Historic Diamond Caverns, Park City, Kentucky

I like Kentucky,  It's green with lots of rolling hills.  We spent hours today riding around the secondary roads and it sort of reminds me of home in British Columbia.  In this area the Corvette is King.  It's America's Sports Car as the Corvette Assembly plant is just a few miles alway in Bowling Green.   There are Corvettes everywhere and as you drive through the small towns,  everyone waves at you.   We even had riders of Harleys wave to us, as that is America's Premier Motorcyle

We had one day left to sightsee and one spot we ended up was the Historic Diamond Caverns  (info here)

today there will be more photos than words

There are several caves in this area and we found that most recommended the Diamond Caverns over the massive Mammoth Caverns which has over 400 miles of tunnels

It is very dark down there.  I was shooting at 3200 ISO wide open with a slow shutter so hopefully things won't be too blury.    You are not allowed to bring tripods, monopods, movie cameras, hiking sticks, purses, backpacks, so it was a challenge

It was a moderate 58F down there.

Narrow stairways and steep steps

You are not allowed to wander aimlessly, you must be with a guide

A larger lung capacity would have come in handy as it was a strenuous walk back up

Can you notice the steep angle of the stairs ?

Tomorrow we head to Tennessee.   I am thinking that I will be internet challenged for the next day or so as while there is Internet Available, it  doesn't mention free and you know what that means.   We thought that we got a good rate for the Hotel, but then they didn't tell us about charging $35. to park for the night.

NCM: National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Today was the day we were to finally visit the NCM: National Corvette Museum and tour the Corvette Assembly Plant.  Sorry no cameras nor any electronic devices are allowed

This is where my car was born.   This is the only plant in the world producing Corvettes since 1981

We were lucky to have prebooked our tour on-line months ago

thought you may wish to see the sink hole

it's hard to get close because it is sectioned off and there are security guards everywhere

The Museum also sells bricks for fundraising

The Corvette Assembly Plant was very interesting.  We were allowed to walk around the plant and ask questions.(but no photos were allowed)

Lots of other things were not allowed either.   Outside of the Corvette Cafe I noticed this large rock, everyone was walking past but not noticing it

That's it on the left.  I can't be sure but it looks like it may weigh a ton

Here's what the inscription says

Here's the ZR-1  Spyder, the most damaged car in the collection

Today was Horse Day

We have been in Bowling Green for 2 days.   I have tickets to the Corvette Museum and still have not seen the sink hole.

But today we drove hours and hours North to Louisville, KY

One with car, and one without

It was Hot, Hot, Hot ...

We didn't get an early start and we were a bit time challenged so off we went to the Horse Capital of the World in Lexington, KY

This is a large facility where they keep retired champions,  former Kentucky Derby winners

We got there just in time to see the various performances and wander around the various museums (on location)

After the show, we were allowed to see the horses close up, talk to the trainers and pet them

Then we were allowed to take a short rest

No need for speed

I am not a fast driver or rider.  Speed is addictive and when I was younger, I used to drive faster than I should have.  I drive faster in my Honda Civic than my sports car.    When you have a big engine with power, there is no need to prove anything to anyone

I have no problems passing anyone if I wish to.   Before this trip to Bowling Green was planned, we had a chance to purchase Lap time on the Kentucky Speedway as we would be passing through Florence, Indiana and Kentucky was just on the other side of the Ohio River.

Most others in our group were purchasing lap time so not to feel left out, I purchased a lap session too.  I had never been on a race track before and I was afraid that I would be too slow and hold everyone up

At the race track they have rules.  You have to sign waivers.   You are only allowed to walk into certain areas

and because most of use were first-timers, we were limited to speeds and had to follow the pace vehicle and not pass anyone.   I had also never driven on a banked road surface before

So here is a very rare time where I would have to wear closed toe shoes during my vacation.  And there are also those important Drivers' meetings before you are allowed on the track

Driving on a race track is not something that can be done easily.   You just can't drive by in your rental car and decide to pull in and do a lap or two.   Anyway I survived and it was fun.   I have never driven my car this fast before.   Remember that this is an oval track and the straight section is not that long.  You have to build up speed on the corner,  hit the throttle and then be careful to make the corner at the end of the straight section.   It takes guts to keep the power on until the last moment

We have not had internet for the past 3 days so I am behind.  Some of my stories will have to wait until I get  home.   We also leave early and get back late.   Tomorrow is another 5am alarm and leave by 7am.   We are staying just outside of Bowling Green, Kentucky.   We are melting in the humid heat.  Even the locals are moaning and groaning.   We are here for the 20th Anniversary of the NCM: National Corvette Museum

We started out as a group of about 200 Corvettes traveling with the New Jersey Corvette Caravan.  Included in our group are Corvette Clubs from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI: Prince Edward Island.   I now have new friends in Atlantic Canada.  Today we were joined by two other Caravans from Mid Atlantic USA so this morning we were a group of 400 Corvettes traveling together down I-65 to the Corvette Museum

Also the other cars from our Club,  BC Corvette Club arrived late this afternoon.   They drove from Vancouver and left August 21st.   So now we have 15 cars from our group all here in Bowling Green, KY.  It's nice to see familiar faces

Kentucky Speedway day

At the track

No Internet, on the road

I am so far behind. Lots of stuff happening the past few days but even though we were supposed to have FREE WiFi yesterday, it wasn't working

Now we are in Florence, Indiana and they want $9.95 per day for Internet access and I'm not going to pay . Would you believe that we had to go through Kentucky to get here

If you click my Spot link you can find my location

I hope to have Internet access again next Wed or Thursday

Tomorrow we are going to do a few laps on the Kentucky Speedway Track on the other side of the Ohio river

Sent from my iPhone

Day 7: On the Road

We arrived in Harrisburg, PA last Monday and today we are moving to a new location.  Tonight we will be in New Stanton, PA

Running out of time, so this is just a short update

Yesterday found ourselves heading west to the Gettysburg, National Military Park

This is also the site where they fought the Battle of Gettysburg.   The battlefield was 25 square miles so we took the 2 hour bus tour with narrating guide

It was so sad to see one country in so much turmoil over the freeing of slaves

What luck to find the traveling gnome who had just come back from overseas

to come here to visit with President Abraham Lincoln

A Sea of Corvettes at Carlisle, PA

Today was the first full day of activities.  Yesterday was only for vendors to set up their tents

This is one of the largest gatherings in North America, of Corvettes

If you needed anything for your Vette, then this is the place

Over 150 acres of everything under the sun.  You can buy a car, get financing and insurance.   Or you can get new mufflers, tires or new seats  installed while you watch

there are cars in every direction

The sun may not be out but it was hot and humid and it was a struggle to see everything .  They also had a car corral

and here's beautiful car . . .

better than new

and I also saw another car which caught my attention

Out of the thousands of cars on the field, this may be the only one with this colour

Corvettes at Carlisle, PA

We came to Carlisle to attend THIS  event, Corvettes at Carlisle    We registered months ago

and this pass grants us admission for the whole weekend

Officially things don't start until tomorrow but today is the day that the vendors were setting up their stalls.  Lots of things for sale, seminars, used parts and tech sessions.  You can also buy a new Corvette from a dealer here

We started out mid Morning from our hotel in Harrisburg and drove the 15 miles down to Carlisle

We brought our canopy and our club banner.  There are many clubs from all over the area.  In fact two Corvette clubs are staying at our hotel so our parking lot is full of 'Vettes

Here we are trying to snap a photo of a butterfly

This butterfly seemed to like my friend

Even the travel Gnome was there

This beauty caught my eye.  I like mid series convertibles.  Maybe one day when I win the lotto

Did I mention there were many used parts vendors there.  If you are restoring a classic Corvette, you may find your parts here if you look had enough

Here's the GM Engineering tent full of  2014 new C7's   Later they displayed a cross section of a C7

so you can see how it is assembled

the transmission is on the rear axle

this may be the transmission cooleer

The battery is behind the right wheel

the oil reservoir is behind the right front wheel

There were lots of cars there even though things don't start until tomorrow.

we even had time to relax and enjoy the day BUT little did we know that there was an extreme storm warning and in less than an hour there would be torrential rains mixed with hail,  and it was still 30c,  Hot and Humid.   We rushed back to our hotel to take cover and have dinner.