Landmarks on the way back home

On our final day of travel, we got on the road early, as usual. Our trip was wonderful, but we were excited to get home…

And while she never complained, 2,400 miles is a lot of driving for one person to do (remember, she drives and I back up).

Within a few hours we entered Kentucky…

And a few hours later, crossed into Ohio and through Cincinnati.

 

Until a few days ago, you’d pass half a Jesus between Cincinnati and Dayton…

This is what it looks like now. It was ironically struck by lightening.

Almost home now, just go west at the Pioneer sugar tower at Findlay…

And west again at the super huge mosque outside of Toledo…

Drive north a bit, and then, Home!

Was in incredible trip. Looking forward to the next one, but for now, happy to be back in Michigan.

To the swamp and back: Mammoth Caves and Ticks

During our only full day in Kentucky...

... we dodged a dinousar...

... and went to Mammoth Caves National Park...

... and took the Historic cave tour...

... in which we learned about how slaves turned bat poop into gunpowder, sort of ...

...and rich people paid lots of money to deface the inside of the cave ...

...and the generously proportioned people were challenged.

We learned that a cavern and a cave are the same thing...

...and got to take the same exact picture everyone takes upon leaving the historic entrance, though I had an actual camera and not an iphone.

We went back for the dogs and then spend the afternoon hiking some of the surface trails....

... and saw where a river enters the caves...

... and passed by the entrance to a smaller cave...

... but didn't go in.

Over the course of the hike, the dogs became infested with ticks.

... and no, that that one ...

... but these. Dozens of them. 

We spent hours removing them....

... before retiring to the campground for a nice quiet evening.