Family Road Trip through Twelve US States
- Thread starter PetitFrereArmada
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PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
We really enjoyed our time at Disney.
I have been using my GoPro. I have about 6 hours to 8 hours of driving videos already. My best so far is my drive to TN with this lady in her Mercedes Benz racing me. She drives like a pro. I mean, taking curves like a racing car driver. I enjoy watching the footage. I also have 2 other nice videos that I enjoy watching. An offroad drive on my way to drive on the trail of the dragon and my drives in the Smoky mountains.
I have not downloaded a software to help me make my videos so I can upload and share them. Still haven't figured that out yet. I plan to download the free app from the GoPro site, but if there is any program that is free and better, kindly let me know. My videos look good particularly as I put my GoPro out of my car and it held great for speeds of up to 80mph and even on slow speeds on the very bumpy offroads.
This is how I ran my GoPro for ALL my videos while here in Gatlinburg, TN.
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PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Thanks for taking the time to read it.
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Drove today from Gatlinburg, TN to Mammoth Cave, KY. Great drive, as usual.
Before we left Gatlinburg, took a pic from our hotel room; Park Vista doubletree.
Then took a last shot of the hotel just before we drove off.
Before we left Gatlinburg, took a pic from our hotel room; Park Vista doubletree.
Then took a last shot of the hotel just before we drove off.
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Got on the road, but we were hungry. So drove for 15 minutes and got tot Pigeon Forge where we had breakfast at the Old Mill restaurant. If you are in the area, please, go there to eat. If you do not enjoy your food, PM me and I will refund your money back!!! I am kidding. But the food here is really good. I can guarantee you will enjoy the food too.
Took a random shot of some wild geese, from our table at the restaurant.
Took a random shot of some wild geese, from our table at the restaurant.
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PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Done eating and we got on the freeway. On I-75. The road was busy. Speed limit 70mph, but everybody was doing 80mph. Then all of a sudden traffic slows down to 60mph and we started wondering why. Took a little bit, then we see this convoy of military people driving. we wondered where they were heading to. My guess is Fort Knox, KY. I overtook them just about 15mins before I stopped to take my picture at Welcome to Kentucky. At which time they came and overtook me.
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PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Drove through Daniel Boone National Forest. Not much to report on or see. So, just drove on.
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Next stop, Mammoth Cave National Park. All I can say is WOW!!! This is a must-see attraction. Our tour was a 2 hour long tour inside the cave that has a constant temperature of 54F.
This place has a great story that debuts from 1812. From what I learned on my tour, this cave was owned by a business guy. The cave has a lot of nitrate deposits and so, this guy had slaves working for him mixing the earth from the cave rich in nitrates with water. This mixture was sold and it was used to make gun powder.
To get water into the cave, the slaves had trees that were hollowed out to form pipes. These trees were connected to each other in a way that we connect pipes today. This was their way of bringing water from the surface to down inside the caves so they can mix the water with the soil down there and sell that to people making gun powder.
This was all done in 1820. And today, those hollowed trees are still inside the cave. One visitor asked how is it possible that those are still the original hollowed trees? Why are they not decayed? or dried? The park ranger responded it is because of the cold (54F) constant temperature in the cave that has preserved it from 1820 to today.
The most interesting places in the cave where we stopped for some history were;
The Church (this area still used occasionally by the park for services like singing of Christmas carols by choir groups
Giant Coffin (it really looks like a coffin and has a passage behind it)
The steps of time (It is believed you get younger when you go down the stairs) Well, I went down them today. Still waiting to see if it will make me younger. It is just a tale, though.
Bottomless pit. (Really scary pit in there!!!)
River Hall (Deepest part of the tour and known to flood a lot)
Off we go into the cave. Starting our 2 hours tour.
This place has a great story that debuts from 1812. From what I learned on my tour, this cave was owned by a business guy. The cave has a lot of nitrate deposits and so, this guy had slaves working for him mixing the earth from the cave rich in nitrates with water. This mixture was sold and it was used to make gun powder.
To get water into the cave, the slaves had trees that were hollowed out to form pipes. These trees were connected to each other in a way that we connect pipes today. This was their way of bringing water from the surface to down inside the caves so they can mix the water with the soil down there and sell that to people making gun powder.
This was all done in 1820. And today, those hollowed trees are still inside the cave. One visitor asked how is it possible that those are still the original hollowed trees? Why are they not decayed? or dried? The park ranger responded it is because of the cold (54F) constant temperature in the cave that has preserved it from 1820 to today.
The most interesting places in the cave where we stopped for some history were;
The Church (this area still used occasionally by the park for services like singing of Christmas carols by choir groups
Giant Coffin (it really looks like a coffin and has a passage behind it)
The steps of time (It is believed you get younger when you go down the stairs) Well, I went down them today. Still waiting to see if it will make me younger. It is just a tale, though.
Bottomless pit. (Really scary pit in there!!!)
River Hall (Deepest part of the tour and known to flood a lot)
Off we go into the cave. Starting our 2 hours tour.
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Random pics inside the cave;
Writings on the wall from the 1800s
Bottomless pit
Fat Man's Misery (A section of the cave where if you are basically fat, you will suffer getting through. We had to go through it and the heavy set people had a tough time going through. But we all made it. Nobody is left behind at all)
Writings on the wall from the 1800s
Bottomless pit
Fat Man's Misery (A section of the cave where if you are basically fat, you will suffer getting through. We had to go through it and the heavy set people had a tough time going through. But we all made it. Nobody is left behind at all)
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
After 2 hours of tour and good history lectures, we saw light again and it was time to make our ascend back to the park. As we got out of the park, we suddenly got into 83F of heat and realized we preferred the cold 54F we were complaining about when we started the tour. The caves stay quiet cold at 54F throughout the year.
When we came out, the park rangers made everybody walk on some pad that contained water and soap. This is is to help clean our shoes of any possible diseases we may have picked up from the cave, especially the white nose syndrome.
When we came out, the park rangers made everybody walk on some pad that contained water and soap. This is is to help clean our shoes of any possible diseases we may have picked up from the cave, especially the white nose syndrome.
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PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Spending the night today at a B&B (Bed and Breakfast). Looking forward to our drive tomorrow to Fort Knox and then to Nashville, TN.
Woke up yesterday and had a nice breakfast at the BB with some other families who spent the night. Our host was a friendly guy and the food was simple and good.After breakfast, we left to start off our day by going to places we had planned.
Woke up yesterday and had a nice breakfast at the BB with some other families who spent the night. Our host was a friendly guy and the food was simple and good.After breakfast, we left to start off our day by going to places we had planned.
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PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
We drove to Fort Knox, where we saw the Gold vault and the army base and also General Patton's museum.
Our national gold reserve is stored deep down in the ground, under this building. This gold vault is right next to the military base in Fort Knox so it has some real protection.
Our national gold reserve is stored deep down in the ground, under this building. This gold vault is right next to the military base in Fort Knox so it has some real protection.
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PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Yesterday, we drove from Indiana to Memphis, TN. Long drive. Passed through Tennessee and stopped at the Grand Ole Opry.
Getting into Nashville, there was a one hour construction delay.
Getting into Nashville, there was a one hour construction delay.
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PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
We continued to Memphis and this morning, went to Graceland and Sun records. Great places to visit. I have pictures to share of our Graceland tour, maybe t can encourage some of you to go r if you can't go, atleast have an idea of what you can see there. Good place to visit with family.
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PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
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