>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU.
>> THIS FEELS NICE.
>> AMERICAN MUSCLE RIGHT THERE.
>> AMERICAN MUSCLE,
THAT IS MY NEW NICKNAME.
>> HI FOLKS, ERICK BAKER HERE,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
AMERICAN MUSCLE.
>> I'M ERICK BAKER
AND I'VE SPENT MY LIFE
CROSSING THE SOUTHEAST
ON TOUR AS SINGER/SONGWRITER.
BUT I RECENTLY REALIZE
I WAS ALWAYS HEADED
TO THE NEXT TOWN
INSTEAD OF SEEING THE SIGHTS
ALONG THE WAY.
SO I TEAMED UP WITH MY FRIEND,
AERIAL NICOLE,
TO CHECK OUT WHAT
WE'VE BEEN MISSING.
♪ THERE'S A PLACE ♪
♪ YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ♪
♪ IT'S RIGHT WHERE ♪
♪ YOU WANT TO BE. ♪
>> WE HOPE TO TAKE YOU
TO PLACES YOU NEVER
KNEW EXISTED
OR WHERE YOU'VE ALWAYS
DREAMED OF GOING.
♪ UNCHARTED ♪
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> THIS PAST SUMMER,
I PACKED UP MY FAMILY
AND MY SUITCASES AND HEADED OUT
FOR A SERIES OF CROSS
CONTINENTAL TOUR DATES.
MY DAUGHTER ANNABEL,
WHO'S APPROACHING THE TIME
OF BEING A TEENAGER ENTIRELY
TOO QUICKLY WAS IN TOW
AND WHENEVER I LOOK BACK
IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR
TO SEE HER SMILING FACE,
I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK
THAT THIS MIGHT BE
ONE OF THE LAST TIMES
SHE WAS ACTUALLY EXCITED
TO SPEND A FEW WEEKS
AWAY FROM FRIENDS FOR A FOR
A ROAD TRIP WITH HER FOLKS.
RATHER THAN DREAD
THE HOURS OF DRIVING
AS I NORMALLY DO,
IT MADE ME FEEL AS THOUGH
MORE THAN JUST OUR LIVES
AND OUR LUGGAGE
WERE CONTAINED IN THAT CAR.
IT WAS A TIME CAPSULE
FOR TRADITIONS
THAT MIGHT SOON BE
PART OF OUR PAST.
LOOKING AT THINGS THROUGH A LENS
OTHER THAN WHAT DELAYS
I MAY ENCOUNTER,
WHAT I DISCOVERED WAS
HOW TRULY BEAUTIFUL
OUR NATION IS.
OH BEAUTIFUL,
FOR SPACIOUS SKIES,
FOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN,
AS THE KATHARINE LEE BATES
CLASSIC READS,
FOR PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTIES,
ABOVE THE FRUITED PLAINS.
AS POETIC AND POWERFUL
AS THOSE WORDS MAY BE,
THEY'RE IN WAY OVERSELLING IT.
CROSSING INTO STATE AFTER STATE,
I FOUND LITTLE RURAL CORNERS
WHERE FOOTHILLS
ROLLED INTO SNOW-TOPPED PEAKS.
I SAW FORESTS AND FLAT LANDS,
BADLANDS AND BOGS, RIDGES,
VALLEY, RIVERS AND LAKES.
I ALSO SAW ABOUT 6,000 MILES
ADDED TO MY ODOMETER.
WHICH GOT ME THINKING,
WITH HOW POTENT EVERY PART
OF OUR COUNTRY SEEMS TO BE,
DID SATISFYING MY NEED FOR
ADVENTURE GOING FORWARD
REQUIRE AS FORMIDABLE A TRIP
AS I TOOK THIS PAST TOUR?
WHEN YOU OPEN THE
KENTUCKY TOURISM'S WEBSITE
AND CLICK TO EXPLORE
THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
THAT CONTAINS THE TOWN
OF BOWLING GREEN,
THE FIRST LINE YOU'RE
GREETED WITH STATES,
"IF YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR ADVENTURE,
THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE
THAN KENTUCKY'S CAVES,
LAKES, AND CORVETTES REGION."
NOW, FIRST OF ALL, ADMITTEDLY,
THAT'S A BOLD STATEMENT.
BUT SECONDLY, THAT'S ALSO
A SERIOUSLY INTRIGUING SERIES
TO STREAM TOGETHER.
SO, BEFORE THE WINDOW
FOR FAMILY ROAD TRIPS
IS ROLLED UP AND SEALED TIGHT,
I'M SETTING OUT ON THIS EPISODE
OF TENNESSEE VALLEY UNCHARTERED
TO SCOUT THIS SOUTHERN STATE
AND SEE SOME OF WHAT
SHE HAS TO OFFER.
WITH JUST OVER 67,000 PEOPLE
IN BOWLING GREEN PROPER,
IT'S ACTUALLY THE
THIRD LARGEST CITY
IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.
AND BY SOME CALCULATIONS,
THAT'S STILL NOT
INCREDIBLY LARGE.
WHAT THAT MEANS THOUGH,
IS THAT WHY THE CITY
IS BRIMMING WITH ACTIVITY,
THERE'S STILL ROOM TO BREW
BUSINESSES AND BIG IDEAS.
WHICH IS WHERE THE OWNERS
OF BLUE HOLLER BREW SUPPLIES
COME IN,
USING NEW AND DIVERSE
TASTES AT THEIR TAPS
TO INTRODUCE THE COMMUNITY
TO THE IDEA OF CREATING
CRAFT BREWS OF THEIR OWN.
>> SO RIGHT NOW WE GOT
130 GALLONS OF OUR
PINEAPPLE SOUR.
WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW
IS CALLED MASHING.
>> YEAH.
>> SO WE'RE GETTING ALL
THE SUGARS OUT OF IT,
WE'RE LETTING ALL THE
NATURAL ENZYMES BREAK DOWN
INTO SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATES.
AND THEN LATER ON, WE'LL
RAISE THIS BASKET UP,
PUT A BUNCH OF
CLEAN WATER IN THERE
AND WASH THE REST
OF THE SUGARS OUT,
BRING IT UP TO A BOIL,
AND TURN IT INTO BEER.
>> SOUNDS DELICIOUS.
JUST SASSY.
>> EASY TOO! (LAUGHING)
>> YEAH, RIGHT.
IT'S PRETTY SCIENTIFIC, RIGHT?
I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST SOME DUDES
HAVING A GOOD TIME,
YOU KNOW, MAKING BEER.
>> IT NORMALLY STARTS
THAT A WAY,
BUT THEN BETTER
BECOME A CHEMIST.
>> YEAH.
>> A MECHANIC, ELECTRICIAN,
A PLUMBER.
IT'S A TIGHT SQUEEZE, BUT.
>> OKAY.
>> SO WHAT THIS IS, IS
IT'S JUST A REGULAR,
COMMERCIAL WALK IN COOLER.
>> OKAY.
>> I DROPPED AN AIR CONDITIONER
IN HERE.
AIR CONDITIONERS GO
TO 62 DEGREES
OR 64 DEGREES AND THAT'S IT.
>> OKAY.
>> RIPPED THE THERMOSTAT
OUT OF IT AND REBUILT IT,
SO I CAN DROP THIS DOWN INTO,
33 DEGREES IN THIS ROOM
IF I NEED TO.
>> OH BOY, OKAY.
>> WITH JUST AN AIR CONDITIONER.
THIS, IF YOU WERE TO BUY
THIS AND HAVE THIS PUT IN,
IT WOULD COST YOU
ABOUT $12, $14,000,
I GOT AWAY WITH
IT FOR $800 BUCKS.
>> WOW!
(LAUGHING)
SO, SINCE I CAN'T TURN THAT UP,
CAN I, CAN WE GO
TO THE BAR AND A...
>> OH YEAH.
WE'LL GO TO MY FAVORITE
PART OF THE STORE.
>> OKAY, WELL THEN LET'S DO IT.
WITH THE RISE OF CRAFT CULTURE
OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO,
THE PHRASE, "THINK GLOBAL,
DRINK LOCAL,"
HAS BECOME ALMOST AS POPULAR
AS THE BROTHERHOOD OF BEERS
IT REFERS TO.
GIVING THAT WE'RE ALL
A MIX OF THE INFLUENCES
AND EXPERIENCES WE ENCOUNTER,
THE BEERS HOME BREWERS
BRING TO LIFE ARE AS UNIQUE
AS THE INDIVIDUALS
WHO CREATE THEM.
AND THANKS TO CHRIS AND BEV,
WHETHER YOU'RE INTERESTED
IN JUST SIPPING ON
SOMETHING SPECIAL
OR STARTING TO CREATE
YOUR OWN CONCOCTIONS,
THIS IS THE PLACE
TO STOCK UP EITHER WAY.
YEAH, I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD.
>> YEAH, I CAN TELL.
>> I'VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD.
(LAUGHING)
SO I FEEL LIKE I DESERVE,
YOU KNOW,
A REWARD, RIGHT.
>> THE STRUGGLE'S REAL!
>> THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.
(LAUGHING)
SO THIS IS,
THIS IS BLUE HOLLER.
>> THAT'S A BLUE HOLLER FLIGHT.
REGULAR OLE BEER.
>> CLASSIC.
>> PROBABLY THE EASIEST BEER
THAT WE MAKE,
WHICH IS GOOD 'CAUSE I THINK
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO MAKE MORE OF IT
THAN ANY OF THE BEERS WE MAKE.
>> YEAH, LET'S START
AT THE BEGINNING,
I MEAN, 'CAUSE WHEN
YOU STARTED THIS,
YOU DIDN'T THINK THAT
YOU WOULD BE A BREWERY.
>> I USED TO BREW AT HOME
ALL THE TIME,
I WOULD DRIVE DOWN TO NASHVILLE.
THE PLACE THAT I WENT,
WE MODELED THIS STORE
A LOT AFTER THAT,
IT WAS A GREAT IDEA,
I NOT GONNA TRY AND REINVENT
THE WHEEL,
THERE'S NOTHING I'M GONNA DO
THAT'S GONNA BE BRAND NEW.
SO, BUT SHE GRABS
A BEER FROM THERE
AND SHE'S WALKING
AROUND AND SHE'S LIKE,
THIS PLACE IS REALLY COOL,
SOMEBODY SHOULD DO
THIS IN BOWLING GREEN.
GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE,
STARTED DRIVING HOME
AND I LOOKED AT HER AND I SAID,
WERE YOU SERIOUS WHEN YOU SAID
SOMEBODY SHOULD IN BOWLING?
SHE'S WAS, YEAH.
I SAID, WELL,
I'M GONNA BE SOMEBODY.
AND SHE LOOKED AT ME
AND SHE SAID, ARE YOU SERIOUS?
I SAID, YEAH, AND THEN
THREE MONTHS LATER WE OPENED UP.
>> WOW!
(LAUGHING)
THAT'S FAST.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> WHEN CHRIS AND BEV SET UP
A SPACE TO SAVOR CRAFT CULTURE,
THEY THOUGHT THE COMMUNITY
THEY WERE CREATING
WOULD BE LIMITED TO
THOSE WHO CAME IN.
INSTEAD, OTHER ENTREPRENEURS
WHO WERE LOOKING
TO SPICE THINGS UP
WHILE STAYING TRUE TO
THEIR SOUTHERN STAPLES
TOOK NOTICE AND SOON
STARTED SERVING BLUE HOLLER
ALONGSIDE THEIR OWN CREATIONS.
ALRIGHT, CHRIS, CHEERS.
WHAT IT, TABLE?
>> TABLE.
>> GLASS, TABLE.
CHEERS, MAN.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE GO HERE,
WHAT'S YOUR, WHAT ARE
SOME OF YOUR JAMS?
>> OH, THE CHICKEN FINGERS,
I KNOW IT SOUNDS KINDA PLAIN
AND VANILLA-ISH BUT THEY GOT
THEIR OWN TAKE ON IT.
>> OKAY.
>> THEY USE, THEY GRILL UP
SHISHITO PEPPERS.
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND THEY'LL DO
A YUM YUM EEL SAUCE,
DRIZZLE IT OVER THE TOP
OF EVERYTHING.
>> OKAY.
>> AND YEAH, NO, IT'S
CASSIE BEHIND THE BAR,
EVERY TIME I WALK IN,
SHE'S LIKE,
YOU GONNA TRY
SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
IT'S LIKE, NAH, I'M GOOD.
>> GIVE ME THE YUM YUM SAUCE.
>> GIVE ME THE YUM YUM.
>> AH MAN, SORRY TO CALL
YOU A CHICKEN FINGER.
>> RIGHT.
>> I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD
APOLOGIZE TO YOU.
I MEAN JUST 'CAUSE IT'S SIMPLE,
DOESN'T MEAN IT'S BAD.
>> DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT GOOD.
>> YEAH, TOTALLY.
I'M LOOKING AT YOU AND
I'M REMEMBERING YOUR STORY
ABOUT, YOUR LIKE, I WAS A KID
IN CUT-OFF BLUE JEANS,
SQUIRREL HUNTING AND RUNNING
THROUGH THE HOLLER.
(LAUGHING)
AND THEN, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE HAVING SHISHITO PEPPERS
AND THESE AMAZING
BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
AND I'M FROM, YOU KNOW,
A TOWN OF 2,000 PEOPLE
WITH ONE STOP LIGHT.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND I KNOW A LOT
OF OLE BOYS LIKE YOU THAT CAN'T
HARDLY EVEN SAY SHISHITO.
>> SHISHITO.
>> YEAH.
>> THEY SAY, OH, WELL
YOU'RE 20 YEARS BEHIND
THE REST OF THE WORLD.
THAT'S BAD IN SOME WAYS
BUT IT'S GREAT IN OTHERS.
LET'S JUST STICK WITH BEER,
BREWERIES IS NOT A FAD
BUT IT'S BEEN A THING ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES
FOR 20 YEARS NOW,
CRAFT BREWS HAVE.
WE NOW HAVE OUR SECOND ONE
IN BOWLING GREEN.
>> OKAY.
>> WE'VE GOT TO LOOK OUTSIDE
OF OUR ENVIRONMENT,
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR EVERYBODY.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT I CAN KNOW
FIVE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING.
>> YEAH, I SAW THAT,
THAT WAS, YEAH.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW,
AND NOT ONLY THAT
BUT THOSE FIVE PEOPLE CAN
GO ANYWHERE ELSE IN TOWN
AND KNOW FIVE PEOPLE WHEN
THEY WALK IN A PLACE.
THERE'S THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN
SUBJECTED TO HERE IN TOWN
THAT I WOULD NEVER OF THOUGHT.
THOSE BRUSSELS SPROUTS--
>> YEAH.
>> HATE BRUSSELS SPROUTS,
I LOVE THE WAY SASA
MAKES BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
>> WHILE BREADING AND ABILITY
OBVIOUSLY SET ONE CHICKEN STRIP
APART FROM ANOTHER, THEY'RE ALL
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME, RIGHT?
SASA MANDRAPA, OWNER
AND EXECUTIVE CHEF
OF NOVO DULCE, A GASTRO PUB
WITH A DISPOSITION
FOR DOING THINGS
A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY,
WOULD DEFINITELY DISAGREE.
>> OUR VERSION OF
FRIED BOLOGNA SANDWICH,
PIMENTO CHEESE.
WE USE MORTADELLA,
WHICH IS ITALIAN STYLE BOLOGNA.
>> OKAY.
>> SO IT'S GOT A WHOLE BLACK
PEPPERCORN AND PISTACHIO.
DIFFERENT VERSION OF
SOUTHERN BOLOGNA SANDWICH
AND AN APPLE SLAW.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
>> AH MAN.
YOU KNOW THAT'S, I CAN TASTE
MY CHILDHOOD IN THAT,
(LAUGHING) YOU KNOW.
THIS IS INCREDIBLE, MAN.
>> WHEN YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO,
THE REST OF IT'S EASY, I GUESS.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND I LIKE PLAYING
WITH THE TASTE BUDS.
>> YEAH.
>> EVERYTHING, THE FOOD-WISE,
IT'S MY VERSION OF WHAT
I THINK THAT WOULD
MAKE IT BETTER.
>> THE FOOD AT NOVO DULCE
IS NOT ONLY INSPIRED
BY A HOST OF
DIFFERENT INFLUENCES,
IT'S INSPIRING MORE
THAN JUST MY TASTE BUDS.
BECAUSE BETWEEN THE PHILOSOPHY
FOOD-FORWARD
AND THE SYNERGY OF WORKING
WITH OTHER LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS,
THE FOLKS HERE ARE CREATING
A CULTURE AS LAYERED
AS THE DISHES FEATURED
ON THIS FRESH MENU.
LIKE BOWLING GREEN,
THE LIST OF SPECIALS IS LIMITED,
THAT CLEARLY ALLOWS
THOSE CRAFTING THEM
TO FOCUS ON MAKING THEM
EXCEPTIONAL.
AND THAT'S A PRINCIPLE
I'LL RAISE A PINT TO ANYTIME.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> ONE PHRASE THAT'S
OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH
THE CRAFT MOVEMENT
OF THE 21ST CENTURY
IS ONE PERSON'S TRASH IS
ANOTHER MAN'S TREASURE.
REPURPOSING, UPCYCLING,
PUTTING TO GOOD USE
WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE WASTED
ARE ALL PRINCIPLES
THAT MOST OF US
ARE AT LEAST FAMILIAR WITH
IF NOT INCORPORATING
INTO OUR OWN DAILY LIVES.
BUT AS MUCH POPULARITY AS
THIS CONCEPT IS GAINING,
I'VE YET TO SEE IT
APPLIED TO LAND UNTIL NOW.
BECAUSE FOR THE STAFF
AT LOST RIVER CAVE,
A LITTLE ELBOW
GREASE AND ATTENTION,
AND PERHAPS A LITTLE VISION
AS WELL,
WERE ALL THAT WERE
NECESSARY TO RESTORE
WHAT WAS ONCE A TRASH PILE
INTO A PUBLIC RESOURCE.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
CAVE ENTRANCES THIS SIDE OF
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, NATURAL.
>> SO THIS, YEAH,
THIS IS NATURALLY OCCURRING?
>> THIS IS NATURALLY OCCURRING.
>> THAT IS HUMONGOUS!
>> THIS ONE IS.
>> YEAH, WHAT AM I HEARING,
I GUESS?
>> WELL, YOU'RE HEARING
THE RIVER, OF COURSE.
>> OKAY.
>> AND IF YOU WANT TO, COME
ON HERE AND CHECK IT OUT.
ABOUT 1956 OR SO,
PEOPLE STARTED PULLING UP
TO THE MOUTH OF THE CAVE
AND STARTED THROWING OVER
THEIR WASHERS AND DRYERS
AND HOUSEHOLD TRASH,
ANYTHING THEY DIDN'T WANT
IT CAME DOWN HERE.
PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT THEY
COULD JUST THROW THINGS OVER,
IT WAS JUST DISAPPEARING,
IT WAS JUST GOING AWAY.
A FRIENDS ORGANIZATION
GOT TOGETHER IN 1990
AND THEY PULLED OUT
55 TONS OF TRASH
OUT OF THE CAVE, OR SO.
>> 55--
>> TONS OF TRASH, OUT
OF THE CAVE, OR SO.
>> WOW.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> YEAH, SO THIS IS
ALL LIMESTONE, I MEAN,
THE RIVER HAS ESSENTIALLY
CARVED THIS OUT, RIGHT?
>> ESSENTIALLY,
FOR THE MOST PART.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE THAT
LOST RIVER CHERT BASE
THAT WE'RE ON TOP OF.
>> YEAH.
>> THEN WE HAVE
A SANDSTONE CAP ON THE VERY TOP.
>> OKAY.
MAN, THIS IS COOL!
>> YEAH, IT IS.
>> AND WHAT'S SO COOL,
I MEAN, YOU THINK ABOUT,
I MEAN, UP ABOVE US
THERE'S GAS STATIONS.
>> YEAH.
>> AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW,
RESTAURANTS AND WHATEVER
AND WE'RE GETTING
A REALLY CLEAR PICTURE
OF WHAT'S BENEATH US, YOU KNOW.
WHEN YOU DON'T REALLY, YOU THINK
WHAT'S BENEATH YOUR FEET,
YOU KNOW.
>> WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.
YOU DON'T, IT'S OUT OF SIGHT
AND OUT OF MIND.
>> TOTALLY.
>> YEAH.
SO THE CAVING THING IS ON
FOR THIS OTHER FIVE MILES,
SEE THAT HOLE BACK THERE?
>> YEAH.
>> AND SO NOW WE'RE IN
WHAT'S CALLED THE DARK ZONE.
>> SO, FIVE MILES.
>> WHERE IT'S ALWAYS 55 DEGREES,
THE RIVER IS ALWAYS 43 DEGREES,
THIS IS WHERE YOU TRUE
CAVE DWELLERS LIVE.
>> WOW, OKAY.
>> SO, OUR CAVE FISH
AND OUR CAVE CRAWDADS
ARE BEYOND THIS SIDE.
THIS BROWN COLORATION, THAT'S
THE LOOK OF OUR FLOW STONE.
>> OKAY.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IT
TO LOOK LIKE,
THAT'S ALSO KNOWN AS TRAVERTINE,
WHICH IS COMMONLY SEEN ON
HGTV FOR BATHROOM TILES.
>> YES, YES, YES, YEAH.
>> NOW, THIS BLACK SPOT IS
OF COURSE, TRAVERTINE, TOO,
BUT THAT'S A HISTORICAL
POLLUTION SCAR.
>> WOW.
>> AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE
THIS FLOW STONE SO MUCH.
IF YOU KEEP SCRATCHING
BACK THE LAYERS,
YOU'RE GONNA FIND THAT
A BLACK SCARING, OF COURSE, TOO,
BUT THEN YOU SEE THAT
HERE'S HEALTHY GROWTH.
>> HUH.
>> IT SHOWS THAT WE CAN DO
THE RIGHT THING
WHENEVER WE KIND OF
SET OUR MIND TO IT.
AS WE STARTED TO LEARN
WHAT'S ABOVE DOES EFFECT BELOW,
THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW,
THIS THING DOES LOOK SO CLEAN.
IT'S A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE
OF COMMUNITY THAT
WORKED TOGETHER.
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
>> HERE WE GO!
>> THEN OF COURSE,
YOU'LL JUST COME UP HERE,
YOU KNOW, SIT DOWN,
AND THERE YOU GO.
(LINE BUZZING)
>> WHOO!
>> ALRIGHT, NOW JUST RUN
YOUR FEET, RUN YOUR,
VERY GOOD.
>> IS THIS LIKE THE VIP SECTION?
>> ALL THAT.
>> I FEEL LIKE I'M
GETTING IN THE CLUB.
>> THE ZIP LINING CLUB.
>> OKAY, I LIKE TO NOT HAVE
THE RESPONSIBILITY WHEN
IT COMES TO IMPORTANT THINGS.
YEAH!
>> YOU'RE GOOD.
>> ARE WE READY?
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO...
>> SEE YA, WHOA, HEY!
(LINE BUZZING)
(LAUGHING)
>> SO I KEPT GOING AROUND.
THAT WAS AWESOME,
I WAS GOING SO FAST!
YEAH!
(LINE BUZZING)
>> ALRIGHT, RUN, RUN,
RUN, RUN, RUN.
>> UGH. (LAUGHING)
>> NOW WHAT WE'RE
GONNA DO, ERICK,
IS THAT WE'RE GONNA PUT YOU
ON THIS ONE.
>> WAIT, I'M DANCING MAN.
>> WELL, THAT'S FINE.
DANCE FOR SAFETY.
>> DANCING!
THIS IS WHAT SQUIRRELS DO, DUDE,
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING, MAN.
YES!
CAN YOU PUT A PRICE
ON A SMILE, RIGHT?
I MEAN, HAPPINESS.
THREE IS ZIPPING!
YEAH!
>> RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN,
RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN.
>> OH!
NICE CATCH!
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR.
>> I'M A SQUIRREL,
FLYING SQUIRREL,
ZIP LINING,
HEAR ME ROAR!
(MIMICKING SQUIRREL CHATTERING)
LIKE A SQUIRREL.
>> DID WE BOTH JUST DO THAT?
>> IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT
AN AFTERNOON CAN BE FILLED
WITH AS MUCH ACTION
AS IT IS ADVOCACY.
BUT WITH EVERY ADVENTURE
AT LOST RIVER CAVE,
YOUR DOLLARS ARE DOING MORE
THAN JUST COVERING COSTS.
THEY'RE PROTECTING A PLACE
THAT WOULD OF
OTHERWISE BEEN LOST.
AND AFTER A TRIP THROUGH
THE CAVE
AND MORE TIMES DOWN
THE ZIP LINE THAN I CAN COUNT,
I'M READY TO DIVE
INTO CONVERSATION
OVER PIZZA AND ANOTHER PINT.
>> I GREW UP GOING OUTSIDE,
GOING INTO OTHER
SINK HOLES AND STUFF.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE JOB
OF THE INTERPRETER
IS A VERY ANCIENT JOB.
BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN
BRINGING THESE MEANINGS
OF WHAT'S AROUND YOU TO
OTHER PEOPLE FOR A LONG TIME.
TO BE THE GUIDE,
TO SHOW PEOPLE AROUND
AND TO SHOW THEM
THROUGH YOUR OWN FAULTS
AND THERE'S A REASON WHY WE
USE A LOT OF OUR OWN STORIES.
>> MM-HMM.
>> BUT THE BOAT TOUR COMES
WITH THE STORY
THAT'S KIND OF BEHIND ALL OF IT.
AND I THINK THAT'S
WHERE LOST RIVER
REALLY GETS TO DO ITS JOB
AS AN ORGANIZATION.
>> YEAH.
>> TO TAKE OUR STORY
AND TELL IT IN SUCH A WAY
TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO TAKE CARE
OF WHAT'S AT THEIR OWN HOUSE
AND THEIR OWN HOME
AND THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT.
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
>> IT'S DELICIOUS.
(LAUGHING)
THAT'S GOOD.
>> YEP.
>> SO FAR I'VE COVERED
QUITE A BIT ON THIS TRIP,
BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW GROUND.
AND I'VE FOUND THAT FOR THOSE
WHO WANT TO CRAFT A COMMUNITY
THAT CARES,
IT TAKES COMMITMENT AS
WELL AS A WILLINGNESS
TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.
AND THERE'S NO EXCEPTION FOR
THE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES
THAT MANAGE NEARBY
KENTUCKY LAKE.
>> TODAY WE'RE DOING INTENSIVE
SAMPLING FPR ASIAN CARP.
THE SAMPLING IS TO
TRY TO DETERMINE
A RELATIVE ABUNDANCE IN
KENTUCKY AND BARKLEY LAKES.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THEN WE CAN USE
THAT INFORMATION
TO HELP DETERMINE
WHAT KIND OF EFFECTS
OR IMPACTS COMMERCIAL
HARVEST IS HAVING
ON THE CARP POPULATION.
>> ASIAN CARP, IN GENERAL
AND MORE SPECIFICALLY,
SILVER CARP, ARE THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT THREAT FACING
OUR SPORT FISHERIES
IN THE TENNESSEE RIVER
AS WELL THE CUMBERLAND RIVER.
SILVER CARP AND BIG HEAD CARP
FEED ON PLANKTON.
THOSE FORM THE BASE
OF THE FOOD CHAIN
IN AN AQUATIC SYSTEM
LIKE THESE LAKES.
SO IF THERE'S TOO
MUCH COMPETITION,
THEN WE START ENDING
UP WITH THE SCENARIO
WHERE THERE'S NOT
ENOUGH BAITFISH
FOR OUR SPORTFISH TO CONSUME.
>> OUR AGENCY REALIZES THAT
ASIAN CARP IS NOT A LOCAL ISSUE,
IT'S A NATIONAL ISSUE.
TO REALLY SOLVE THE
ASIAN CARP PROBLEM
IS GONNA TAKE EFFORT FROM
PARTNERS ON ALL LEVELS.
RIGHT NOW WE REALIZE
THAT COMMERCIAL HARVEST
IS OUR BEST METHOD OF REMOVAL,
OF REMOVING LARGE
QUANTITIES OF THESE FISH
FROM THE RESERVOIRS.
AND ONE OF OUR MAIN FOCUSES
IS TRYING TO SUPPORT
THAT INDUSTRY,
TO HELP THEM SO THEY
CAN FISH MORE OFTEN
AND REMOVE LARGER QUANTITIES
OF FISH.
IT'S A WHOLE WORLD
UNDER THE WATER
THAT WE DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT.
>> MM-HMM.
>> WE DON'T ALWAYS APPRECIATE
AS PEOPLE AND SO,
OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND
FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
OVERALL, OUR AGENCY'S
DOING A GOOD JOB
AT TRYING TO MANAGE
THAT FOR THE BETTERMENT
OF THE RESOURCE.
>> FOR MOST FOLKS,
ASIAN CARP ARE SEEN
ONLY AS INVASIVE SPECIES.
BUT FOR THE COLLECTION OF
STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES
THAT MANAGE THESE
WATERS FOR BOTH INDUSTRY
AS WELL AS RECREATION,
THEY'RE A REALITY EITHER WAY.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW,
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
STUDIES LIKE THESE NOT ONLY
ALLOW MANAGEMENT TEAMS
TO BETTER ASSESS THE SITUATION,
THEY ASSIST IN DEVELOPING
SOLUTIONS.
SUCH AS THE COMMERCIAL
FISHING INDUSTRY
THAT'S SERVICING
AROUND THESE SPECIES.
AND IF WE CAN TAKE
ON A CHALLENGE,
CREATE JOBS AND COME OUT WITH
SOMETHING TASTY IN THE END,
NOW THAT'S AN EXAMPLE
OF CRAFT AT ITS FINEST.
>> BUILDING A CITY THAT'S
AS RELEVANT TODAY
AS IT WAS DURING THE CIVIL WAR
IS NO SIMPLE FEAT.
IT TAKES TENACITY AND COMMITMENT
BUT IT ALSO TAKES DRIVE.
AND WHILE BOWLING GREEN
MAYBE ON THE SMALLER SIDE,
DRIVE IS SOMETHING
I FOUND IN ABUNDANCE
THROUGHOUT THIS TRIP.
IN FACT, FOR MANY MEN AND WOMEN,
EVERYDAY IS DEDICATED TO
ASSEMBLING A DRIVING EXPERIENCE
THAT IS AS MUCH ABOUT
A CULTURAL MOVEMENT
AS IT IS ABOUT A PHYSICAL ONE.
>> SO WELCOME TO
THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM.
>> THANK YOU, I'M HAPPY
TO BE HERE.
>> GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE
IN BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY.
SO THE NEWEST MODEL,
THE ZR1, OVER 700 HORSEPOWER
AND IT GOES--
>> WHAT?
>> 212 MILES PER HOUR, SO.
>> ARE YOU SERIOUS?
>> YES.
AND IT'S DEFINITELY A SUPER CAR.
>> WOW, THAT IS INSANE.
IF YOU COMBINED ALL
OF THE HORSEPOWER
OF EVERY CAR I'VE EVER OWNED,
IT'S PROBABLY NOT THAT MUCH.
>> (LAUGHING) RIGHT.
>> IT JUST LOOKS FAST.
SO WHAT KIND OF CORVETTE
DO YOU DRIVE THEN?
>> I HAVE A 1974.
>> OOO, ALRIGHT.
>> YES.
>> IT'S TALKING ABOUT
THE INITIAL VISION
AND MISSION OF CORVETTE,
IT WAS TO BE
AMERICA'S SPORTS CAR.
>> YES, IT IS STILL TO THIS DAY,
AMERICA'S ONLY SPORTS CAR.
YOU HAVE MUSCLE CARS,
LIKE THE MUSTANG, THE CAMARO.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT THIS IS THE
ONLY SPORTS CAR.
SO IT COMPETES WITH YOUR
FERRARI, YOUR PORSCHE.
>> YEAH.
>> AND MORE OF YOUR
EXOTIC TYPE OF CARS.
>> RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
ARE FANS OF MUSIC,
PEOPLE ARE FANS OF MOVIES,
AND I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE FANS
ARE CARS, RIGHT, I MEAN.
>> ABSOLUTELY, I MEAN,
THEY SAY YOU COME FOR THE CAR,
YOU STAY FOR THE PEOPLE.
WE EXIST BECAUSE
OF THE ENTHUSIASTS.
>> MM-HMM BECAUSE
OF THE COMMUNITY.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
>> I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT
YOU'RE DESCRIBING.
>> THIS IS THE SKY DOME WHERE
THE FAMOUS SINKHOLE WAS.
>> YES.
>> WE HAVE LINES ON THE GROUND.
SO THE YELLOW LINE IS AN
OUTLINE OF WHERE THE CAVE IS.
AND THEN THE RED LINE IS
WHERE THE SINK HOLE WAS.
>> THIS IS WHERE
THE HOLE STARTED?
>> THE IS WHERE THE HOLE WAS,
SO ALL OF THIS
AREA, WAS COLLAPSED,
THERE WAS A BIG HOLE RIGHT
HERE WHERE WE ARE STANDING.
AND THESE ARE THE EIGHT
CARS THAT FELL IN.
MUCH LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW,
YOU'VE DRIVEN BY THE MUSEUM
TIME AND AGAIN,
AND JUST NEVER STOPPED IN.
>> RIGHT.
>> WELL, WHAT WE FOUND
HAPPENED AFTER THE SINK HOLE
IS THAT PEOPLE STARTED
GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE.
>> YEAH.
>> THEY WANTED TO SEE
THESE CARS.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOVE
THE CAR OR BE A CAR PERSON
TO ENJOY A VISIT TO THE MUSEUM.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE TELL OTHER STORIES
BEHIND THE CAR AND HAVE DISPLAYS
LIKE WITH THE SINK HOLE
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S
REALLY INTERESTING TO PEOPLE
TO LEARN, YOU KNOW, WHAT
HAPPENED WITH THE SINK HOLE.
YOU ALSO HAVE THAT
HANDS ON EXPERIENCE
WHERE YOU CAN GET A RIDE
IN A CORVETTE
OR EVEN DRIVE A CORVETTE.
>> WHEN THE DESIGNERS
AT CHEVROLET
SET PEN TO PAPER TO SKETCH
THE FIRST CORVETTE.
I CAN'T IMAGE THEY REALIZED
THEY WOULD BE SHAPING
THE HISTORY OF MOTOR VEHICLES
AS MUCH AS THEY WERE
THE BOLD LINES OF A SPORTS CAR
THAT WOULD GO ON TO LAST
MORE THAN SEVEN GENERATIONS
OF DEIGNS SO FAR.
AND AS INTERESTING
AS THE MUSEUM IS,
IT'S BUILT MY ENTHUSIASM
FOR GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL
AS WELL AS MY KNOWLEDGE BASE
ON WHAT MAKE
CORVETTES SO SPECIAL.
LUCKILY, I DON'T HAVE TO
TREK FAR FOR A TEST DRIVE.
>> WE'VE HAD EVERYTHING
FROM A MINIVAN,
TO, YOU KNOW, SUPER CAR
OUT ON THE TRACK HERE, SO.
>> OKAY, ALRIGHT.
>> WE HAVE WEEKEND EVENTS WHERE
YOU CAN REGISTER YOUR CAR
AND JUST EITHER COME
FOR A DRIVING SCHOOL
OR FOR A RACE.
>> OKAY.
>> ALL THE WAY TO, YOU CAN
COME GET ON TRACK YOURSELF,
WHETHER IT'S JUST TO GO FAST
AND EXPERIENCE
SOMETHING DIFFERENT,
OR, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT
TO GET STARTED IN THE SPORT
OF MOTOR SPORTS.
WE'RE GONNA MEET MITCH WRIGHT.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> HE'S OUR PRO DRIVER
HERE AT THE TRACK.
>> MITCH, HOW'S IT GOING MAN?
>> IT'S GOING WELL,
GLAD TO MEET YOU.
>> YES, SO I'M GONNA BE,
WITH YEAH.
>> YEAH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOU
AROUND OUR 3.2 MILE TRACK,
WE'LL SEE SPEEDS IN EXCESS
OF 140 MILES AN HOUR
IN ABOUT THREE PLACES.
>> MAN, I'M EXCITED.
(ROCK MUSIC)
(ENGINE REVVING)
(TIRES SQUEALING)
(ENGINE ACCELERATING)
(LAUGHING)
>> THIS IS CALLED THE SINK HOLE.
>> OKAY.
OH YEAH!
(TIRES SQUEALING)
(ENGINE ROARING)
>> WHOA!
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> NOT TOO BAD FOR
A STOCK CORVETTE, IS IT?
>> I MEAN, THAT'S INSANE.
>> SO DO YOU THINK YOU WANT TO
GET BEHIND THE WHEEL YOURSELF?
>> I WOULD LOVE TO, I'M READY.
>> HERE'S THE WAY
IT'S GONNA WORK.
>> OKAY.
>> DON'T PASS ME.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S
ANY CHANCE OF THAT.
>> ALRIGHT, WELL.
>> BY ANY MEANS, YES.
>> I NEED YOU TO STAY THREE
TO FOUR CAR LENGTHS BEHIND.
>> OKAY.
>> AND BY DOING THAT
IT ACTUALLY MAKES
IT DRIVING THE TRACK EASIER.
>> YES.
>> BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE
WHICH DIRECTION,
AS I CHANGE DIRECTION, YOU CAN
SEE HOW I CHANGE DIRECTION.
>> OKAY.
>> ALSO, YOU WANNA TRY TO DRIVE
RIGHT IN MY WHEEL TRACKS.
>> OKAY,
FOLLOW YOUR LINE.
>> FOLLOW MY LINE.
>> OKAY.
>> YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING
WAY DOWN THE ROAD.
SO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE
LOOKING THROUGH MY CAR.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THAT HELPS YOU ANTICIPATE
WHAT WE HAVE COMING UP.
>> I GOTCHA.
>> DON'T HURT MY CAR.
>> I WON'T.
>> OKAY.
>> I PROMISE.
>> ALRIGHT.
>> LOTS OF RESPECT.
ONTO THE RACETRACK.
(ENGINE ACCELERATING)
(LAUGHING)
>> DANG, THAT'S FUN.
I FEEL LIKE, I LITERALLY,
I FEEL LIKE I'M INSIDE OF
A VIDEO GAME RIGHT NOW.
(ENGINE ACCELERATING)
>> THAT'S PEDAL TO THE METAL,
1-0, 110,
115, 117.
HOLY CRAP!
(LAUGHING)
>> I CAN HEAR MY MOM NOW SAYING,
DON'T DRIVE SO FAST!
AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
(HORN HONKING)
>> THAT, INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I FEEL LIKE THIS
AND I HAVEN'T LEFT THE GROUND
BECAUSE, MAN,
CAN I GIVE YOU HUG, MAN?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> CROSSING THE FINISH LINE
ON THE TRACK TODAY
HELPED ME ALSO CROSS AN
EXPERIENCE OFF MY BUCKET LIST.
AND JUST LIKE MY SUMMER TOUR
ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WITH MY FAMILY THIS PAST YEAR,
THAT'S AN EXPERIENCE
AND A MEMORY
THAT I CAN KEEP PACKED
IN MY HEART LONG AFTER RETURNING
MY SUITCASES TO THE SHELVES
OF MY HALLWAY CLOSET.
UNTIL RECENTLY,
I SAW FAMILY VACATIONS
AS A BIT OF A BURDEN.
THEY WERE SOMETHING
I'D RETURN HOME FROM
AND ALMOST FEEL LIKE
I NEEDED MORE REST
THAN I HAD EMBARKING
ON THE SUPPOSED BREAK.
THERE WERE ALWAYS BAGS TO PACK,
FAMILY MEMBERS TO CORRAL,
PLANS THAT WOULD GO AWRY,
SQUABBLES THAT WOULD
BREAK OUT, ET CETERA.
BUT THIS PAST SUMMER,
WE KEPT THINGS SIMPLE,
IT WAS JUST THE THREE OF US,
A SET OF SUITCASES
AND TOUR DATES
AND THE OPEN ROAD.
WE HAD NO EXPECTATIONS
AND WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED
BY STAYING FOCUSED
ON THE FUNDAMENTALS,
WE CRAFTED THE PERFECT ESCAPE.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, FOCUSING
ON THE FUNDAMENTALS
IS SOMETHING THE CITIZENS
OF BOWLING GREEN
DO EXTREMELY WELL.
THEY'VE CREATED A CITY
THAT CAN STAND THE TEST OF TIME
AND IN MY HUMBLE OPINION,
THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT
BECAUSE THEY'RE IN NO RUSH
TO KEEP UP WITH THE PACK.
INSTEAD, THEY'RE FOCUSED
ON QUALITY OF QUANTITY,
ON DOING THINGS CORRECTLY,
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, DOING
THINGS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT TRAVEL
IS THAT I GOT A TASTE
OF THIS PHILOSOPHY
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS
AND NOW IT'S A SPICE THAT
I CAN ADD TO MY OWN LIFE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN
TAKE BACK WITH ME
AND SHARE WITH OTHERS
FOR YEARS TO COME.
IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT I CAN
LOOK FORWARD TO TASTING AGAIN
WHEN I RETURN FOR ANOTHER TRIP
WITH MY OWN FAMILY.
ONLY THIS TIME,
YOU KNOW I'LL BE DRIVING
A CORVETTE WHEN I DO.
(INSTRUMENTAL THEME MUSIC)
