Kevin's Watch

I know Lurray has cabins (Jellystone Park Campground).

DW wrote: [I have access to a no-frills but inexpensive cabin at Diamond Caverns, just up the road from Mammoth Cave.]

Wow, that's 10 minutes from where I grew up! I was a cave guide at Crystal Onyx Cave, and visited Diamond Caverns to know the competition.

I am intimately familiar with Mammoth Cave. Besides the cave tours, there's 70 miles of hiking/horseback riding trails. The campground is nice, including group camping, but they also have cabins for those who enjoy a bed. I've been backcountry camping at probably 10 different sites in the park, sites you have to hike in at least 3 miles to get to (some much more). It's really eerie, because you have to get there crossing a ferry which closes at night. So you're pretty much stuck until morning, unless you know the back roads of KY well.

Besides the park, there's also little amusement rides all over the place. They are a little "rinky-dink" but the Alpine Slide is something everyone should do before they die! Nothing like shooting down the side of a mountain on a little track where you completely control your own speed. It can either act as a sled, or push the lever forward and lower the wheels for a ride that can quite possibly leave you without a significant portion of your skin (I've seen people with full body "carpet burns" after going too fast.)

There are canoe trips on the Green river, horseback rides, the Corvette museum right down the road at Bowling Green. Anyway, I thought it would be fun. Two camping trips a year is standard for the Malik family. Next year a buddy of mine plans on taking us on a trout fishing camping trip. I've always wanted to taste fresh trout right out of the river, cooked on a campfire.

Thanks for the responses! I really didn't expect this many people. That's cool!

Malik, will Ki come if this happens?

Menolly wrote:Malik, will Ki come if this happens?

Of course! She's an integral part of any trip (that's as much as she'd let me say publicly).

heheheheh...OK

Then maybe depending on the time of year, and if Hyperception can get the time (and if I actually find a position myself come January ...oh...I can't believe I have finally put that thought out there...), as a family trip it may have more potential...

oh yea, i would definitely be there.

Camping? I am so there. I didn't get to go at all this year.

I donated the 4-person tent to the Girl Scouts at the end of last school year, but I still have the 3-person backpacking tent and a couple of 1-person tents (and yes, I know how to set them all up!).

For the camping-averse among us: Mammoth Cave does have cabins, and I believe they have electricity (or at least a few of them do). I initiated planning for a family reunion there a few years back (and then couldn't go, unfortunately) and I remember the cabins because we were looking for rooms for older folks like my mom who wouldn't necessarily be able to sleep on the ground. There may also be a lodge.

If we have enough folks who want to camp, we could reserve a group campsite.

Great idea, Malik!

Grrr, damn you all, you've made me want to go.

Well, CovJr, if you can make the trip over, I'm sure we can figure out out how to take care of the rest... meaning the other travel, lodging, etc.

Cave City is quaint, and Guntown Mountain is unique... but the tourist-trap row just isn't the same since they closed down Golgotha, the world's only Shaded Biblical MiniGolf Course and GoKart Track.

There are several different tours at Mammoth Caves, from the everyone-can-go intro tour to scheduled-only professional spelunking. My favorite was the Lantern Tour. The camping is good, though I've never truly "roughed it" there.

dw

When are you all thinking of doing this little venture?

If families are involved, I'm thinking the earliest would be around Spring break, if not during summer. But I don't know if Malik and Ki would take the boys out of school for such a trip. I do know if school is in session that there is no way neither Hyperception nor Beorn could afford to miss school to come.

You know this crew, CJ -- if we start planning now, we'll be lucky to nail down a weekend by March....

DukkhaWaynhim wrote:Golgotha, the world's only Shaded Biblical MiniGolf Course and GoKart Track.

I'm sorry I missed it!

aliantha wrote:Camping? I am so there. I didn't get to go at all this year.

You camped in Danlo's yard.

ok well...it'd be pretty stupid of me to pass up a trip to my home state or nearby.

depends on when ya'll plan it.

Is that where they all talk funny?

jes.

Good thing I would have you to translate for me then!

Damelon wrote:

aliantha wrote:Camping? I am so there. I didn't get to go at all this year.

You camped in Danlo's yard.

Oh yeah! How could I forget?

DukkhaWaynhim wrote:Well, CovJr, if you can make the trip over, I'm sure we can figure out out how to take care of the rest... meaning the other travel, lodging, etc.

Ah, the mighty team powers of the Watchers! Unfortunately, my budget will just about stretch to food at the moment, so I'll have to stick to envying from afar for the time being.

CovJr, you would be surprised at what the mighty team powers of the Watch can accomplish. Once a date is picked, if you can find a really good price for a flight over, you never know...