RUBY FALLS, TN

May 26, 2022--A quick note before we get started.  Cathy fixed the HTML code so you should be able to click on each picture now to make it bigger for a better view.  Also, for those of trying to write comments--go to comments at the bottom of the blog and click there.  Next you will see "Enter Comment", so click there.  When you do a screen will come up saying "Comment As: Anonymous" and there is a drop down arrow there.  Click and you will then see a list of 3 options, and you want to click on the one that says "Name/URL".  Just put your name there and then hit continue and you can comment.  It sounds more detailed than it is.

So, off we went to Ruby Falls today, a cavern discovered by mistake by Leo Lambert back in 1928.  Tours actually began in 1930, so he didn't take long to capitalize!  Cathy and I were here about 25 years ago with her mother and father, and like today, it rained then also. lol  We have actually had rain and total cloud cover every day since we left Ft Myers on the 21st.

  

I put these pics here so you can see what I'm dealing with.  lol  Notice the difference in the 2 pics.  Jeannie took the one of Cathy and I, and didn't take even a moment for us to smile.  Now look at the beautiful pic I took of Jeannie and Caja...close-up, smiling, really looking happy to be here.  I now have to give Jeannie remedial picture taking classes. lol

  

We had to take an elevator 420 feet to the floor of the cavern.  When Leo discovered this, he and a few helpers crawled on their bellies for 6 hours, in an 18 inch high space, to find what he ultimately found.  I get the creeps just thinking about that.   

   

There are Stalactites and Stalagmites in here, among other structures.  The Stalactites grow down from the ceiling, while Stalagmites grow up from the ground, and they only grow 1/2 an inch every 100 years.  In this 1st pic is a Stalagmite that they let you touch--they don't want people touching anything else in here as the oils from your hands will stop the future growth of what you touched for 10 years.

  

You'll need to click on these pics to see just how pretty they are.  I put 2 of the Leaning Tower just because I liked it so much. lol

   

There are a few formations they have named...this 1st one looks like a fish.

  

  

Here we have bacon and a potato chip  (They may be taking a little license with the chip--lol)

  

More bacon followed by tobacco leaves.  Now I've never seen a tobacco leaf, but Cathy assures me this is what they look like before they dry.

 

Here is the main room we have been trekking thru the cavern to get to the actual Falls.  As I said earlier, we started at 420 feet off the elevator, and we are now at 1120 feet below the surface.  The falls is measured at 145 ft...really quite amazing!  The video will light up for you after a few seconds, so don't turn it off.

They keep changing the lights, giving a different take each time.

   

   

When you turn around from the Falls, this is directly behind you.  You see Cathy has a mask on...a few other people did also, but the vast majority did not.

   

The trek back to the elevator.  A little fun fact:  In the 1960s this cavern was made a designated bomb shelter with enough food, water, and medicine stored for 720 people for a few weeks.

   

And finally, Caja and I up on a rock tower made from stones excavated from the cavern.  We are looking out at the city of Chattanooga and the Tennessee River.

Tomorrow we are off to Rock City, so more to follow!