Well, we have seen signs on and off during our trip about underground caves but haven't had a chance to check them out. So, today we visited The Lost River Caves here in Bowling Green. There is a small canyon that looks like a tiny Elora Gorge. Our tour guide told us stories about the caves being used by Jesse James as a hideout and later by Confederates to hide from the Union soldiers.
They explained that "blue holes" are caused by an underground river breaking through to the surface. The blue colour is created by the sun shining on limestone dissolved in the water. One of these created a large enough cave opening (which is the entrance to the Lost River Caves) that an enterprising local in the 20's and 30's apparently set it up as a nightclub.
Because of the river temperature, the cave stays at 56 F so it would feel air-conditioned in summer!! There is a flat stone area at the mouth of the cave big enough to stage a good size party/dancefloor. We are told that it is apparently still in demand for weddings and functions. The trail down from the top of gorge to the caves is just beautiful, and beyond the cave opening are some stone stairs to the underground river. There were of course some interesting yarns spun by the guide, but the boat trip itself (about 45 min) was incredible! The ceiling once we were in the underground river area was between 4 to 25 or 30 feet high. There were all sorts of cave formations (stalagmites), but also rocky sides with what looked like trails and smaller tunnels. Wow, bet there are some stories there too!
They let Maxi come because he was small and cute but once convinced to get on the boat, he spent the next 45 min. with his head in my lap.....
Beyond the cave tour, there were trails with other smaller "blue holes" and springs. We spent the next few hours just wandering.
Karl had wanted to go and tour the Corvette plant in town, but that didn't work out, so we spent the rest of the day relaxing in the park and wandering around the town. Right across the road from the park is a Historical Aviation display with real planes used in Vietnam and Iran. An interesting story about one of them ... it made its first 'hit' in Nam, but the Vietnamese pilot survived. A few years ago when they were setting up this museum, he was invited as guest of honour at the opening dinner. He and the US pilot who shot him down have become good friends.
Karl wanted one more try for a Southern Seafood dinner, so this time we went to Captain D's Seafood. Okay, it's a "chain" but the food was delicious and less than half the price of the fancy restaurant in Panama City!
Hey Dan, today we saw a neat John Deere garden tractor/mower for sale in somebody's front yard, which your mom thought you would have liked. However, we don't have a utility trailer to carry it back (imagine a trailer behind a trailer) and your mom didn't feel like driving it all the way home!!
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