GOING UNDERGROUND

TUESDAY

Last night in Abuquerque I recalculated my mileage and schedule for today, to discover I had 300 miles to drive and I had to be at Carlsbad Caverns no later than mid afternoon in order to tour. By the time I figured it out, it was too late to let the B&B owner know of my morning departure change.  I set my alarm for 6:30 and was ready to go by 7:00.  I called the B&B owner; she met me at 7:15 to finalize my charges.  This change saved me at least 2 1/2 hours because scones and coffee were scheduled at 8:30 and the main course of breakfast at 9:00. The owner told me she used to serve breakfast earlier but vacationers want a more leisurely morning.  I think I have missed more breakfasts than I have enjoyed at the B&Bs. So I've learned a few things on this trip, about what works best for me.  I'm calling it "Tweak the Adventure." But it was either a leisurely breakfast or make sure I am at the caverns in time to tour.  Easy decision.

The mountains at Albuquerque look high and rugged, silhouetted in the morning sun.  I wish I had time to do some things in Abuquerque but this is not a big city trip.  I didn't get into town until 7:00 last night (because I spend wonderful hours at the Painted Desert), then had dinner, which got me back to the B&B about 9:00.  By the time I wrote the blog, verified today's mileage, and checked the website and AAA book for Carlsbad, it was 11:30 by the time I got to bed. I'll save Albuquerque for another trip.

Most of the drive heading toward Roswell, New Mexico is through very flat, fenced grazing land.  Occasionally I see a few cows amongst the low green shrubs that dot some of the landscape. The only hills I see is a long mesa off to the west.  The road is straight as far as I can see.  This is probably the most boring drive I've had, there's just not much of interest, though the scene is pleasant.  There are absolutely no cars going in my direction; in the opposite direction there is an occasional car, every mile or so.  I've seen one or two barns or houses in the last couple of hours.  There's no traffic, no places to stop, no towns.

South of Roswell, at the town of Artesia, I saw my first oil well of the trip.   Off to the side I saw three or four oil heads bobbing up and down.  When I was in North Dakota I heard there was a lot of oil in the state, but I didn't see any oil wells there.

I spent most of my afternoon in Carlsbad Caverns.  My first time underground on this trip and it was very interesting.  I kept trying to take photos, which was extremely challenging in the dark, but partially lit interior.   I took pictures until all my batteries died -- I suspect the flash used up the batteries quicker than outside pictures.  I often felt like I was the only one in the cave which is a really eerie feeling.  The paths were paved with handrails on both sides, but it was quite dark.  I found it almost disorienting because of the darkness and the strangeness of the cave.  The cave is magnificent and worth the effort to get here.

stalagtite & stalagmite, almost touching

From the visitors' center at the cave, which is on top of a mountain, I look out over the landscape and it is totally flat as far as I can see.  The only mountains and hills are where I am standing and behind me.  After I toured the cave, I took a nine-mile loop drive in the hills just beyond the visitors' center.  The sign said the dirt road was not passable for low-clearance cars but I decided my car was high enough to make it. I drove slowly, keeping my eye out for jagged rocks in the road.  I was the only car on the road and a couple of times I thought I must be absolutely crazy to take this drive, but I continued on, enjoying the rocks and the mountains and the scenes that were not visible from the paved road.

 

I had to backtrack some late this afternoon to get to my B&B in Artesia, about 50 miles from the caverns.   I had an early dinner when I came through the town of Carlsbad, with a plan to stay in tonight, once I get to my B&B.  I need an evening to chill, get caught up on a few things, and just relax.  My B&B is actually a boutique hotel in downtown Artesia.  I went up a long steep flight of steps to the second floor.  The clerk says it is a hotel, rather than a B&B, and they cater to oilmen and businessmen.  Continental breakfast begins at 6:00 in the morning, and they leave it out until everyone has eaten.  This hotel reminds me of one I stayed in in Seattle last year on my Puget Sound trip, except I have a private bath here.  My room has everything I need:  a desk, plenty of outlets for my electronics, a large nice bath, and a fridge.

I checked in at 6:00 tonight.  The reservations for the rest of the trip are made and the blog is finished by 7:30 -- that must be a record!!  The last two days have felt a little too full so a leisurely evening tonight is perfect.