The Mammoth Caves are a National Park with a cave system of over 365 miles of mapped caverns (geologists think there could be 600 miles more) to a depth of 450 feet. Like many other visitors we signed up for one of the guided tours and were lucky enough to get Ranger Rik, a self confessed story teller turned ranger who had led guided tours there for 17 years.
As impressive as the cavers were it was Rik who made them come alive with stories that put the geology and history into human perspective. The caves were first used by early man for shelter and possibly for the minerals on the walls, but they have found evidence of human exploration even deeper in the caves. "Imagine this" said Rik...You are a modern cave surveyor heading out to map a new area of the system. You put on insulated clothing, overalls, elbow and knee pads, sturdy boots, protective gloves and a helmet with an electric lamp. You carry foodpacks and water, a survuval kit as well as your surveying gear. You then head out and walk, climb and crawl your way for 12 hours to get miles into the system. You eat underground and wrap in a survival blanket to sleep for a few hours then off you go again. Maybe after 20 hours or so you eventually reach the survey site only to find the woven grass slippers and reed torches of an ancient ancestor who was there first. The only reason for him to have been there...just to see where it went. Human beings really haven't changed much...we all have that inquisitiveness to follow a path, river or road "just to see where it goes". Moments like that can be very humbling and make you feel an intense connection to the past.
Meeting some people can be humbling too. Almost at Nashville we found a little park called Bledsoe Creek. As we drove in we saw deer at the entrance, something which we have since come to see as a very good omen for any place we stay. We looked at various sites but were drawn to one by the lake. For some reason it just 'felt right' so we set up camp. It was there that we came to know a wonderful woman and her daughter who were camped in an RV on the next site just up the hill from us. I can only describe Caroline as someone who has made charity a personal value. If someone is in need she doesn't say "someone should do something" she just does what she can herself. Her daughter Katie has inherited the same values and all we can say is they adopted us with a dozen small kindnesses, their concern for our welfare and the joy they took in our adventure. Within half a day we were firm friends.
Caroline, a writer of children's stories, wanted to know all about our travels and told us of some places we should try and visit and some wonderful parks along the way even calling her husband to get directions for the best routes. We stayed an extra day enjoying their company and exploring the park and it's varied wildlife. Trevor even bought a fishing rod and caught his first US fish. It was sad to say goodbye but the road was calling and it was time to move on.
The people we meet along the way are not forgotten, they travel with us every day as we tell of our adventures. If you ever visit Bledsoe Creek we hope you too meet Caroline and Katie, tell them we say 'Hi' and invite them to visit for a while.
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