoyed the diversion.

We made it to the Meriwether Lewis free campground and it is absolutely beautiful. We have a huge, paved site (#9) and an incredible view over a tree-filled valley.

We had beers with Terry and Paul and have decided to stay another day here.

The night ended with coyotes nearby and the valley lit up with fireflies. Ahhh...

Here's a view (of our "hollow") from my chair:

Florida Day 25

March 23

No biking, limited hiking, lots of beautiful driving

Woke to a beautiful, misty morning and started the Trace (we decided to leave the visit to the town of Natchez for another trip).

First stop was the Emerald Mounds, built 1,000 or more years ago for ritual purposes. Interesting, there were cow patties on top of this quite high hill and mound. Disrespectful cows!

A nice stop at the Mount Locust stand. These homesteaders' houses became inns for the Ohio Boatmen. We learned a lot about the Trace and how the footpath was used by these boatmen who floated barges of goods down to the Mississippi and had to walk back on these original Indian trails. Really set the tone for the rest of the visit. And it was a beautifully restored site:

We walked part of the original Trace and noted how “wet” and uneven it was. It was also perilous with bugs and snakes and marauders.

We ran in to a couple from St. Mary's, ON who were at the state park; they have two great dogs, Murphy and Duke. We saw them a few times at stops on the Trace, especially at the Mississippi Crafts Center where Terry and I did some shopping and the men commiserated over the service at Sicard's RV!

We learned about Loyalists going to “West Florida” and not just Canada. Neither of us remember that.

Paul thankfully named the blossoming Dogwoods that line the Trace and the Sweet Gum trees that yield the spiky cones we see all over the ground.

We headed to the Jeff Busby free campground on the Trace and got a lovely spot, had beers with Paul and Terry and enjoyed the quiet and stars (and later Barred Owls calling and incredibly bright fireflies shining).

Here's the view from my chair.

Florida Day 24

March 22

Biked and hiked 4.1 miles

Left Louisiana early in the driving rain, thunder and lightening. That was okay since we were on the "Hurricane Evacuation Route"! It lasted about 20 minutes and then clear skies.

Along the road were flood plains and spillways. Hydro poles emerged from the middle of Lake Pontchartrain. The ditches were full of egrets. A scary moment when a transport truck blew a tire right in front of us. Yikes; first time for that.

The highway at Baton Rouges was lined with huge refineries (it's the "Petroleum Gold Coast" according to CAA). We did see our first small oil well pumping in the area.

Funny yellow "Church" signs:

Usually yellow means caution; are we to be cautious of churches? Hmmm...

In St. Francisville, you could see some plantations from the road. Some were for tours, others were inns and convention centres, but the area is still quite evocative of the antebellum days. We learned later that the white people treated these like summer homes and spent the rest of the time being "seen" in Natchez. One was called the "Catalpa Plantation". Laughed because my Dad HATES that tree; imagine a plantation full?

We hit Mississippi and its "Hospitality Centre" (coffee, ginger cookies, and nice hostesses).

We wound our way to Natchez State Park (just off the Trace, near the beginning; Site 48). We rode our bikes and saw Canada Geese (and other Canadian Snowbirds heading home to Quebec and Ontario): 

Here's the view from my chair: