Family Visit

The weekend after my trip home, my parents drove out for a visit.  I don't think you ever grow old of playing show and tell with your parents.  It was a fast trip for them, but it was good to see them and fun to show them around the cave. 

 

The evening they got in, we went to watch the bats and they didn't let us down.  The flight was amazing!  We started the following day by walking down the natural entrance.  I've been here almost five months and it always amazes me looking into the gaping hole that is the entrance.

I let my folks know the options for ranger guided tours.  They seemed interested in the lantern tour, but then I said the afternoon tour of Lower Cave included a rope climb and Dad was sold.  Lower Cave is one of our more strenuous tours.  We sat through the orientation, then we got helmets and gloves figured out and we were ready to go. 

The rope is a guideline used to traverse a rather steep section of slippery flowstone.  We stayed near the back of the group.  I went down the rope first.

Mom showing her skills going down the rope.

Dad making it look easy.

After the rope, there is a set of three ladders, each progressively longer.  There was a tense moment getting to the first ladder, but we all made it down just fine.  Here's Mom about to hit the bend in the third ladder and my dad waiting on the landing above her.

Lower Cave is a neat place.  There are no electric lights and the formations are excellent.  Lower Cave is also where you can find cave pearls.  They are formed similar to an oyster pearl except made of calcium carbonate.

Starting the path through a more narrow area of the cave.

At the other end of this is an optional crawl.  All three of us opted to do it.  It's not like some of the other crawls in the cave, but definitely gives you a taste for caving.

From the crawl, it was back up the ladders and the rope and then up the elevator and out of the cave.  It was very enjoyable.  The only thing we all wished was that Adam could have come with us.  Mom and Dad left that evening.  Like I said, a very quick visit, but I'm thankful they were willing to come visit. 

I have four weeks left here in Carlsbad, NM.  For the winter, unless something crazy happens, I will be returning to Death Valley and Scotty's Castle.  Bring on winter!

Trip Home

When I took the job at Carlsbad Caverns, I did so with the thought in mind that it was close enough to home that I could and would visit at least twice during my six months.  With the projects and research at the beginning of the season and then rehearsal through the summer, then weddings and birthdays to attend, I was not able to make it home.  I was finally able to make a visit the first part of September.  While I was home, my mom and dad and I traveled out south of downtown Houston to inspect Armand Bayou Nature Center.

It was a pretty cool place.  A tiny little nature preserve surrounded by Houston and its suburbs.  The only thing I have against the place is they don't allow running on the trails.  They are perfect for running!  It was wet and the mosquitoes were out in full force, an insect I haven't experienced to such a magnitude in three years.  Wow, they can be aggressive.  Nothing a little deet couldn't handle though.

 

My cute parents with the bayou behind them.  They celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary this summer. 

There were kayakers on that smooth water that morning and I oh so wanted to join them.

I possibly might be a little obsessed with these stick-your-head-in-here signs.

The type of sign I wish we could get away with in the NPS.  Love it!

While I was home I was also able to see friends.  I have been so very blessed in my life with wonderful and lasting friendships.  I was able to see new homes and new babies.   I attended my wonderful tap dance class and had a healthy helping of frozen yogurt from one of my favorite places in town.

It was a very fast but most wonderful trip home.  When I've been away this long, I do miss Houston terribly.

I realize at the beginning of the year my goal was two posts a month and that is exactly what I have done.  I was hoping there would be more the past few months, but it's been a really chill summer with few adventures.  As my summer season here in Carlsbad begins to wind to a close, we'll see what adventures await this coming winter.