Friday, September 21st, 20012 No major trips this year - just commuting to Lexington KY every few weeks where Lenny's been working since October of last year. Last weekend, we got to do some "touristy" stuff and I wanted to share. From Lexington, we drove to Mammoth Cave State Park. This extensive cave system is about 85 miles between Louisville KY and Nashville Tenn in Park City KY. It took 2 1/2 hours

to get there, but imagine our surprise when we learned it lies in the Central Time Zone, so we gained an hour!! This cave system holds one of the world's most diverse eco-systems. With over 365 miles of explored caves, Mammoth Cave is over twice as long as any known cave. Geologists think there could be 600 miles of yet undiscovered passageways! The whole time in there, I kept thinking about Ayla in Clan of the Cave Bear ! We went here because I received information from Rails to Trails about a bicycle trail here. There was so much to see, we never got to ride and only made it onto one tour! We entered the cave through the historic entrance and walked about a mile into it's depths. The size of the caverns was unbelievable - like grand ballrooms! There is evidence that prehistoric peoples explored Mammoth Cave 4,000 years ago! Archeological evidence shows that these early cavers collected crystals and other salts in the cave. Cave exploration ceased 2,000 years ago, not to resume until the cave was rediscovered in 1798. European settlers came to the Green River valley in the late 1790's, and found uses for the cave. The cave served as a mine for saltpeter, key to the manufacture of gunpowder. Before the War of 1812, enslaved persons mined large quantities of this mineral. Evidence of one of these "saltpeter" pits could be seen, as well as some other artifacts. We enjoyed our visit and hope to return, to explore other areas of the cave and get to do that bicycle route! Sunday we set off to the estate of Henry Clay, the Great Compromiser. He was strongly opposed to a Civil War and worked to successfully avert it three separate times. However, nine years after his death, the War between the stated erupted and was the worst traumata event in Clay Family History. It was amazing to me to realize how much of our history I am ignorant of! Henry Clay was an example (almost an idol) for Abe Lincoln (who was incidentally, born in Kentucky) and ran for president 3 times and lost his party nomination another 2 times!! He is notably one of our greatest statesmen ever, serving as congressman, senator, Speaker of the House, and Secretary of State! The Clay home is a National Historic Landmark and stands as testament to the lives and accomplishments of Clay and his descendants.