Post by turnedstone on Apr 25, 2010 19:52:38 GMT -5
Well I made it down to the Mt. Mushroom and Ky. Agate fest. It was in Irvine Ky. man what a great little town it is not too far from Natural Bridge and the Red River Gorge State Park areas. So I spent the night in the Abner Hotel in Stanton not to be confused with the Lil Abner Hotel up the road right by Natural Bridge which I did. I have not been to this area in over 25 years so I was expecting some big time changes, Other than around the interstate exchanges not much has changed. I was surprised as its only 60 or so miles from Lexington and 145 miles from Cincinnati. The drive through just the gorge is about 38 miles the area has over 150 sandstone arches and many cliffs used for climbing I don't do that anymore lol.I did not visit any arches on my way through as all require a drive and a hike and the agate show was under way in Irvine remember, we will get to that later lol. So I stopped at the Nada Tunnel took the pics of the old logging train tunnel which is now a one car only entrance and exit to the gorge area drive its about 1300 feet long or more and very tight fit with big limestone boulders jutting out no lighting other than your head lights opening is from 10 to 12 feet a guess much tighter than I recall.The first pic is the red River after the spring flood it split right here and made an island till it went back down. This area would be under water if the feds. were not fought for years by the local people they won some time in the 90's to preserve this area after many decades of law suits.
This was some wild flowers that were just everywhere
Well this is where I dropped the camera the first time so I took many pics that did not take because the spring that pulls the door closed on the camera has gave way it must control the on off as you must hold it open against the stop before the camera will come on. Well on to the agates thats what you want see anyhow lol. Traffic was backed up out of town 2 miles on 89 I sat for what seemed like an hour and moved may be 1/2 mile. So after some maneuvering I made it to within a mile or so of the festival grounds I asked how far it was and if they thought if it was worth it to walk in from there they said if it was them thats what they would do as they were in the parade and it cant start till they get there. I would pay for this later as I parked the and started for the Mt. Mushroom and agate fest. with great expectations of mushrooms and giant agates driving me forward. I make it to the fest. at about 2:40 run through it real fast grab a bite to eat and head to the agate fest. Which is up the street at least another 6 blocks at the old high school gym seemed closer the night before when I drove by in the car.When I left the agate show it was raining like the dickins by the time I made it back to the car I was soaked from head to toe.Passing trough the mushroom fest on the way out I was told everyone left at about 3:30 when the rain started no mushrooms to be had darn I love them too, at least I got to see some nice agates. Here they are hope you like.
This was some wild flowers that were just everywhereWell this is where I dropped the camera the first time so I took many pics that did not take because the spring that pulls the door closed on the camera has gave way it must control the on off as you must hold it open against the stop before the camera will come on. Well on to the agates thats what you want see anyhow lol. Traffic was backed up out of town 2 miles on 89 I sat for what seemed like an hour and moved may be 1/2 mile. So after some maneuvering I made it to within a mile or so of the festival grounds I asked how far it was and if they thought if it was worth it to walk in from there they said if it was them thats what they would do as they were in the parade and it cant start till they get there. I would pay for this later as I parked the and started for the Mt. Mushroom and agate fest. with great expectations of mushrooms and giant agates driving me forward. I make it to the fest. at about 2:40 run through it real fast grab a bite to eat and head to the agate fest. Which is up the street at least another 6 blocks at the old high school gym seemed closer the night before when I drove by in the car.When I left the agate show it was raining like the dickins by the time I made it back to the car I was soaked from head to toe.Passing trough the mushroom fest on the way out I was told everyone left at about 3:30 when the rain started no mushrooms to be had darn I love them too, at least I got to see some nice agates. Here they are hope you like.
