Today took us to the Lost Sea Caves in Sweetwater, TN (about 45 miles outside Knoxville). The Tennessee/Kentucky area has an abundance of caves, which we have always found intriguing. We have seen many caves over the years, and I'm always experiencing them in a state of fear and awe. I'm a little bit claustrophobic... This was more like a cavern, and was spacious, and unterrifying. :)
If course, since it's dark, pictures were hard to get.
We came to this cave because of the underground sea, but it has some other neat history. Saltpeter was mined here for the Civil War, Moonshine was created and stored here, and the larger rooms were used for party rooms back in the day. How fun would that be?
But the neatest thing was the underground lake. After walking down in to the cave and seeing various formations, we wound down to the shores of a lake! It's apparently the largest underground lake in the world. We got to go out on little boats to see the sides of it, and it was so amazing! It felt like exactly what Doon and Lina would have seen in City of Ember when they left Ember on the river. Even if you haven't read that book, you know how special it is to feel like you're living in a book you've read.
Tomorrow we have our sights set on a pedicure (wahoo!), and then driving to Nashville.
Hint: This post is funnier when read with a slight twa-ang.
First a catfish helps you off a lift, then there's a 15 foot Jesus, and you're hearing Christmas carols at Starbucks -- in April. Now you think you can find moonshine and saltpeter (don't tell me why you need this, either) in the same cave you think you've been paddling around in, AND you've seen the City of Ember? Just how hot is it there, anyhow? Two words: hydrate. -- the other Acton.
ReplyDeleteHave you been to the Loveless Cafe, supposed to be world famous.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lovelesscafe.com/index.html