While Tony set up for a meeting, I enjoyed a horseback ride at the Cumberland Falls Stables here in the park. My mount was General, a twelve-year-old Kentucky Walker. I never had to guide him as he followed the lead horse pretty closely. It was a short train with two guides and three guest riders. The couple that joined me was from Michigan, and we talked about our Midwest accents (yup and ope!) after listening to the lovely Kentucky phrases from our young guides.

The Riding Stable boss and I had a moment to talk before the ride. I asked about the big storms a couple of weeks ago. He said the hay harvest, which should be finished by now, is just getting started. They had 15 inches of rain in May when the average is 3 inches. He said they were without power for 4+ days as so many trees were on power lines that had to be cleared. Trees were across campers and cars and property all around, but no one was hurt.

Daniel Boone (and helpers) hacked his way into Kentucky creating a trail, the Wilderness Road, for settlers to follow. Several things bear his name for his efforts including this 343-mile National Recreation Trail that ends in Tennessee. Boone was captured by the Shawnee and they called him Sheltowee, Big Turtle, when they adopted him into their tribe. The Sheltowee Trace is blazed with white turtles.

With the tree-falls we encountered on this short section of the trail (called the Moonbow Trail) that runs through Cumberland Falls State Park, we felt like we needed to hack our way through. We used GoogleMaps (actually had a connection) and a paper map from the park service, and watched for turtles painted on trees, but still had trouble navigating the trail. This was part of the adventure and we just had to remember our way back. We did have the trail(s) all to ourselves:)