A memorable Memorial Day

After exploring Mammoth Cave National Park, we still had one more night at our campground in Cave City, Kentucky. We knew that some things would be closed on Memorial Day, but we found an interesting assortment of stops to make this day memorable. We realized that we weren't far from some full-time RVers that we had met five years ago in a campground in New York.

Tony and Sharon were easy to get to know five years ago, and we became facebook friends to keep in touch. So we knew that they had given up living in a motor home, and bought a charming old house in Kentucky. We had seen bits and pieces of this 129-year-old Reed-Dossey house from facebook posts, and we couldn't wait to see it--and its owners--in person.

They had recently replaced the dining room ceiling, and also built this exquisite chandelier. Here they serve meals to their overnight guests. They have a room that they rent out through airbnb and vrbo, and the overnight rental includes a delicious breakfast. It can also include an evening candle-light meal if the guests want that.

Through facebook we also knew that Tony was building an electric train town that takes up an entire room upstairs.

We got to peek at the edge of the village where street lights lit up the townspeople and the detailed landscaping. This is Tony's winter project, when they close the bed and breakfast to guests.

They host visitors April through November, and only three days per week. The room always includes fresh flowers from Sharon's flower garden. Denisa couldn't help but take a picture of this triple rose that will welcome tonight's guests.

The summer also finds them busy with a garden, and making fresh jam. Their breakfast guests can choose from eight different jellies, and they even sent home a jar of mulberry jam with us. They would be such gracious hosts that we almost left the motor home for the night! They also give each guest an envelope with marbles inside that represent the gift of each weekend. We are glad that every day is a weekend to us!

But this is a memorable weekend, because it is Memorial Day. Sharon gave us directions to an Amish market just a few miles down the road. After making our purchases, we found a little country cemetery that was decorated for the weekend. It was a time to remember soldiers that gave their all for the freedom that we enjoy. It also brought back memories of people dear to us that were laid to rest in cemeteries back home. While we circled the cemetery parking lot, we met William Cook, who lives a mile away. He visits the cemetery every day since his wife of 64 years died in January. We listened to Mr. Cook's stories for close to an hour, as he gave us a glimpse of growing up poor in central Kentucky. But he and his wife were happy, and he misses her terribly. He enjoyed having someone to talk to on this memorable day.

Our next stop on this memorable Memorial Day was at the Turnhole Bend Nature Trail. This is on the edge of Mammoth Cave National Park, but it is far away from the thronging crowds that are circling the visitor center on this holiday weekend.

This loop trail is less than a mile in length, but has some memorable views.

Our next stop was just down the road at the Cedar Sink Trail. We have found that Kentucky is full of sink holes, and this hike took us to the bottom of the Cedar Sink. Mark is on the trail, looking down at Denisa on the right hand edge of the picture, heading into the sink hole

Of all the places that Tony and Sharon could settle down, they chose Kentucky. They love the mild temperatures that aren't too hot in the summer, or too cold in the winter. Sharon loves the big trees and how easy it is to grow things here. 

It is so green, and we have enjoyed nice weather. We can certainly understand how they have come to enjoy living here.

We aren't finding many wildflowers on the trails here in Mammoth Cave National Park. But sometimes a leaf can be as pretty as a petal. 

By the time we finished our circle of visiting old friends, listening to old stories, remembering old relatives, and hiking new trails, we were tired. But this memorable day isn't over. We stayed up to watch the meteor shower that was forecast in the northern sky around midnight. While it wasn't amazing, we still spotted around a dozen shooting stars over the next hour. While many of our camp sites have been in tree-covered campgrounds, tonight we were lucky to have an open view of the sky. It was a memorable ending to our memorable Memorial Day.