This morning we drove straight through, stopping only in Carlsbad for fuel and breakfast, to Carlsbad Caverns. This is the most amazing hole in the ground! It is one of the world's treasures! We paid out $$ and rode the elevator down into....
... a restaurant, where Ann had a little snack before we began our self guided tour.
This geologic wonder, resembling the Oregon Caves in Cave Junction, Oregon (but on a much larger scale), was amazing to wander through.
Stalactites and stalagmites abounded!
We even ran into a couple Neanderthals!!
There is Ogg....
..and there is Odd
The outside theater that surrounds the cave allos summer viewers to watch the bats fly out at night, but for the winter visitors, it allows them entrance into the cave from it's natural entrance.
Or it allows for a good picture.
Ranger Wayne!
After spending all day here, we drove south to Texas, still through very boring, flat land beginning to be punctuated by many oil wells and the smell of hot oil permeating the air.
But before we got to that part of the land, we first had to leave the very scenic National Park of Carlsbad Caverns.
The beautiful Guadalupe Mountains had a totally different beauty and climate than the rest of the surrounding dessert.
There was even water seeping through the ground, albeit, a small amount!
Of course, we always stop and read all the historical markers. It is fascinating to learn as we go.
But, then we got to the baren farm land and abandoned tractors.
Almost as if they were on display.
FINALLY WE GOT TO TEXAS WHERE EVERYTHING IS BIGGER!!!
And shortly after crossing the border, we were warmly welcomed. But, the landscape looked the same, except for there were more oil wells!!
Thus we came to the end of our journey through New Mexico and began our travels through Texas.
We drove on to Pecos, Texas, were we spent a night in a noisy Flying J truck stop. We had heard of people doing that and found it is not to our liking. Unless desperate. probably our last Flying J sleep over!
