It's taken 3 nights, but we arrive back on the supercharger network, 800+ miles from whence we started in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky.  We pull into Columbus, Texas late at night and since we are both tired, we fill with enough charge (plus buffer) to make it to San Antonio airport where we will meet up with my husband, my mom and my oldest son all arriving on separate flights. 

Two of the flights are the following day and within 90 minutes of each other.  No point in making 2 trips so I plug into a (Blink) charger in the parking garage and pick up (13kWh @300 sH/mi) about 40 miles.  I don't underestimate these opportunities anymore.

After scooping everybody up, we make our way to the Drury Inn & Suites Riverwalk and check in.  Imagine my excitement when I see...

my ole buddy, the homely socket!  Yea!  I love charging this way when hurry isn't in the vocab.

While waiting for our room to be ready...








my eldest son presents a gift to my mom

and makes her day.

As we're within walking distance of the Alamo, (remember the Alamo?) we waste no time and set out on foot to explore the city.  But this is not the only reason we've come here.  Ever since the seed for this cross country trip germinated in my brain, I've wanted to come to San Antonio to...

Before I head out on a NSC (non-supercharger) travel segment of this length, I always plan the route ahead of time, using plugshare, google maps and Tesla's "partnered hotels".  I optimize the route, typically leaving a 10-15% range buffer for unperceived conditions like elevation gain, head wind, detours, etc.  For extended range charge segments, I build in "halfway point charge options" just in case.  I haven't had to use any of them, but because they're there, I have a high degree of certainty I will never run out of charge.

Because...

• it's not unusual to be void of phone/internet access 
• and although rare, Kitt's navigational systems have been known to freeze,  

I write all charging locations in a notebook.   Additionally, as info is often stale from the net, I call ahead to verify and let them know to expect me. 

On long legs like this next one, I won't stay the night but will spend 6 or more hours charging.  When complete, I continue on for the second leg of the day.  For these "lay-over" sites, I request a NEMA 14-50 only which typically runs me between $5 and $15. This one downtown cost $22. 

Sometimes I don't have a choice, but if I can, I choose a location that is within walking distance of something interesting.  In this case I score with downtown Little Rock, AR. 

USS Razorback
Submarine

When I'm by myself I eat simple, out my cooler in the frunk. With my son, however we opt to find a restaurant that will accommodate vegan as well as carnivore options. We decide on The Root Cafe.  I call them up to verify they'll close at 2:30pm (it's now 2:20 and we're 30 minutes away by foot).  Kevin answers the phone, learns of our predicament and offers to come pick us up.  Although out of character for me, I accept!

I order the spicy banh mi, kiddo orders the burger and we split sweet potato fries.

Everything is fresh and homemade. Kevin tells me, when possible they source local and make their own mayo and sauces.  Seriously, if you're in this neck of the woods and are looking for good food with an unpretentious vibe, give em a try.  They've earned a 4 1/2 star rating on yelp as well as other kudos.










With all tummies full, the humans grab a few homemade goodies for the road and we make our way to Bossier City, Louisiana where we'll all spend the night and charge.

Tesla's recently opened service center in Tennessee is the fastest gun in this part of the country.  Since we're just 90 miles away, we align the cross hairs on Brentwood, TN and make like a bullet.

Although not a supercharger, the high power wall connector at 80 Amps is the Ruger 204 in the charging world.

I must admit, in general I'm not a big fan of software updates. I figure, if it ain't broke don't fix it.  This has serviced me quite well, however I make an exception with Kitt's firmware as well as the associated phone app. 

The phone app (shown in the lower left hand corner of the pic) allows for me to see Kitt's condition from a remote location.   I can check/set/start/stop the charge, check/set the climate, check Kitt's location and get directions from the phone's location, (un)lock the car, start the car, vent the roof, honk the horn, and flash the lights.  I (or my husband from his phone) have employed every one of these functions on this trip.

While I'm here, I stop in and chat with the folks at Tesla and get to see the new Model D, the 4 wheel drive version of the Model S.  Most everything is the same, however the frunk is smaller having lost the "microwave" compartment to the front wheel drivetrain.

I fill to the brim, as I have 224 miles before I can reload in Memphis.  As usual, I start off conservative in my driving until I am confident that I have enough charge to go faster and still arrive at my destination.

We check into the Heart Break Hotel and then drop Kitt off at the RV park directly behind.  Since we are staying at the hotel, there is no fee to charge.

Elvis's music is playing everywhere and I totally get into it, much to the chagrin of my son.  For the next 24 hours, until we're out of Memphis, I'm either singing an Elvis song, playing one on slacker, doing an Elvis impersonation or talking about Lisa Marie/Michael Jackson, or Pricilla's botched plastic surgery. 

"Graceland"
Presley's mansion

I consider it "educational".  Not sure, but I think he sees it as a firing squad.

Just as time and a small amount of water can create mammoth spaces, so does time and a small amount of charge fill empty batteries.  Over the course of 3 nights, I've been able to fill Kitt's cavern with over 200 miles of charge using a 120V socket.  Kitt's now ready, and it's time to reppel towards Texas.


Conveniently located on our way out, is Lost River Cave in Bowling Green KY.  We belay in for one last (underground boat) caving experience.

Lost River is a 7 mile cave system with water running through it.  It is the strangest system I have seen thus far as the river starts from a blue hole, looking much like a sedentary pond.  A nice place to swim on a summer day, I thought.  Not so much, as there is a strong undertow beneath that deceiving calm surface which has sucked in unsuspecting victims to their death.  Yeah, I'll pass. 



The river's current is so fast in fact, that early settlers built a hydroelectric generator which powered a grist mill.

The river level is high from rains that fell the last few days, so we have to duck down more than usual to clear the overhang.










It is beautiful in here, and as we are off season and joined by only 2 others, the guide lets us linger.




Although decidedly "tourist", it is one of mother nature's spectacular marvels, worthy of setting anchor and descending into. 

Although Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system in the world with over 400 miles of chartered passageways, scientists believe there may be another 600 miles or more left to be mapped.  

A dusting of snow covers the ground this morning and it is noticeably colder outside.  The temperatures in the cave however, stay relatively constant and it is actually warmer inside once we travel pass the wide open entrance.

Mammoth cave is aptly named as there are rooms here that are 2 acres in floor space and apx. 90 feet high.  I felt like a little peanut within it's cavernous shell.

Although no bats occupy this section of the cave, there are other entrances that have hibernating bat populations.  Mammoth cave is home to 13 different species of bats, most of which migrate to warmer climates.







Indiana bats remain but have been decreasing at alarming rates due to a emergent disease called white nose syndrome (WNS).  WNS has killed millions of bats across the state of Kentucky and has placed a number of species on the endangered list.



Just like the bats, although a bit on the "late" side, we too must make our way south. Tomorrow we set our course heading towards Texas where we will meet up with other family members to cross off an item that's been on my list for quite some time.  But first we have to get there... and there are no superchargers for 800 miles.

It is my last evening in Nashville, as Kentucky's labyrinth of caves, just a hour and a half away, is beckoning.  I topped Kitt off, while at the concert last night, so I have enough range to comfortably make it to Mammoth Cave National Park some 90 miles away.   


My plan is to pick up a fellow spelunker (my son) from BNA and head to the Sleep Inn & Suites in Cave City.  


I've been off the supercharger network for quite some time now and the more remote I go, the more my charge options dwindle.  It doesn't concern me though as I approach the challenge much like a treasure hunt. 

I have 59 miles of charge left upon arrival and as I approach the hotel, I mention "I'll  add more charge tomorrow... a RV park is 3 miles down the road".  We pull into the hotel parking lot and my son spots this 120V circuit at the front of the building.  Score!  Although I pull only 4 miles/hr., I get an additional 50 miles by morning!

Mammoth Cave is the world's longest known cave system spanning some 400 miles.  They don't stretch in one straight line however, but intersect and run above and below each other like a big but shallow platter of spaghetti.

Although our family is more accustomed to caving on our own, this is not allowed here and so we sign up for two guided cave tours;  the historic, and the domes & dripstone tour.

Limestone caves like Mammoth Cave are formed by water eroding rock over long periods of time. Raindrops pick up carbon dioxide as they fall through the air.  The slightly acidic water now starts to dissolve the limestone as it seeps through cracks in layers beneath the soil.  Over thousands of years cracks grow big enough for a person to crawl through.  Over millions of years, these cracks become huge passageways.  A protective "cap" of harder sandstone acts as a roof protecting the tunnels and passageways.














All kinds of cave critters live here.  Some exhibit amazing adaptation to life in the dark.  Eyeless cave fish live in deep streams surviving up to 2 years without food and have no need for eyes or coloration.   

The park system use to have an aquarium in the cave where visitors could view these fish, however someone complained that National Parks were not allowed to keep animals in captivity, thus the fish have been returned to the depths, exactly the place where we plan to be again tomorrow.

As I've been travelling across the country, I've been keeping an eye on the concert schedule for Eric Church's "The Outsiders World Tour".  When I've been in the West, he's been in the East.  When I've been in the North he's been in the South.  Tonight however, our world's collide, when he performs at the Bridgestone theater to a sold out crowd.

According to People with Money Magazine, Church tops the annual list of 10 highest paid singers for 2015 and has strict conditions on ticket sales. He wants his "real fans" to be able to afford his concerts and has taken a hard stance towards scalpers.   To that end Church uses paperless tickets, requiring a photo id and the purchasing credit card to get into a concert.  Additionally he limits ticket sales to no more than 8 per household.   Since tickets were sold out weeks ago, I made arrangements through Criag's list to meet up with an extra ticket holder who was commuting from Chicago to attend his 18th concert with Church.  A true die-hard fan!

Since parking for 20,000 fans will no doubt choke the city, the plan is to arrive in the morning and spend the entire day here.  I park for $5 in the parking structure by the library (a tip from Rob @ Tesla), bundle up and walk to check out the Capitol building.

"Euphony"
Beaded Chain Hanging
Music City Center

Nashville City Scape

I walk the city, poking my head into just about every door that's open, taking in all I can see before the concert...

and then it's time to go to Church!

Guitar pics line the mic stand

This guy can really rock the house!  You would think after so many concerts, spanning 10 years of performing, he would lose some of the passion.  Not so! This night, he said he was going to keep playing until he dropped...and played he did.  From 7:30pm until well after 11pm.  My feet were howling, as I was in the front with no designated seat.







Church set a new attendance record that night at the Bridgestone,








and through no skill on my part, his guitar pick landed in my hair after a toss into the audience.

Nashville, I'm sure gonna miss you!