Day 10: Hidden River Cave, KY

Today we got really, really dirty. Like REALLY dirty. How you ask? Wild caving in Hidden River Cave (previously known as Horse Cave), just outside of Cave City, KY. This “Off Trail Tour” was the only wild caving tour I could find anywhere that would accommodate a seven and eleven year old; usually the age cut off is 13. The boys really enjoyed it. Within the first 5 minutes we had walked through a river completely soaking our hiking boots. We then conquered the “knee buster” passage that required a combination of very low crab walking and crawling on our hands and knees. Our 19 year old tour guide Jack also had the boys army crawling on their stomaches through two really tight passages. Ian and I opted out of the crawling citing this part as a young person’s game, lol. At one point, we all turned off our headlights to experience the absolute blackness deep inside the cave. During our journey, Ian made good use of his helmet and bonked his head real good three times. We also saw a very cool cave crawfish with totally transparent skin that allowed us to see all his insides. We tried hard not to step on him. At the end of the tour we got to walk the route of the regular cave tour to see the sunset dome; it is the second largest cave dome in the US beat only by the dome in Carlsbad Caverns, in New Mexico (which we will be seeing later in our trip). Guide Jake told us it would take 880,000,000 Rubick’s Cubes to fill the dome! 

Before

After

Alistair hanging up all the wet insoles of our boots.

In the afternoon we did some rock shopping with our spending money from the grandmas at the very reasonably priced Big Mike’s Rock Shop. Alistair cleaned up selecting a “pint” of assorted rocks for $9.95. He also purchased a very cool TV Rock (made of feldspar). Liam opted for a polished opalite. Seamus could not decide (SO many choices) so he is holding on to his spending money for now.

We also grocery shopped for a steal of a deal at the Dollar General Market in preparation for burritos for supper tonight. 

Burrito bowl

It has been a rock-solid day.