The morning ride was easy, though winding, but I rolled into Cave City around noon. Cave City was a marvelous treat, consisting of tourist trap after tourist trap. The tacky displays and "attractions" remind me of the travelling my family did when I was young. I pedaled past motels that promised "Direct Dial Calls" and "Wall-to-Wall Carpet," loving every minute. My favorite motel consisted of replicated tipis (all with window-unit air conditioners). Sleep in a Wigwam!
After riding past mini-gold mine attractions and wax museums, I entered the pristine wilderness of the park. It instantly rejuvenated me. The construction and atmosphere of national parks is a steady constant when you're on the road, and it also reminds me of the best times of my youth. I passed a hiker on the way in to the park. He had his thumb out, but we both agreed that riding on my handlebars wasn't in his best interests. Mine either, really. He was a big boy.
Some people have asked me about my bike layout. Here's the skinny: the handlebar bag holds the things I use most often, such as my camera and sunscreen. The front left saddlebag holds the laptop, while its counterpart houses my stove, fuel canister, pots and books. The rear left saddlebag contains my cold weather gear, miscellaneous cords, and my clothing, which consists of two biking outfits (I wear a third), one pair of shorts, one pair of pants and two shirts. My last saddlebag contains rain gear, my toiletries, and miscellaneous items such as Woolite, energy bars (for emergencies), bike maintenance equipment and electronics (such as my weather radio). On top of the rear rack are: my spare tire, my tent, my sleeping bag and my sleeping pad. In this picture, my pack towel is strapped on top of my rear-right saddlebag, allowing it to dry more quickly as I ride. And finally, I carry three bottles of water.
Here's another shot of the ride through the park, which was absolutely gorgeous.
Once I arrived at the park's visitor center (the nexus of the park), I signed up for a short tour of the caves. The experience was so interesting that I quickly signed up for longer tours the next day, deciding to take a break from riding.
Below is a picture of the cave's saltpetre mining operations, used primarily in the years during the War of 1812. The cave's limestone dirt is rich in sodium nitrate, which can be leached from the soil with water. The substance is then converted to potassium nitrate, which is mixed with charcoal and sulfur to create black powder. After the war ended, the demand for black powder lessened, and the mines were abandoned.
This picture shows the log-pipe system that slaves used to pump the saltpetre mixture to the surface, where it was refined.
After the tour, I checked into a NPS campground and settled in for a night's sleep. I plan to wake up early enough to go an a short (2 1/2 hour) geological tour before my afternoon tour (4 1/2 hours).