Kentucky & Maryland Camping - June, 2016

Monday - June 13, 2016

We left home headed to Mammoth Cave National Park for our first post-retirement camping trip.  We traveled north into Missouri, then took I44 to Springfield, and Hwy. 60 to Sikeston, Missouri where we spent the night.

Tuesday - June 14, 2016

Left Sikeston about 8:00 am headed to Mammoth Cave National Park.  We crossed the Mississippi River and very shortly after crossed the Ohio River.  We were able to see where the Ohio River runs into the Mississippi River.

Bridge over the Mississippi River

Bridge over the Ohio River

The Ohio River with a view of the Mississippi
 River in the distance

Entering Kentucky just after crossing the Ohio River

We got to our campsite about 1:00 pm and immediately set up camp even though it was very hot because it was supposed to rain later.  Sure enough, the rain came hard about 3:00 pm.  We sat in the camper for 1 1/2 hours without any let up and decided to drive to Bowling Green to get supplies and eat supper.  We ate at the Smokey Pig BBQ.  When we got back to camp it had stopped raining so we finished setting up camp.  We sat around for a while and saw 2 deer walk through our campsite.

Our campsite at Mammoth Caves National Park

Another view of the campsite

Wednesday - June 15, 2016

Had a good evening, but it was so humid that everything in the camper became damp.  Also had a small leak that made the corner of one bed a little wet.  Had sausage and egg wraps for breakfast.  While we were cleaning up we saw a turkey gobbler walk through our campsite.   Later in the morning we walked 1/2 mile on the Mammoth Cave Railroad trail to the visitor center to buy tickets for a cave tour on Thursday.  Then we hiked on the River Styx Spring Trail which took us by the historic entrance to the trail and down to the Green River.  There is a very cool breeze that comes out of the historic entrance.  This trail was fairly steep down to the river, which means we had a very steep trail back up.  

Mike next to the old Mammoth Cave train

A view of the Green River.  And it is green.

Mary next to an extremely large sycamore tree.

Styx Spring

Fog by the historic entrance.  

We went back to camp and ate lunch, then sat around reading all afternoon.  It was too warm and humid to do any more hiking this day.  We fixed pork chops, corn on the cob, and broccoli for supper.  We had to cook under the awning because it started raining again.  Ended up spending the evening in the camper so that we could stay dry.

Thursday - June 16, 2016

Another hot and humid day.  We had breakfast then took a short walk around the campground.  We drove to the campstore to have showers.  The store and showers are operated by a private company and they did not do a very good job of keeping things clean.  Glad I had shower shoes to wear.  Cost $3 to take a shower.  The people that work for the national park service do a good job keeping the bathrooms clean.  Wish they also operated the showers.  After our showers we had lunch then went to the Visitor's Center to be ready for our cave tour.  We chose the Dome and Dripstone Tour which is a 2 hour tour.  This was mainly through dry cave areas with just one area that had pretty formations.  We enjoyed the tour though and the interpreter was good.  The following are some random shots of us and the cave on the tour. 

Looking down from the narrow trail.

Mike coming out of an extremely narrow, low
part of the trail

Mary on the trail

'Niagara Falls' flow in the cave

 We got back to camp about 4:00 and later had leftovers for supper because it rained again.  We haven't even tried to build a fire or cook with charcoal because it has been too damp.  The rain storm this evening blew really hard and there was some hail, too.  After the rain stopped we were able to sit out and enjoy a pleasant evening.

Friday - June 17, 2016

Got up early to get things ready to break camp.  Put the coffee on, but didn't have the pot under the filter correctly, so all I made was a mess.  We went ahead and packed up camp and got on the road by 8:00 am.  On the way out of the park we saw 2 hens and 1 gobbler turkey.

Turkeys by side of road

We stopped at a McDonald's for breakfast before getting on I65N heading to Carter Caves State Resort.  Stopped at a Kroger to get supplies and lunch.  Made it to the campground just a little after 3:00 pm.  This campground is okay, just has sites a lot closer together than Mammoth.  Weather was clear and pleasant.  Our first night on this trip without rain.  Also have electricity so we can run the AC.  Yea!  Grilled chicken and veggies for supper.  

Campsite at Carter Caves State Park

Saturday - June 18, 2016

Got up and had breakfast then went for a 2 mile hike in the park.  It was a very hilly trail that went through several hollows.  Very Pretty.  Got back to camp and had lunch then sat around all afternoon.  Had leftovers for supper then sat around till bedtime.

One of the bluff caves by the trail

Another bluff cave

A waterfall by the trail

Sunday - June 19, 2016

Had breakfast then went on a 3 mile hike to the Smokey Bridge.

Natural Bridge

Mike by bluff on the trail

Mary at the opening of the Smokey Bridge

This was a very pretty trail to hike and not too hard.   After hiking we ate lunch then went into Olive Hill to get supplies.  I washed clothes at the campsite laundry so we would be ready to leave for the next campsite in the morning.  Mike grilled hot dogs and corn on the cob for supper.

Monday - June 20, 2016 through Monday - June 27, 2016

We got up fairly early, had breakfast, and broke camp by 8:30 am.. We headed to Deep Creek Lake State Park in Maryland where we met the family.  We got to the campsite about 2:30 pm.  Before we got the trailor set up, Scott and the kids got there.  About an hour later Eric and family arrived.  We all got camp set and Mike fixed hot dogs for supper.  Eric, Scott, Caroline, and Elli went fishing.  Elli caught a big blue gill.  We roasted marshmallows then went to bed.  Elli slept in the trailer with me.  

We stayed at Deep Creek for a week.  Eric had to go to Chicago for work Tuesday evening through Thursday evening.  Beth got to camp on Wednesday night after she finished school.  The guys did some fishing.  Eric caught a really big catfish while he and Scott were fishing from the canoe in the ? reservoir.  We hiked a couple of days and went swimming  at the beach at Deep Creek.  We left on Monday, June 27 Eric and family heading home and everyone else heading to Scott and Beths.

 

 

Pictures as we hang out at the campsite.

 Hiking at Swallow Falls State Park

-Hiking at Deep Creek Lake State Park 

 

The girls were excited that they caught a couple of frogs.

Tuesday - June 28,2016 through Saturday - July 2, 2016

Stayed at Scott and Beth's until Saturday morning when we headed home.

Tuesday we went to the beach on the Chesapeake.

Mike with Elli and Oscar

Digging holes in the sand

 On Wednesday, Mike and Scott made one batch of beer and bottled another.

On Thursday, we all went to the Six Flags Park and Waterpark.

I rode the air plane ride with the kids

Riding the Tea Cup with the kids

Riding the kids roller coaster

Scott and I on the roller coaster

Saturday - July 2, 2016

Left for home.  We spent the night at a Days Inn in Lexington, Kentucky.  

Sunday - July 3, 2016 through Tuesday - July 5, 2016

We made it to Sherwood by 5:00 pm on Sunday.  We stayed here for a couple of days then made it home by 1:30 pm.  The house had lots of crickets in it and the AC in our bedroom was leaking. Not a fun way to start being at home.  We did have a great trip, enjoying the camping and time with family.

Sylvan Lake State Park, Colorado Camping Trip

June 22 - 29, 2015


We left Prairie Grove on Sunday, June 21 at about 5:45 a.m.  headed to Colorado. We spent the night in Limon, Colorado at an Econolodge then headed on to Sylvan Lake State Park the next day.  We stopped in Eagle for lunch and to buy food supplies.  Made it to the campsite at about 2:30 and got the camp set up.

Mike at our campsite

Campsite,

We walked to the lake and then fixed supper.  Sat out and looked at stars for a while before calling it a night.

Sylvan Lake

Mike on the dam.

View to the north east of our campsite

Sylvan Lake State Park Campgrounds

Another view of the campground

On Tuesday, June 23, we hiked around the lake, fishing, and enjoying the views.  Didn't have any luck fishing, but enjoyed the hike.

Sylvan Lake

Mike trying to catch trout

View of campgrounds from far side of the lake

Trout fishing

Mary in front of Lake Sylvan

Lake Sylvan

On Wednesday, June 24, we hiked the west Brush Creek Trail to Bear Gulch.  This trail starts in the campgrounds and is an out and back trail and was about a 4 mile hike.  Saw many pretty views and some fresh bear scat on the trail.  A couple of days later some women saw a bear on the trail in that area.

West Brush Creek

Mike on Brush Creek Trail

White Violets

View of the campground from the trail.

Bridge over West Brush Creek

Mary on trail

Old farm building

Mike taking a rest

View of the trail

Mary at end of trail

On Thursday, June 25,  we drove into Eagle to get ice and some other supplies.  We ate lunch at a pizza place in town.  Since it is an hour drive to town, that made for a pretty full day.  We grilled pork chops for supper, then built a fire for the evening.

Deer by the side of the road

View on the way to Eagle.

On Friday, June 26,  we hiked along West Brush Creek from The Meadows to Horton Gulch. After supper we fished for about an hour and caught a rainbow and a cutthroat trout.

West Brush Creek

Old Ranch building

Another hiking day

A hot, sunny day

A larger field on the trail

Mike

Mary

On Saturday, June 27, we drove 6 miles up the mountain on East Brush Creek to the National Forest Campground, Yeoman's Campground and hiked Brown's Loop.  It is a 3 mile hike by the creek.  A very pretty, but not difficult hike.  After the hike we had to drive to Eagle to get ice because the visitor center had no ice.  They couldn't order any until the new fiscal year starts in July.  Ridiculous!

Mike in the field

Old ranch building

View of forest service campground from trail

Mary

Pond at the end of the field

East Brush Creek

Mike reading trail information

Fairy Slipper flower

Interesting flora

Lunch break selfie

Columbines by the road

A golden eagle crossing the road in front of the car

Sitting by the camper.

On Sunday, June 28, we hiked the trail around Sylvan Lake again.  We spent the afternoon packing everything we could in preparation for our trip home on Monday.

View of Sylvan Lake from the road up the mountain.

On Monday, June 29, we left the campground about 7:30 and headed in to Eagle to get breakfast before heading home.  We stayed in Hayes, Kansas overnight and got home on Tuesday about 3:00 pm.  We had a great trip.