We spent all morning yesterday driving the Red River Gorge loop, which is about 36 miles long. There are numerous places to hike....miles and miles of trails leading to natural arches and other great scenery.....but we only stopped at some overlooks or took very short hikes in the steamy heat of the day.
This is typical of the heavily forested scenery along the road.
To the sides there were high rock walls behind the trees.
You come fairly quickly to the Nada Tunnel. A one-lane tunnel through the rock originally built for a train to bring lumber out.
It look a bit scary and small to me!
However, I could see the light at the end and no cars coming!
Not a long tunnel, but very nice to see that bright sunlight and green at the other end!
We hiked along the river in a few spots but usually it was far below where we were driving.
Some pretty wild phlox.
I think this is the Devil's Canyon overlook. It got confusing after awhile. Such a difference from viewing canyons and arches in the West where they aren't blocked by tall trees, to viewing them here where you often can't tell if you are actaully seeing the arch or a solid stone wall as you look out.
If you don't know how arches are formed, this will tell you.
This was at the Skybridge overlook, but neither of us was sure if we ever saw the skybridge.
I saw two large birds soaring in circles overhead but I am no good at sky identifications...Vulture?
We had set down on a rock near the overhang fence to eat a picnic, and this one suddenly swooped up out of the canyon. I got one decent shot before it soared off.
I saw two black butterflies today and didn't realize they were two different ones until I looked at them on the computer. .... Black Swallowtail
Both were lovely swallowtails! This one was on a fading mimosa tree and there were at least 4 yellow ones on the same tree!
This is typical of the heavily forested scenery along the road.
To the sides there were high rock walls behind the trees.
You come fairly quickly to the Nada Tunnel. A one-lane tunnel through the rock originally built for a train to bring lumber out.
It look a bit scary and small to me!
However, I could see the light at the end and no cars coming!
Not a long tunnel, but very nice to see that bright sunlight and green at the other end!
We hiked along the river in a few spots but usually it was far below where we were driving.
Some pretty wild phlox.
I think this is the Devil's Canyon overlook. It got confusing after awhile. Such a difference from viewing canyons and arches in the West where they aren't blocked by tall trees, to viewing them here where you often can't tell if you are actaully seeing the arch or a solid stone wall as you look out.
If you don't know how arches are formed, this will tell you.
This was at the Skybridge overlook, but neither of us was sure if we ever saw the skybridge.
I saw two large birds soaring in circles overhead but I am no good at sky identifications...Vulture?
We had set down on a rock near the overhang fence to eat a picnic, and this one suddenly swooped up out of the canyon. I got one decent shot before it soared off.
I saw two black butterflies today and didn't realize they were two different ones until I looked at them on the computer. .... Black Swallowtail
Both were lovely swallowtails! This one was on a fading mimosa tree and there were at least 4 yellow ones on the same tree! Eastern TigerSwallowtail black version
There is a little area named Gladie, where there used to be a village. This old house was sitting there in a beautiful setting with the mountain in the background and fields where I'm standing. There is a culture heritage center next door with information about the area.
The field behind the house was littered with these old farm implements. Very picturesque!
Hay rake
There is a little area named Gladie, where there used to be a village. This old house was sitting there in a beautiful setting with the mountain in the background and fields where I'm standing. There is a culture heritage center next door with information about the area.
The field behind the house was littered with these old farm implements. Very picturesque!
Hay rakeWe also visited the Perryville Battlefield site on the way to Bardstown, but got there after the museum was closed so there was not too much to see. I will wait and see if we get any other Civil War stuff to post.
Tomorrow we will visit one of the bourbon distillaries here and roam around Bardstown. Then we head for home.
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16 comments:
The rock above the tunnel looks massive! Nice that it wasn't too long as tunnels are kind of fun to drive through but not to stay in too long. You visited some very beautiful countyside as it looks lovely there with lots of treed areas like my province is.
Ann: This part of Kentucky is the foothills of the Applachian mountains and from a nature standpoint is very beautiful. We are now over by Lexington where it is "bluegrass country" and rolling fields with lots of horses. The only bad thing with that tunnel was that it was one lane...but short enough to see that it was safe to go through. Terrible place for a collision if someone messed up! I can not visit your blog from this motel connection for some reason and also some of the others I normally visit. I will just have to wait until I get home to catch up. Don't know why it will let me visit some, but not others.
What interesting countryside you are traveling through! I'm enjoying your trip with you.
Beautiful post with fantastic pictures.
What a wonderful trip you are having - and sharing. Thanks.
How enjoyable. That tunnel is remarkable and those shots of the butterflies wow.
I could live in that one house, surrounded by nature and never leave.
what a great trip! Beautiful pictures :)
I loved that tunnel, the entrance was amacing and the rest of the series too :D
Hi Mary
That looks like a beautiful part of the country and those swallowtails are gorgeous! It's been lovely to ride along with you on this trip. As you probably found out in Wales, most of our country lanes are made for just one vehicle. Makes for interesting driving in the countryside! (-:
Wonderful shots! And you're right - it's a vulture, which flew all the way from Turkey into your pic!
Love the Butterflies!
Cheers, Klaus
What a beautiful trip! All the rocks, the tunnel, that old house, and finally those gorgeous butterflies. Thanks for the ride along.
Now you have to stop and come home Mary...I am envious enough already!! LOL!! What wonderful places you are seeing, wish I were there too!!
As someone else said, that is a vulture. Hawks are creamy/white underneath when they fly. But don't ask me how to identify the individual hawks.
Your photos are just wonderful. I am constantly amazed at the beauty here in the USA. It is neverending!
And that tunnel's entrance is spectacular!
Thank you everyone! It was a good trip and I agree with Annie, that we have so much to see here in the USA and most of us never get around to seeing it. Kentucky is right across the river from my own state and yet, I had never been in any of this area before. There was plenty more that we didn't even get to. I've never seen parts of my own state and hope to see more of that on short trips, also.
Looks like you had a great trip. Just love your butterfly shots!
--JB
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