Making Memories

The worst weather makes the best memories --Unknown / Hiker Lore

We had no agenda for today.  In fact, we really had no idea which way we were going to go.  After checking the weather forecast, we determined that if we drove west, it was going to rain.  If we drove east, it was going to rain,  If we drove south, it was going to rain.  Sometimes we will try to drive out of the weather but this time, that didn’t appear to be possible.

So we drove south.  Towards Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.  Seemed like as good a choice as any.  And since it was run by the National Park Service, our Golden Age Pass would get us half off of nearly everything.  There are a few perks to getting older.  Cheap coffee and the Golden Age pass.  And we don’t drink coffee.  

It seemed like it took a long time.  Maybe that’s because we never drive directly there.  We stopped at Cave In Rock State Park to use their dump station.  The place was deserted but someone eventually noticed us driving around and checking out the office. He drove over and I asked him about using their dump station.  He refused any payment so we were able to dump and take on fresh water for free.

We also walked to this parks namesake.  The cave in the rock.  A big cave in a rock face overlooking the Ohio River.  Legend was that outlaws used this as a hideout but there’s no evidence to back that up.

The route across the Ohio River involves a ferry boat and we were able to let someone else do the driving for 20 minutes or so.

We arrived at the north entrance of Land Between the Lakes just before noon.  We had lunch on a scenic turnout overlooking Kentucky Lake and then drove to the entrance station to get some information.

The guy at the entrance station was very helpful and showed us places for good hiking and camping.  Deb noticed that he did not have the Southern twang that we are hearing around here and asked where he was from. Turns out he grew up in Kalamazoo so we had some conversation on Michigan attractions.

We stopped at a couple places along the way to check them out.  Hillman Ferry Campground.  Moss Creek.  Demumbers Bay.  Several places had rustic campsites available right on the water’s edge.  A lot nicer than the “premier camping” that was suggested to us. I don’t need full hookups.

We wanted to take a hike or do some kayaking but the weather wasn’t cooperating.  Peeks of sun followed by spatters of rain.

One of the suggested hikes was a two-mile loop around Hematite Lake.  When we arrived, there was a storm system that appeared to be sliding off to the north of us.  Maybe it will miss us.  We’ll take the chance.

A nice hike but a bit buggy.  Little gnats or something that always went for the ears. I hate the sound of buzzing in my ears.  So we were continually swatting at them.

On the other side of the lake, there were fewer bugs.  But it grew steadily darker and we both made comments about someone turning out the lights.

We had just under a half hour to go when the rain started.  First a few drops which crescendoed rapidly to one of the hardest downpours I have seen in a long time.  The trail became a running muddy river and it was hard to step on something solid because I could hardly see anything.  Rain and glasses don’t go well together.  We were soon soaked through and even my waterproof hiking shoes filled full of water.

We slogged though this back to the parking lot, where the RV was sitting in its own river.  It was angled such that all the water hitting the roof poured off right above the door.  I reached in, grabbed the awning hook, and pulled the awning out a few feet, giving us a little bit of a buffer zone from the deluge.

I tried to take a picture, but my phone was very wet, so it didn’t turn out so well.  But we still look like drowned rats.

It took us a while to peel the wet garments off ourselves, wring a few gallons of water out of each one, and throw them in the shower.  We’ll deal with the wet stuff later.  

After putting some dry clothes on, we looked at the map for a place to camp.  Taylor Bay seemed like a good one, and it was the closest.  The rain finally started to let up as we were driving there.  We found a site along the water and parked it for the night.  Perhaps we’ll put the kayaks in the water tomorrow and do some paddling.

We walked to the water’s edge after dinner and Deb had just made a comment about perhaps putting the kayaks in the water when a thunderclap sent us scurrying back to the RV.  It poured rain again for a while, stopped, and now is pouring buckets.

But at least we’re not hiking in it.