Reunited and it feels so good

 

We were so inspired by our unexpected but very pleasant hike to the

It's good to be back
amidst the greenery

Natural Bridge the other day we decided to go for a hike in Mammoth Caves National Park. Just as we were thinking we were the only tourists who visit one of the largest cave systems in America to go for a hike above ground we met George from New York (and his very well behaved Chihuahua).
  

Taking a wee break - we checked
for trolls first

Nice chatting to you George and look forward to meeting you and your wife in New Zealand one day.  Just got back to the car where we were planning on grabbing our food and having a picnic when the heavens opened (we know why Tennessee and Kentucky are so green).  We had our picnic in the car.

I'd be looking grim too
if someone pinched
the drink out of
my hand

After lunch we stopped at Hopkinsville and wandered around the King Arthur’s Round Table Literary Park at the local community college.  The round table is there with seating for King Arthur and 24 of his trusted knights along with a sword in the stone – neither of us could remove it, an amphitheatre and some Greco/Roman ruins.  A very nice setting for study and/or eating lunch.

Enough seating for everyone

From Hopkinsville we travelled along the very scenic Land Between the Lakes area on our way to our overnight stop of Paducah.  This is definitely

Crossing the lake to get to the
Land Between the Lakes

a location to earmark for future visits – plenty of forest area to go hiking in and plenty of water (pick a side) to go kayaking or fishing.  Just before Paducah we stopped at the Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden &

Keith's tribute to Cadillac Ranch
- he wrecked every one of these
mowers when tidying up
the property

Toyland.  Had the guided tour by the owner, Keith Holt who, when we started to get attacked by mosquitoes, concluded his spiel in double speed so that we still got to see everything.  Was quite funny to listen to as he talks a lot and quite fast anyway.

No evidence of any ghosts so it's
now a ghot tour - didn't see
any of them either

Paducah is on the Kentucky side of the Kentucky/Illinois state line (and Ohio River) from Metropolis, home to Superman.  One of my childhood heroes, this town has really taken on board the Superman theme.  

Who didn't love Superman as a kid?

Visited the super museum – trivia question here – without googling, who was the first actor to portray Superman?  Chances are you won’t get it so you may as well google it.  I’d never heard of him either.





Felt decidedly weaker when in the proximity of this kryptonite

The Castle - kids playing the same games
we used to at Fantasyland
pre-Splash Planet days

Made our way north through a town called Carbondale, stopping off at the Jeremy Rochman Memorial Park.  Jeremy was only 19 when he died in a car crash and his parents created this park across the street from where he lived basing it on his passion for Dungeon & Dragons. 

Luckily for us this dragon
 is benevolent

This is a great playground albeit for younger children (we just had to use our imaginations - we may be kids at heart but we're not weirdos).

Following on from the Superman theme of Metropolis we then visited Chester where the town has taken on board all things Popeye.  The creator of Popeye was from Chester but it’s only been in recent years that the concept has taken off and become a tourist attraction.  There’s statues all

Olive Oyl with Swee'Pea
and The Jeep

throughout the town with plans to create several more – even the local fire department has incorporated Popeye in their logo.



Chester Fire Dept with their Popeye logo - that's the logo above right, I haven't figured out how to put arrows on this blog yet.

Back in Missouri we stopped off at Bonne Terre.  Bonne Terre Mine was one of the first mines in Missouri and, at one stage, was the world’s largest producer of lead ore. 

It was shut down in 1962 and, with the pumps no longer working, 3 of the 5 levels are now submerged.  They offer scuba diving here – we settled for the boat and walking tour.  The clarity of the water is quite amazing and in places you can look down and see abandoned equipment.  Nature continues to reclaim her own and you can see the beginnings of cave formations.

Looks a bit like Nifty Mine when the pumps stop working
- except this one has 2 levels below flooded completely

 

Just a couple of stops on our way back to Belton, Missouri to pick up the RV.  Checked out some of the murals in Cuba – they really do brighten up a wall and most have a Route 66 theme. 

Take me to Cuba
- I need to see some
 Route 66 murals

Stopped in at the Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla.  They are one of the last Mom & Pop stores on Route 66.  The store itself has been operating since 1933.  Here’s hoping it’ll go on for many years yet.  Had an overnight stop at Jefferson City.
 

Trying to get gas out of
these old pumps was a nightmare

Folks there have a family festival every Thursday night during summer that we got caught up in.  Finally, we have timed something right.  One final stop, this time at Burgers’ Smokehouse in California – did the video tour then stocked up with some of their products as we’ll be able to cook again from tonight.  Yay!

 



Enjoying the family festival - there were kids there too,
they were off playing in the huge sandpit

Then it was a straight run through to Belton where we were reunited with the RV after 3 long, hard weeks (nah, they weren’t really but it sounds good).  Tomorrow we head north.