Day 4 Night time visitors, Amish breakfast, change of plans, more change of plans, MAMMOTH CAVE!!

 Day 4 blended in with Day 3 for me as I got absolutely no sleep. The cars on the highway were constant and the heat was well over 80 deep into the night. By the time it had gotten down to 70 or lower I had already made a change of plans for tonight. I ordered up a motel room. I remember in 2017 all of our camping was done along the northern route. Nothing along the southern route. And in 2018 and 2019 camping was done mostly once again in northern areas. So yeah mistake on my part. I also called the Ashville KOA and upgraded my North Carolina stay to a camping cabin. To top all of the night off, at one point I did get jostled awake by something. It literally felt like something hit the tent. Then this morning ...

Some demon child....I could not get out of this place any faster!

Out in that fog was some little demon child of the mothman. I know it. He followed me because of the shiney hiney!

I rushed off to breakfast to an incredible little place. Farmwald's Dutch Bakery and Deli. I promptly ordered up the Amish Farmers Breakfast. Because who doesn't want to eat like an Amish Farmer. Oh boy was I satisfied. But I still ordered a doughnut to go!! Hell yeah I did!! Great place. Find it if your ever in Horse Cave, KY.

The plan of attack was a 2 almost 3 hour cave tour called the River Styx then I was going to tackle the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hiking Trail.  Kentucky continued to hate me.

Some construction crew dug up the powerlines that powered the lighting for the sections of the cave we were going to go into. And they also just because they had to be thorough they took out the backup generator power lines too. What I would end up getting was some sort of modified Broadway Tour. Hey its the world's largest cave system I was up for anything.  

Truth be told I wish I had stayed here several days and did multiple cave tours. There is just so much to see in there. How much? Over 400 miles of surveyed passageways. The tour took us a mile in. And there was still so much cool stuff. To think of all the caves linking across the area. It is amazing. So pictures yes?

This page https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/exploring-the-worlds-longest-known-cave.htm has the story how it became the worlds largest cave. It is such a great story. Loved it as the Ranger told it to me today.

After that tour it was back to the car to switch gears and gear. Even though there was a heat advisory my plans were not going to change. I was going to knock out this Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike trail. Nine miles out and nine miles back. Somewhere I am pretty sure I read someone say start at the entrance or Park City and ride to the Visitor Center then ride back. I did the opposite. The first nine miles were a breeze because lots of fun down hill and a few steep grades but nothing like when I reversed it. Two and half hours later I had completed 17.76 miles stopping along the way for some interesting historical stuff and to save my soul.

After that ride I did go find the Sand Cave. The sad story of Floyd Collins. Well worth looking up to learn about. 

After this incredible crazy day I was going to finally try out the highly reviewed restaurant , 5 Broke Girls. Yeah No. It closed at 3. So I drove 20 minutes to Glasgow for A Little Taste of Texas.

Head to Tennessee in the morning and Great Smokies National Park where I will be camping inside the park with no tech and most likely non existent cell service. Should be an amazing day as it is one I have been looking forward too.