Good Morning Friends...from TEXAS!!! That's right, through my wanderings & unexpected adventures, I have finally made it to the Great State of TEXAS, Yeeeeee Hawwwww!!!
Carlsbad Caverns National Park was unbelievable. The idea of traveling 750 ft below the surface of the earth on an elevator that takes like a minute, is simply CRAZY!!
Now, I had mentioned to the gal I bought my ticket from & the elevator operator, that I am a bit...how should I say it, CLAUSTROPHOBIC! They assured me that once in the huge rooms I would feel completely comfortable & not to worry & so I didn't.
The one thing I just had not really thought out very well, was the fact that it's PITCH BLACK down there. I guess I thought they'd have a skylight or something, but you'd think the fact that they were selling helmets with lights on the front would have given me my 1st clue...but no, I missed that.
Initially the grandeur of the place was all I could think about & as brave as a little girl scout, I set out on one of the paths heading back into the bowels of the cavern.
Now, it was unfortunate that I didn't know how dark it was down there, as I had only worn my sunglasses in & my regular glasses were in the car 750 ft above me...not a lot of help, right! But I continued my hike half blind & was still enjoying it at this time. Now picture this, I'm alone, no one is near me, I can see no one & they tell you not to talk down there for the enjoyment of the other guests, so it's completely quiet...now this is starting to get a little creepy.
Still making the most of my handicapped situation, I come upon the Hall of Giants. OK, I am unknowingly starting to lose it here, but all I can think is...these look so very phallic to me. They look like enormous penis's, as I shoot away giggling ever so softly as to not offend the other guests.
Then I come upon this...you tell me what you think this is! It's gotta be some kind of a hoax, right! Some frat boys came down here & made this out of sand just to see if they could dupe all the tired, blind & gullible tourists
By the time I got to Fairyland I'm thinking to myself "OK, I've seen enough amazing rock. This is really awesome & I truly appreciate the natural beauty & geology that went into making these wondrous sites...but I think I'm done now. Thanks everyone, adios!"
Awwww, not so easy my friends. You see I had started on a one way hike in which you had to finish the hike to come full circle back to the beginning & I have no idea where I'm at on the hike. Do I have another mile to go, 5 miles, 20 miles, how the hell do you get out of here? Now I'm starting to panic, sweat flowing from my pores like a river. Finally I can barely see the figure of a couple ahead of me on the trail. I run up to them & ask, trying to remain calm, "How far are we from the end, do you know where we're at on the hike"? The old lady says "I think we're probably about 1/2 way through it". OMG, I've been down here for an hour. That means I have another hour to go, can't do it...no air! I say to her "I just really need to get out of here, I'm feeling a little nervous, sweat pouring from my face. She then says to me "Well just hope the power doesn't go off, ha, ha!" What the power could go off, oh shit...I should have bought one of those damn helmets with the flashlight on top. A zillion curse words fly through my brain, but thank god my mouth wasn't working at that moment.
I now start to jog on the path & try to convince myself to stay sane. Sing to your self I thought. ABCDEFG...what's the next line? Thinking about screaming for help, but it's too soon for those kind of theatrics. I see the slight outline of another couple on the path ahead, I yell out.."HOW FAR TO THE EXIT???" There foreign, no speaka da english. Now my mind actually cracks & I think things like, why would anyone even come down here...I've seen this very same thing on the mine ride at Knott's Berry Farm or I'll just live here, I'll become like a mole & sit down & just stay forever, or maybe if I take a nap on the path someone will think I've died & call for help...my shirt & pants & hat are soaking!!! In the distance I can just make out the figure of a person walking towards me, hey they're going the wrong way, I see the outline of a hat. As the figure becomes clearer to me I realize it's a RANGER, thank GOD, I'm saved!!! She walks over to me & asks if I'm alright, I tell her NO & how far away is the exit?? She says, "Your just 5 minutes from it, I'll walk you over there". An angel has appeared to me dressed like a Park Ranger. She asks me questions to keep my mind occupied as we walk together to the elevator. I ride in silence the 750 ft up to the surface of the earth, exit the elevator & bolt to the car breathing in the fresh, cool air. I change my shirt, right there in the middle of the parking lot. In the safety of my own car I think, what made you even imagine that you could do that???Nothing came to me....LOL!
Today I'm headed to San Anton & The Alamo, what's a crazy girl to do?
Miss you & really wish you were here yesterday!!!
XOXO
