17 May 2016, Tuesday

Once again we beat the rain. We are up at 6:30 and the tent is stowed
before the steady morning drizzle begins. We cook and eat our
chocolate chip pancakes and are on the road to Mammoth Cave by 9:30.
After a slight detour to the Trader Joe’s in Knoxville we head for
Kentucky. We gain an hour as we cross into central time in western
Tennessee.

We arrive at Mammoth Cave NP at 2:30 local time. The ranger at the
entrance to the campground tells me I have booked a primitive group
campsite at Maple Springs which is across the Green River. We have to
drive a few miles up the road and cross the river on a free ferry. I do not remember booking a “primitive” site, but he assures us there is water there and a bathroom of sorts. We
find the river crossing and the two car ferry which is attached to a
cable system to guide it across the river. As we cross, we note the
water level is quite high. There are full-sized trees that are in the
river surrounded by water, and the water is flowing swiftly. With even
more rain expected tonight and tomorrow we realize we will not be
able to take the Sea Eagle out while we are here.

We drive up the road and find the group sites. We circle the campground loop twice, but
we only see sites numbered up to 7. We are supposed to be in site 9.
We drive back to the main campground. No one is at the entrance
station so we proceed to the visitor center. At the visitor center we
are helped by a woman with a v e r y  s l o w  d r a w l. She
contacts the campground ranger for us and tells us to return there.

The same ranger looks at my reservation slip again and this time sends us to group site
9 in the main campground. We should have been sent there in the first
place! Here we have lots of room and two picnic tables all to
ourselves. Best of all, the bathroom is close by (nice for rainy
weather) and there is even hand soap in the restroom! We soon have
our tent up and tarp hung, all before the forecast rain begins.

Now off to Meme’s Diner in Cave City for dinner. They are a new establishment
and eager to please. Our food is good family fare. Alas – no beer, they are still awaiting their liquor license. I have grilled salmon,
O has fried oysters. They are all out of desserts except for
sundae’s, but we are so full it doesn’t matter.

We return to camp and find we have been joined by a small group across
the loop. The darkening trees are filled with robin and wood thrush
song.