Life Round Two: Spring Flowers!

This is the fourth in a series of seven posts made during a 2017 US vacation.

1. Joshua Tree
2. The Desert is Alive
3. Wide Open Spaces
4. Spring Flowers!
5. Gator Bait
6. Tornadoes and Car Trouble

7. Spirits in The Desert

Frankly, we've been thru so many states at this point I'm loosing track of where each photo was taken. Since the last post we made it through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennesee, North Carolina, and were currently in South Carolina heading to Charleston then down to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Mostly pics but some notes on Mammoth Cave and a few other places below.

Kentucky

The scenic drive to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky was beautiful rolling green hills of the Amish countryside. Mammoth Cave was a big cave. The self-guided tour was very short and there wasn't much to see in the cave - It was big. We did take a tour of Frozen Niagra that was OK. Craig thought it looked like a mine shaft. The more interesting part of the place was the story about the tour guides.

"African Americans played a vital role in the development of cave tour routes and the visitor experience throughout the 19th and early 20th century. The first black guides were slaves and through their efforts opened up the golden age of cave exploration for Mammoth Cave. Their discoveries and story continues to live on within the avenues and guided tours of the cave today. While each slave guide eventually saw their freedom, their life was fraught with hardship in a time where the country was divided on their place in society. During their life they may have never realized the importance of their existence. However, today they are not viewed as slaves or lower class citizens. They are legends." More info https://www.nps.gov/maca/learn/historyculture/black-history.htm

Former Tour Guide Graveyard

Tennesee

The Blue Ridge Mountains were beautiful and spring was just getting started. Below you'll see a ton of flower pictures. The Mingus Mill was an old wheat and corn mill used by locals back in the day.

Tennesee/North Carolina

Clingmans Dome was at the border of Tennesee and North Carolina. We made it up there early in the morning before the droves of people. It was cold and there was a bit of snow on the ground. It was nice to be up there alone though. Beautiful 360 degree view.

"At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is the highest point in Tennessee, and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. Only Mt. Mitchell (6,684 feet) and Mt. Craig (6,647), both located in Mt. Mitchell State Park in western North Carolina, rise higher. The observation tower on the summit of Clingmans Dome offers spectacular 360° views of the Smokies and beyond for visitors willing to climb the steep half-mile walk to the tower at the top."