- IMG 2911
This is the view from the parking lot of Carlsbad Caverns. Not bad. - IMG 2912
We chose the "natural" entrance, and were warned that it would be quite challenging. The naturaly entrance consisted of asphalt-paved, gently-inclined trail all the way through the cave. With lights. But hey, it was pretty and hassle-free. I won't complain. - IMG 2913
From just within the cave entrance. - IMG 2914
The roof of the first large room. The flash does a poor job of lighting it up, but that is some testament to the shear size of the place. Tourist Mecca, perhaps, but worth a stop. - IMG 2918
The coolest of the pillars were the ones that seemed to be composed of armies of mushrooms from floor to ceiling. - IMG 2919
Sharp spikes hanging from the ceiling. Occasionally I imagined these snapping of and skewering me. - IMG 2920
The little puffs of rock are called "popcorn." - IMG 2925
Some beautiful flowstone. - IMG 2926
A couple of the stunning, finger-like projections of stalagmites we encountered. - IMG 2928
Who knows? Just cool. - IMG 2929
A whole city of the spikes. - IMG 2930
More popcorn. - IMG 2931
These were the "Titans," about 20 meters tall each. Very cool. - IMG 2932
More flowstone - IMG 2933
IMG_2933 - IMG 2934
Here is the token Roswell shot. We were kind of hoping for a campy billboard or a UFO, but we were also hungry for lunch, so the most we did was slow down for this pic. - IMG 2935
Note the eyes. - IMG 2936
Leslie will need to explain why this one was taken. - IMG 2945
To get from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon, you drive through a very unlikely coniferous forest (Kaibab Natl Forest). - IMG 2946
Look! A canyon! It's grand! - IMG 2947
Did I mention Grand? In spanish grande means big. Aren't the similarities between the languages fascinating? - IMG 2948
I mean, you've got two words, and they are from *totally different languages* but they sound similar, and they have similar meanings! WOW! - IMG 2949
It's really these things that remind my that I'm part of a world community, part of a "global village," if you will. - IMG 2950
Who are these people and why are they in half the pictures? - IMG 2966
It's cool because there's a tree. - IMG 2967
Again. Flashbacks to day 1. - IMG 2968
There in the middle you can see a windy trail that we took down to the floor of the canyon, to get a better sense of the size of the place. Oh, wait. No. We didn't go down there because it was really fucking hot. That's right. - IMG 2969
Ug with stick tend fire. Woman prepare meet. - IMG 2971
So we're not the greatest outdoor cooks. Just because our charcoal isn't hot can't stop us! Hyperventilating and passing out to keep the fire oxygenated was well worth it for mediocre steak and slightly-charred carrots. - IMG 2972
Obligatory sunset shot. Careful viewers will notice that the sun has been meticulously removed with Photoshop. You can't trust anyone these days.