Sunday, October 7, 2012

Odyssey 2012, One More Stop

Often when you live in the North and vacation in the South, there is that middle that just seems to be in the way. That couple of states that you "could just do without". For both myself and Edward, those states are Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Well, on the last day of our odyssey, we found ourselves in southern Kentucky. We'd each been here before but never took the time to look around. While enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we noticed that we were not more than an hour away from Mammoth Cave.

Having plenty of time before we had to be anywhere, we decided to go cave exploring. Ed had never been in a cave before and remembers his father saying what a waste of money it was to pay to go into a hole in the ground.

We took the historical tour that took us 350 feet below ground and over two miles into the cave. The largest cave in the world. Thus the name, Mammoth Cave. Huge caverns and tight passages with low ceilings, all with a mountain on top of us.




What a great last stop on this trip.

But really. It was just a hole in the ground.



And for once, we weren't putting someone else in it.







It was an Odyssey to say the least.












If it was just about surviving, getting by, and keeping things the way they are, then how would you explain imagination?

If it was just about sacrifice, selflessness, and altruism, then how would you explain desire?

And if it was just about thinking, reflection and spiritual stuff, then how would you explain the physical world?

Get the picture?

Want it all?

That's what it's there for.

And, if it was just about working, how would you explain weekends and this odyssey?


.

9 comments:

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

i've not been to Mammoth cave, but have been to a few others here in the south east...it really is amazing when you enter the cool underground. have you been to any that have the stalagmites and stuff like that growing in them?? truly breath taking!!

"But really. It was just a hole in the ground. And for once, we weren't putting someone else in it." hahahahaaaaa!!!!!!

sounds like the perfect ending to your Odyssey!!

Unknown said...

I had been to another part of mammoth cave as a child that had stalagmites and such. This portion that we visited was considered dry though and does not have them. Either way is breathtaking.
After a couple of hours it was getting difficult to stay warm. Afterall, we were packed for Texas weather.

MorningAJ said...

What an amazing place! There's so much to see in this great world that I know I shall never get round to everything I want to. We're off to a new city in a couple of weeks - just for a long weekend. It seems incredible in an island as small as ours that there could be a city I still haven't visited. Specially one that's only about an hour away - but there is one. And I'm putting that right.

We have some interesting caves in this part of the country, but they aren't very big. They are interesting though. Maybe I should plan a day out to see one soon.

Ms Sparrow said...

It's good to know that one won't find the meaning of life in Mammoth Cave. That means we can go on searching!

Jim said...

I don't think I would like to be in that cave! Especially so far down! Great photos though.

Unknown said...

Often we overlook things that are near. We think that we always have to go somewhere to experience life. Life happens everyday, all around us. In cities that are only an hour away.

Unknown said...

You do have to search deep if you want to find the meaning of life. But it's true, it's not deep in a cave. It's deep inside you. And it usually has to do with the people that you keep around you too. Find that love that you have for them, and you've found your meaning.

Unknown said...

There were some tight places that I would not have gone if others had not gone before me. To crawl into a tight, dark hole and hope that it leads somewhere is not my idea of exploring.
At one point, the guide turned off all the lights and lit only a single lantern to show us how the caves were explored originally.

Moving with Mitchell said...

Wow. I would love to explore caves (safe caves in which I don't have to crawl or squeeze). Jerry is claustrophobic, so it's something I have to do alone.