Now, throughout our trip Bill has done many rolling teleconferences. I take the helm, and he holds up his phone as we roll along and scans for a place where he has four bars. Then he says, “Pull over!” (You’d be amazed how many cell phone dead spots still exist in America, and yes, we have Verizon).
There’s no good shoulder on the interstate, so we exit (at an appropriate speed, with turn signals) onto a country road and park in a little pullout . . . and 30 seconds later a Kentucky state trooper pulls in and parks right behind us. Well!
Bill really needs to conference, so, he does. I have the registration and proof of insurance at the ready. I check the rear view mirror. The trooper is looking us over. He’s talking on the radio.
There he sits for about 40 minutes, Bill's conferees wondering at each moment when he will be collared and removed from the scene.
Sorry to be anticlimactic: A few minutes before we are ready to leave, the trooper leaves. What was that all about?
Later in the afternoon, after a long day’s drive, we need a walk, so we pull off at Carter Caves State Resort Park. (This is something new to us on this trip: State RESORT Parks. They are fancier than plain old state parks, including in their amenities not just the traditional campground, lake, marina, hiking trails, etc., but also an actual resort, i.e. reasonably nice hotel. )
Anyway, we ask at the visitor center and get a map of the trails. We have an hour of daylight and discuss taking the two-mile loop, but the ranger intervenes and tells us firmly that this is not a reasonable choice and we should take the half-mile loop.
We feel capable of walking two miles in one hour, but we’re not gonna argue with a guy in uniform after our earlier experience. Off we go on the half mile trail and we’re back 10 mins later, so we head out on the other trail, figuring we’ll watch the clock, go out 20 mins, then head back. The ranger and the gift shop lady stand on the steps watching us, shaking their heads.
When we come back, the minute we approach our car, the last two cars in the parking lot fire up their engines and pull out. We catch a glimpse of the occupants and realize that the ranger and gift shop lady were hoping to shut down and leave early but have waited around to MAKE SURE WE CAME BACK. After all, there are caves out there and a silly tourist could, I dunno, do something.
It’s actually still light so we drive up to the resort hotel, from whence a 0.1 mile trail leads to “the largest natural bridge in Kentucky.” Gotta see that! (Check the photo) So off we go, and when we come back . . . there’s ANOTHER ranger in another official vehicle, motor running, waiting in the parking lot, TO MAKE SURE WE CAME BACK.
We couldn’t decide whether to feel grateful someone cared or bugged by the surveillance. So whaddaya think: Do we look dangerous or just in need of protection?
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