a Photo Essay ROBERT JOHN PENCHICK

For people that love to travel, 2020 was a particularly difficult year. However, as soon as travel bans were lifted the plans were made.
Onward, over the road, to the Bluegrass State to explore and experience a small slice of life in a new part of the world.

Traveling across Pennsylvania to the first destination of Barkcamp State Park in Belmont Ohio. After a restful night we are greeted by a beautiful Ohio Spring morning.

Over the River into the Bluegrass State.

Evening falls on the Camp office of Three Springs Campground In Corinth, Kentucky.

Evidence that Spring has arrived while hiking the trails near Corinth, Kentucky.

Nearby restaurant choices are limited, so on a recommendation of good homestyle cooking we venture to the local truckstop. Noble’s Fuel Truckstop.
The smell of cigarette smoke permeates the air and brings back memories of days gone by in the NorthEast U.S.

“Friends Gather Here” for reminiscing, sharing war stories and just relaxing over food and drinks. — “**Friends Gather Here**” for reminiscing, sharing war stories and just relaxing over food and drinks.

Good Advice is displayed in Noble’s Fuel Truckstop’s window.

A beautiful ride west on Rt. 330 takes us on a winding and hilly country road dotted with steep hills and pastures. Lunch destination is Elk Creek Vineyards in Owenton, Kentucky.
A wine tasting flight and a cheese & cracker platter keeps us going until dinner. However local laws say no alcohol sales until after 2:00 PM on a Sunday.

The Highlight of the Journey! ARK ENCOUNTER, Williamstown, Kentucky.
This recreation of the Biblical Noah’s Ark is truly amazing. Built according to the dimensions given in the Bible. Spanning 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, this is a modern engineering marvel.
Conceived by founder Ken Ham, the Ark was built and is operated by Answers in Genesis Ministry that also operates Creation Museum 45 miles north.

Constructed by Amish builders using traditional timber framing techniques, the Ark Encounter is the largest timber frame structure in the United States. After Six years of construction and $100 million in donated funds, Ark Encounter opened on July 7, 2016, a date (7/7) chosen to correspond with Genesis 7:7: "And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood."

The ark contains 132 bays, each standing about 18 feet (5.5 m) high, arranged into three decks. Visitors enter on the lowest deck and move between decks on ramps constructed through the center of the ark. Bays on the first deck contain models of some animals that they believe could have been on the ark.

Displays of working and living spaces inside the Ark.

Heading South-West on the Bluegrass Parkway, we are in need of a lunch and fuel stop. A highway sign informs us of “Ernie’s Tavern” at exit 34 in Bloomfield, KY SOUNDS GOOD!

Bloomfield Kentucky! 1.46 square miles in Nelson County. Population 808. Incorporated in 1819, Many of the “Downtown” Businesses show a construction date of 1894. — Bloomfield Kentucky! 1.46 square miles in Nelson County. Population 808.
Incorporated in 1819, Many of the “Downtown” Businesses show a construction date of 1894.

We find “Ernie’s Tavern”, AKA Bloomfield Meeting Hall, AKA The Double Dip Soda Fountain, but it is closed on Mondays!

The ‘Double Dip” gets a new sign.

Since most of the stores and restaurants are closed on Mondays, lunch is at Hometown pizza.

Unique and nostalgic gifts can be found at Nettie Jarvis Antiques! After all, this is the Original Land of Lincoln!

The red doors of the Bloomfield United Methodist Church glow under cloudy skies.

Lucky new owners take possession of their 2021 Chevrolet Corvette at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green Kentucky, recently assembled just across the street !

“The National Corvette Museum opened in 1994 as an educational tribute to America’s sports car. The Museum is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, known worldwide as the home of the Corvette. Every Corvette in the world since 1981 is assembled at the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant located just ¼ mile from the National Corvette Museum.”

The XP-895 concept car. At the time Chevrolet General Manager John DeLorean ( remember him? ) entered into an agreement with Reynolds Metal Company to fabricate a new aluminum body. The body reduced weight by almost 40% when it was publicly introduced in 1974.

The Interior of the “Skydome” display area. “Noted for its award-winning architectural design, the lines of the building were inspired by the car it honors.” Being 12 stories high, it is a landmark in the Bowling Green Kentucky area.

You may have heard about the National Corvette Museum when it made international news headlines on February 12, 2014. A 30 foot sinkhole collapsed in the Skydome of the Museum in the wee hours of the morning. Eight Corvettes fell into the sinkhole that morning, some completely destroyed.

The Manhole display showing the cave floor 30 feet below where the sinkhole opened that morning.

The photographer gets a quick self-portrait in before leaving the Museum.

Lunch time in Bowling Green Kentucky and we want some Southern BAR-B-Q !

Advertised as “Monroe CO. Style Bar-B-Q, we enjoy excellent Ribs, Brisket and Pulled-Pork!

Texas Longhorns graze in a pasture of flowers as we return to camp from Bowling Green.

A profusion of Yellow lines the country roads as fields of Meadow Buttercups display their color!

A National Park Service Ranger gives us Information and instructions before we take the self-Guided Tour.
Due to construction, the most popular tour, the “Historic Tour” is the only one available. We follow in the footsteps of other visitors who have been touring the cave for the past 200 years.

Upon entering the cave, you realize it is truly MAMMOUTH! — Upon entering the cave, you realize it is truly **MAMMOUTH!**

In 1891 Frances Benjamin Johnston became enamored with photography, the new “flash light” and the newly invented Kodak camera. Frances quickly gained repute as a successful photographer who complemented her photos with well-written, insightful articles.
”Mammoth Cave by Flash-light” was one such success. Her work capturing the cave’s darkness and mystery was pronounced “the finest series of underground pictures yet produced”

National Park Service Ranger Josh, plays a beautiful tune that resonates in the unique acoustics of the cave.

Water continues to flow in front of the main cave entrance as we exit.

Onward to Cumberland Gap National Park!

Heading East on the Cumberland Parkway we follow a sign for a Marina. Perhaps a nice little beach with a pavilion to enjoy a lunch?

The “Lunch Stop” ends up being a 16 mile trek through beautiful countryside dotted with many small churches.

An indoor Kentucky “Yard Sale’ is another unique find along the way.

We finally arrive at Wolf Creek Marina. Now to find a parking spot! This spot doesn’t look promising.

We are greeted by a friendly Marina employee who welcomes our visit to the private Marina as it is early in the boating season and not busy at all.

What we thought would be a quiet little Marina turns out to be a HUGE floating town on a tributary to the Cumberland River.

Houseboats of every size, shape and color line the many docks of Wolf Creek Marina. We are lucky enough to tour one that is for sale!

The daughter’s bedroom in “Mermaid” Motif.

Boats of all sizes and types are docked at the Marina.

The manager of “Fishtales” restaurant kindly takes our drink order. Food is not available yet as the season is just beginning.

Imagine the amount of fuel those huge houseboats consume!

On to Cumberland Gap National Park which lies along the borders of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Pinnacle Overlook has views of Cumberland Gap, a pass in the Cumberland Mountains once used by pioneers headed west. The most notable pioneer being Daniel Boone in 1775. The park was established on June 11, 1940 by Franklin Roosevelt in order to "commemorate the story of the first doorway of the west.

Onward and upward on the path to the Pinnacle Overlook at 2440 feet high. A rare opportunity to be in two states at the same time !

The town of Cumberland Gap Tennessee from the Pinnacle Overlook.

We start our Cumberland Gap hike on the historic Object Lesson Road. The Object Lesson automobile road goes through the Gap. Rehabilitated in 2002 to its 1907 condition, this path is wide and an easy climb up to the Saddle of the Gap.
Beginning in the 1800s, the "macadamized" technique of road construction, building the road with layers of crushed stone, mixed with tar that would create a smooth and water resistant roadway-was used as well as other similar techniques. This was an example of the "Newest Methods in Good Road Construction."

An abundance of regional Flora line the path as we make our way up to the Tri-State Peak Loop trail.

Including a Pink Lady Slipper! The Cypripedium acaule, a species of Slipper Orchids is a perennial herb, is Super rare and illegal to pick. Lady Slippers take many years to grow from seed to mature plant.
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/cypripedium_acaule.shtml

After a longer than anticipated climb, we reach the Tri-State Peak at 1900 feet. This is the point where the THREE States come together.

After dinner we wander around the tiny historic town of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. Within a three block area inside the downtown, there is an array of quaint shops and restaurants. The town is a total of 210 acres with a population of approx. 326.

A “Blast from the past” drives by as we tour the town!

When in Tennessee you Must follow the rules!

CSX Cumberland Gap Tunnel. Built in 1888 -1889 by the Powell's Valley Railroad. Built underneath the gap instead of through it, because the uplift of rock under Cumberland Gap was too steep to negotiate. It Crosses from Claiborne County, Tennessee to Bell County, Kentucky, with the entire Lee County, Virginia portion underground. Total length: 3,741.0 ft. (0.7 mi.)

As we walk across a parking lot toward the Old Iron Furnace we don’t realize that we crossed the state line into Virginia.
On his historic journey through the gap in 1750, Dr. Thomas Walker made note of a spring coming from a cave. In his journal he noted that "the spring is sufficient to turn a mill." In 1819, a blast furnace was built on the stream below the cave, now known as Gap Cave. Large, sandstone blocks were used from nearby and fire brick was used to line the inside of the furnace which was used to smelt iron.
The furnace, which was known as Newlee's Iron Furnace, operated throughout the 1800's. Some of the iron was sold to local blacksmiths. Some of the iron was shipped in the form of ingots or "pigs" down the Powell River to Chattanooga, Tennessee

Water from the cave spring still rushes down the hill.

The Olde Mill Inn's log cabin, built in the 1700s, is the oldest standing building in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. A "single pen" is a basic log house. Built in the late 1800s, The Olde Mill Inn was thought to be a boarding house for the Pinnacle Wagon Works located across the street (c. 1905). The entire house is built of tongue-and-groove wood, and set on a field stone foundation.
https://www.oldemillinnbnb.com/cumberland-gap-history

As we cross an intersection we are greeted by Maxine! She welcomes us to Cumberland Gap and is so happy we came to visit. She shares much with us, including that she was originally from Kentucky, but has lived in this town for the past 58 years. She also shared that she used to live in the house just across the intersection. A warm southern welcome from a local resident!

Next stop, Angelo’s In The Gap restaurant for a snack and some cool refreshment. The ornate exterior includes fancy iron work on the front door and an impressive interior in this old building.

As we wait for a table on a busy night with a limited number of restaurant staff, locals spend the time shooting pool.

And it’s Prom night in the Cumberland Gap area tonight. These lovely ladies came in for dinner before the Prom.

As we enjoy our meal we sing along to John Denver’s “ Take me home Country Roads”.

Our time in the Gap comes to an end, but not before a highly recommended stop at the Montgomery Grocery Store just east of town in Virginia. Most anything you need is available here!

The last leg of the journey takes us to Endless Caverns Campground in New Market, Virginia. First call to order is climbing the side of the mountain to experience the LARGE Endless Caverns sign!

The sun quickly slips below the horizon in this view of one of the old original cabins.

A roaring campfire is the only way to prepare a meal when camping!

Our final traveling day starts early with the first cave tour of the day. Tickets are purchased in the Endless Caverns Gift shop where you can find all of the usual souvenirs. We wait on the porch for the tour to begin.