Beaver, Oklahoma - Cow Chip Capitol of the World!

October 31, 2015 - Beaver, Oklahoma

Camping at a little state park here, nothing to write home about EXCEPT!

Forgt a couple of other events over the past few days.

Barge traffic on the mighty Mississippi.

Exploring the geology and geography of Mammoth Cave, you could see the "Sinks" where the water was funneled down into the caves to do its stuff.

And in some places it comes back out in the form of Springs.

We had a great campsite there:

And I made the mistake of ordering the Especial Dinner at El Mazatlan in Cave City:

Also stayed at a nice National Recreation Area campground on the Buffalo River.

Stayed at some excellent Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) campgrounds in Oklahoma, one of which was probably our favorite so far.  On Fort Gibson Lake (Flattop Creek Campground)

Off to New Mexico, and side trips to Denver/Boulder/Lafayette.  Planning to see Bill and Bobby in Santa Fe, and Mark, Ally, and Sophie in Boulder.

Mammoth Cave National Park - South Central Kentucky

The world's longest cave system (over 400 miles discovered so far!) - October 26, 2015

Before we left Corbin, KY to travel here yesterday we did manage to hike to the Cumberland Falls - "Niagara Falls of the South" (but not nearly as impressive!

Con and I arrived here yesterday and found a very sparsely populated National Park campground, but great facilities (no hookups though so we are "boondock" camping).  Got the best site in the joint!

We took a 3pm Domes and Dripstones, 1 mile, 2 hour cave tour.  Great open caverns/domes, supported by sandstone roofs that divert water away, and we saw "dying" areas, "dormant" areas, and "active" areas (water still working at eroding, and growing stalactites and stalagmites.

Finished off the day having a favorite meal, Spam Musubi!  Thanks Ben!

New State - Kentucky! In the land of Daniel Boone!

October 24, 2015 - Cumberland Falls State Park - Corbin, KY

Did you know that Mountaineers (West Virginians, aka 'Eers') refer to chipmunks as "Fairy Diddles"?

We've had peaceful nights in State Parks in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and now Kentucky!  Temperature still in the 70's. 

You can't believe how hilly, steep, winding the roads are across WV and Eastern KY coal country.  Just a wild roller-coaster ride.

In a shout out in memory of Louise Bassett Rugg we drove through Chambersburg, PA, and saw her alma mater

before arriving at Canaan Valley Resort State Park, near Davis, WV where we saw our first deer of the trip.

Between sunset and dark we counted 18 deer!  Luckily we found the camp's lodge and conference center on our afternoon hike, and discovered that it was Taco Thursday!  75 cents apiece!  Great feed!

Yesterday we made it (after a couple of wrong turns, and help from the local AAA office w/detailed city map) to Kanawha State Park just outside the State's capitol city of Charleston, WV.  Camped on steep hillside, down a long hollow.

In a very quiet campground.  T-bone, and skewered mixed vegetables over hardwood campfire coals, delish!

On the road again!

October, 21, 2015 – Rossville, PA – Gifford Pinchot State Park

“On the road again” – Got a good start to our Fall Tour yesterday departing Greenfield at 9:15 AM. Made our way SW across W. Mass and similarly across New York, just skirting the Shawangunks and crossing the Hudson at Poughkeepsie.

Had a nice picnic lunch at the Vanderbilt Mansion there.

On to Northern New Jersey and High Point State Park, marked by an impressive Monument, we were one of 2 parties staying at the campground, and we had the Premier lakeside spot.  Just beautiful!

Took a great 10 mile bike ride on rolling roads through the park and didn’t meet a soul.  Very relaxing.

Day 2 (today) had us up and out early, crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania and heading south toward Harrisburg.  We’re in the Gifford Pinchot State Park, which is about 20% full, again a nice lakeside campsite and another bike ride through the park.  72 degree weather and sunny skies is making this real easy so far.   

Off to West Virginia tomorrow!