This morning I finished loading the CRV and packed off for Cave City, KY to visit Mammoth Caves. It's my first stop on my way to a photo trek in the Smokies with mentor Moose Peterson.

I'll have two cave tours tomorrow but I made a quick run into the park in the late afternoon to check out the place.

Park Headquarters

I checked in at the park headquarters and picked up my tour tickets for tomorrow. There is a trail leading down to the River Styx Springs so I took that. Here are a couple of scenes along the way.

This is where the River Styx emerges from underground.

On the way back to the visitors center I felt a cool breeze, almost like a very welcome air conditioning. It came from this cave opening beside the trail.

On the way back to Cave City I made a couple of stops. The first was at this pioneer cemetery.

Kind of a grim reality. Nothing like the Sunnyside Memorial Parks in the US today.

This old barn was worth a stop.

Had to turn around and go back to this "General Store." This odd assortment of "antiques" is a pickers' paradise. The two guys inside said the owner had been collecting and selling for 60 years!

 They very graciously allowed me to wander around and take pictures. Pure Americana!

Just odd bits and pieces today. I'm hoping there's enough light in the caves tomorrow to get some shots using my camera's low light capabilities. If nothing else, I'll finally get to see the Mammoth Caves.